Sending a package to Honduras: Customs, transit time and import regulations
From Germany to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula: How to properly prepare business shipments
Honduras lies in the heart of Central America and has access to both the Caribbean and the Pacific. For German companies, the country is attractive, among other things, as a sales market for machinery, spare parts, electrical engineering, and industrial equipment.
- Shipping from Germany to Honduras
- Parcel, express and freight solutions
- Shipping to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula
- Centrally process customs and shipping data
- Consider 15% ISV on imports
- Check EU customs preference
- DUCA-D for import purposes
- Obtain product approvals before shipping
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Honduras combines national import procedures with Central American customs procedures
For a business shipment, the value of the goods, product description, origin and customs tariff number should be determined before collection.
Honduras uses the Central American customs regulations CAUCA and RECAUCA. For regular imports from a third country, DUCA-D is used.
Properly planning for 15% ISV
The regular Honduran Impuesto Sobre Ventas is 15 percent and generally also applies to the import of taxable goods.
EU preference can reduce tariffs
The Association Agreement between the EU and Central America has been applied to Honduras in trade since 2013. This allows for lower tariffs to apply to goods with preferential EU origin.
Don't discover permits only at customs
Foodstuffs, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and various health products may require additional permits or registrations.
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Important information about customs and import duties
DAP or DDP to Honduras: Determine importer and costs in advance
When shipping to Honduras, it should be clear who will handle the import clearance before the shipment.
For DAP The seller organizes the transport to the agreed destination.
The recipient generally assumes:
- Import clearance
- Import duty
- ISVs
- further product-specific taxes
- possibly customs broker fees
For DDP In contrast, the seller assumes the agreed obligations and costs of importation.
The following should be checked, among other things, for a DDP calculation:
- HS code
- Customs duty
- Origin of goods
- EU preference
- 15% ISV
- Import permits
- local handling charges
Anyone who regularly exports from Germany should also have a valid EORI number. Our guide explains how. when companies need an EORI number.
What is the import duty in Honduras?
Honduras uses the Sistema Arancelario Centroamericano, SAC.
The SAC forms the common nomenclature and import tariff for Central American economic integration.
For numerous goods, regular customs duties of:
- 0%
- 5%
- 10%
- 15%
Different or higher customs duties may apply to certain sensitive products.
Therefore, customs duties cannot be reliably determined solely based on the shipping destination.
The decisive factors are:
- Customs tariff number
- Product description
- Origin of goods
- possible preferential arrangement
The current Central American import tariff is published and regularly updated by SIECA.
What is the value added tax rate in Honduras?
In Honduras, the sales tax is called:
Impuesto Sobre Ventas, ISV for short.
The regular rate is:
15%
The Honduran tax administration explicitly confirms that the ISV is also applied at the import level.
Certain goods are exempt from taxes.
This can include, among other things, individual:
- Staple food
- Pharmaceuticals (self manufacturing)
- Agricultural products
- agricultural machinery
- certain capital goods
belong.
Beer, spirits, other alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are generally subject to a higher ISV rate of 18 percent.
ISV regular: 15%
DUCA-D: the central customs declaration for imports to Honduras
Honduras uses the:
Declaración Única Centroamericana, DUCA.
For goods imported into Honduras from a third country, the following applies in particular: DUCA-D relevant.
The Honduran customs administration lists the following documents, among others, for the regular import procedure:
- Commercial invoice
- Transport document
- Proof of origin, if applicable
- Lizenzen und Genehmigungen
- Electronic customs value declaration (DEVA) if applicable
This means for German exporters:
The product and invoice data should be complete and consistent before shipping.
Anyone wishing to import such information from a shop, ERP or inventory management system can find it at Integrations for shipping and customs data other possibilities.
Sending a package to Honduras: What companies should know before pickup
Honduras has around eleven million inhabitants and is geographically located between Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
The two most important economic centers are:
- Tegucigalpa
- San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is located in the industrial north of the country and has a particularly good connection to the port of Puerto Cortés.
For German shippers, this region can be particularly relevant for industrial B2B deliveries.
What documents do I need for Honduras?
The following are typically required for a normal commercial import:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading, Air Waybill or other transport document
- DUCA-D
- Customs tariff number
- cart value
- Country of origin
- Proof of preference, if applicable
- import license or certificate (if applicable)
The Honduran customs administration explicitly lists commercial invoice, transport document, proof of origin and product-specific permits as components of the import process.
A commercial invoice is used for normal sales of goods.
In cases of free samples or warranty replacements, a pro forma invoice may be useful, depending on the process.
What customs advantages are there for goods from the EU?
Honduras is a member of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America.
The trade section has been used for Honduras since the August 1, 2013 applied.
The entire Association Agreement has been fully in force since May 2024, following the completion of all ratifications.
For German exporters, the trade aspect is particularly relevant.
Goods can receive a reduced preferential tariff rate if:
- they meet the rules of origin
- possess EU preferential origin
- a valid proof of origin is available
A general introduction can be found at How to make the most of free trade agreements and tariff advantages.
EUR.1 or declaration of origin?
For Honduras, classic proof of preferential origin will continue to apply in 2026.
The following are particularly possible:
- EUR.1 movement certificate
- Declaration of origin for originating products up to €6.000
- simplified declaration of origin for appropriately authorized exporters
German customs explicitly accepts these forms of proof for Honduras.
You can find more information about the different procedures at Correctly using EUR.1, A.TR. and the declaration of origin.
Distinguish between country of shipment and country of origin.
A product does not automatically become an EU-origin product simply because it is shipped from Germany.
For example:
An electronic device, manufactured entirely in China, is located in a German warehouse.
The shipment will then be sent to Honduras.
This does not automatically create EU preferential origin.
Therefore, the actual origin must be verified in order for the agreement to be used correctly.
Our guide explains the difference between Origin of goods and preferential origin.
How long does it take to send a package to Honduras?
DHL Parcel currently states a delivery time estimate of:
18 to 26 working days.
Express is significantly faster.
The DHL Express transit time table shows the following for Honduras:
2 working days in the main run
.
For goods subject to customs duties, an additional working day is added to the table.
For key destination areas, a commercial express shipment can therefore cost approximately:
3 working days
to be used as a guideline.
The actual transit time may vary due to customs inspection, destination, and type of goods.
English or Spanish for the customs declaration?
DHL accepts delivery to Honduras:
- English
- Spanish
Spanish is often particularly useful for local import processing.
A product description should be specific.
Instead of:
"Spare Parts"
better:
“Stainless steel housing for industrial centrifugal pump”
or in Spanish:
“Carcasa de acero inoxidable para bomba centrífuga industrial”
The product, material, and intended use are thus immediately recognizable.
Which products require special permits?
For various regulated goods, a normal customs declaration is not sufficient.
Special requirements apply, among other things, to:
- Food products
- Plants and seeds
- animal products
- Pharmaceuticals (self manufacturing)
- Cosmetics
- Medical Devices
- Pesticides
Agricultural and food imports may require permits from Honduran SENASA.
For processed foods, medicines, cosmetics and medical devices, the health authority ARSA is also relevant.
These requirements should be clarified before handover to the carrier.
Arrange pickup from the company
For regular B2B shipping, shipments do not need to be taken to a receiving point every time.
About the Collection directly from the warehouse or company location The transport can be integrated into the existing shipping process.
These errors are delaying shipments to Honduras
In Honduras' case, the difficulty lies less in an unusual customs system than in the combination of regional and national requirements.
Typical errors are:
- incorrect customs tariff number
- incomplete commercial invoice
- Origin incorrectly stated
- EU preference used without valid proof
- Product registration not verified
- SENASA approval is missing
- Recipient data incomplete
- Spanish labeling is missing on regulated products
Especially with regard to food products, Honduras requires consistent information on product, manufacturer, origin and shelf life.
For recurring exports, it is therefore worthwhile to store customs and product information in the master data.
What goods are delivered from Germany to Honduras?
Honduras imports a significant portion of its machinery, technical equipment, and industrial products.
The following may be of particular interest to German companies:
- Machines and production facilities
- Spare parts
- Tools
- Electrical Engineering
- Pumps and water technology
- Measurement and testing technology
- car parts
- Medical Technology
- Energy and solar technology
- industrielle Bedarf
Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are among the most important distribution centers for imported goods.
Before technical products are shipped, a structured review is worthwhile. Export analysisThis allows for a joint review of the product description, documents, destination country, customs requirements, and any potential restrictions.
Shipping information: Honduras
Standard or express to Honduras.
For less time-critical goods, an international parcel service may be sufficient.
DHL Parcel currently states:
18 to 26 working days.
For spare parts, production materials, or other urgent business shipments, express shipping can be significantly faster.
DHL Express Worldwide currently quotes a delivery time of two working days for Honduras. Additional processing time should be allowed for goods subject to customs duties.
For larger or heavier goods, parcel, pallet and freight services should be compared.
Puerto Cortés is making Honduras an important logistics hub.
Honduras has a strategically interesting location for Central America.
This is especially true for sea and container freight:
Puerto Cortés
significant.
The port is considered the most important port in the country and is one of the most important logistics hubs in Central America.
Other important locations include:
- San Lorenzo on the Pacific coast
- San Pedro Sula as an industrial and distribution center
- Tegucigalpa as a political and economic center
- Palmerola International Airport for the capital region
Puerto Cortés offers an important maritime connection, especially for machinery, industrial supplies and larger quantities of goods.
For time-critical goods, international air and express networks are the faster alternative.
What are the import costs in Honduras?
Import costs can consist of several components.
Depending on the product, the following are particularly suitable:
- product-specific import duty according to SAC
- Regular 15% ISV
- 18% ISV on certain alcoholic and tobacco products
- Excise taxes, if applicable
- product-dependent fees
- Customs broker and carrier costs
An EU customs preference can reduce the actual import duty.
However, it does not automatically eliminate the Honduran ISV.
For a complete price, customs duties and taxes should therefore be considered separately.
How much does a package to Honduras cost?
A flat country-specific price makes little sense.
The shipping price depends in particular on the following factors:
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Volumetric weight
- Destination address
- Shipping speed
- Type of goods
- Carrier
Import duties may also apply in Honduras.
For international business shipments, it is therefore worthwhile to compare several carriers instead of selecting a fixed service provider based solely on list price.
Online trade to Honduras: Don't explain import costs only upon delivery.
For online retailers, it is particularly important to transparently present the difference between the price of goods, shipping costs, and import costs.
Additional costs may arise for the buyer in the case of DAP delivery:
- Import duty
- 15% ISV
- further charges
- Carrier and customs clearance fees
If the product has EU preferential origin, the customs duty may be lower.
However, the rules of origin and the required proof of preferential origin must be complied with.
With a high international order volume, shop or ERP data can be accessed via Shipping integrations can be used directly for labels, product information, documents and tracking.
Honduras is part of an increasingly close Central American customs integration.
Honduras works closely with its neighboring states on customs matters.
Integration is particularly advanced between:
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- El Salvador
Simplified procedures and integrated border crossings exist for certain regional goods movements.
In 2026, SIECA will continue working on the digitization of Central American customs processes.
This includes, among other things:
- DUCA-T method
- digital trading platforms
- joint risk procedures
- integrated boundary processes
further developed.
For direct deliveries from Germany, this regional integration does not replace the normal Honduran import clearance.
However, it makes Honduras an interesting starting point for companies that want to subsequently distribute goods within Central America.
Which carrier is suitable for Honduras?
When comparing carriers, one should not only consider transport costs.
Also important are:
- Runtime
- Customs service
- Weight limits
- maximum dimensions
- Tracking
- Insurance
- Target region
DHL Parcel currently states a standard delivery time of 18 to 26 working days.
DHL Paket International does not currently offer additional insurance for shipments to Honduras.
Express shipping can be significantly faster for urgent B2B goods.
For heavy or high-value shipments, it is therefore advisable to check which carrier is actually suitable for the shipment in terms of transit time, liability and customs service.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shipping
Can I send a package from Germany to Honduras?
Yes. Packages, express shipments, and business goods can be sent from Germany to Honduras. Since Honduras is outside the EU, customs information is required.
How long does it take to send a package to Honduras?
DHL Parcel currently estimates a delivery time of 18 to 26 business days. DHL Express Worldwide indicates approximately two business days for the main route to key destinations. Additional processing time is required for goods subject to customs duties.
What is the value added tax rate in Honduras?
The standard sales tax (Impuesto Sobre Ventas, or ISV) is 15 percent. Certain alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are generally subject to a rate of 18 percent.
What are the customs duties in Honduras?
The specific import duty depends on the customs tariff number. Honduras uses the Central American Import Tariff (SAC). Common tariff levels are 0, 5, 10, and 15 percent. Different rates may apply to certain sensitive products.
Is there a free trade agreement between Honduras and the EU?
Yes. Honduras is a member of the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America. The trade section has applied to Honduras since August 1, 2013.
Do I need a EUR.1 for Honduras?
An EUR.1 can be used as proof of preferential origin for corresponding EU originating products if the customs relief of the EU-Central America agreement is to be claimed.
Can I use a declaration of origin?
Yes. For originating products valued up to €6.000, the standard origin declaration can generally be used. Further simplifications apply to appropriately authorized exporters.
What is a DUCA-D?
DUCA stands for Declaración Única Centroamericana. The DUCA-D is used, among other things, for goods imported into the Central American customs territory from third countries.
What documents do I need for Honduras?
Typically, a commercial invoice, transport document, and DUCA-D are required. Depending on the goods, a packing list, proof of origin, import license, health certificate, or other permits may also be necessary.
Which goods require special permits?
Additional requirements apply in particular to food, plants, animal products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and certain agricultural goods. SENASA and ARSA, among others, may be responsible for enforcing these requirements.
In which language should I fill out the customs declaration?
DHL accepts English and Spanish for shipments to Honduras. Spanish may be helpful or required for additional local import documents.
Can I ship machinery and spare parts to Honduras?
Yes. Machinery, spare parts, and technical products are typical international B2B goods. Before shipping, the HS code, origin, import duties, and any product-specific permits should be checked.
