Date of publication:

10/07/2026

Honduras

Do domestic laws and policies provide for efficient asylum procedures on appeal? 

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

The Administrative Procedure Law requires the administration to act in accordance with the principles of economy, celerity, and efficiency (Article 19) Negative decisions by the Executive Director of the National Institute of Migration do not exhaust administrative remedies; the applicant may appeal to the Secretariat of Governance, Justice, and Decentralization, which must resolve the appeal within fifteen (15) days. Once the deadline expires without an express decision on review, tacit administrative rejection or negative administrative silence applies, transferring the burden of litigation to the administrative courts (Articles 139 and 140) While the foregoing prevents the file from stalling, it is not a decision on the merits; it merely transfers the resolution to judicial channels, leaving the applicant without an answer and with a procedural burden in court.

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    Administrative Procedure Act / Law

    Legal provision

    Article 19 - General Principles

    Administrative bodies shall carry out their activity in subjection to the normative hierarchy established in Article 7 of the General Law of Public Administration and in accordance with rules of economy, celerity, and efficiency, in order to achieve prompt and effective satisfaction of the general interest. Los órganos administrativos desarrollarán su actividad, sujetándose a la jerarquía normativa establecida en el Artículo 7 de la Ley General de la Administración Pública y con arreglo a normas de economía, celeridad y eficacia, a fin de lograr una pronto y efectiva satisfacción del interés general. En los casos que la Ley atribuya a los órganos potestades discrecionales, se procederá dentro de los límites de las mismas y en función del fin para el que hubieren sido atribuidas.

    Article 140 - Recourse

    If, within one (1) month of the filing of the appeal, no decision has been notified, the appeal shall be deemed rejected. Transcurrido un (1) mes desde la interposición del recurso sin que se hubiere notificado su resolución, se entenderá desestimado.

    Article 139 - Reconsideration and appeal

    ARTICLE 139.- The remedy of reconsideration (reposición) shall be filed before the same body that issued the contested act, and that of appeal (apelación) before the higher hierarchical authority. Artículo 139. El recurso de apelación se presentará ante el propio órgano que dictó el acto impugnado, y éste lo remitirá al superior para su decisión, junto con el expediente y su informe, en el plazo de cinco (5) días. El plazo para la interposición del recurso será de quince (15) días.