The categories of Nicaraguan residency that can be applied for are: Foreigner Investor, Pensioner, Rentista, Employee, NGO/Ministry, and Spousal

Foreign Investor: A person can apply for residency in Nicaragua with a minimum of $30,000 invested into the country in any industry.

The applicant is required to found / purchase / invest in a business. This normally takes the shape of forming corporation. There are certain restrictions and it’s very important the corporation is structured in the correct way. We can help with all of that.

Pensioner: Available to people aged 45 and older who can demonstrate stable future income. Pensioners must prove the value of their fixed income pensions, with a minimum of $800 per month.

Rentista: Similar to the pensioner, but applicable to people who's income derives from investments. This category is often more difficult to apply under, due to the variable nature of income from investments, equity, and dividends.

Employee: A Nicaraguan company can assist in acquiring residency for an employee. Generally the residency is valid for one year, and after three years it can be extended for five years.

NGO/Missionary: A valid local NGO or qualified religious group must support the application and provide proof of its work and status in Nicaragua. Residency is usually granted for one year.

Spousal: This category is usually more simple, requiring only the mandatory documents and a marriage certificate.

Mandatory Documents:

The Immigration Department, Dirrection General de Migracion y Extranjeria, lists the requirements for applying on their website - in Spanish only. All documents must be submitted in triplicate.

Application form

Original passport with color photocopies

Photographs: Passport size, 4 ½ inches high by 3 ½ wide, on a white background, without glasses, without hat, ears and forehead must be visible

Birth Certificate

Criminal Record Check: authenticated by the Nicaraguan Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, apostilled, or in its absence, the Certificate from Interpol Nicaragua. Interpol in Managua can provide this document for $25

Health certificate, issued by the competent authority of your country of origin, or previous residence, or by the Nicaraguan health authorities.

Category-specific documents:

Copies of the article of incorporation of the company (for investors)

Pension letter (for retirees)

Proof of Investment investment income (for rentistas)

Marriage certificate (for spouses)

Complete and detailed list of household items and/or vehicle to be imported if applicable. This is not needed for residency process but will be required to process your received goods and/or vehicle.

Other documents will likely required to support your specific application, especially in the case of investors, retirees and rentistas. You can find out this information from your lawyer/agent or the representative at immigration.

Document Verification:

If you are from one of the 114 countries of the 1961 Hague convention your documents can receive an apostille, an international certification similar to notarization. (Sorry Canadians, not you! We get to you in a minute.)

To receive an apostille the documents must be from the applicant’s home country must be authenticated by the nearest Nicaraguan Consulate within the issuing country. To get authentication in the United States, documents must be notarized and authenticated by a County Clerk or Secretary of State. See the Association of Departments of State website for information on where in the US you can get the apostille.

Canadians need to have their documents notarized in Canada and then sent to the Nicaraguan Consulate in Washington, D.C. In some cases, documents can also be legalized in the Canadian Consulate in Managua. Check before leaving Canada what documentation can be certified in Nicaragua.

Length of the Process

As of April 2020 the average wait time is 3-6 months once the application has been submitted. Another important this to note is how the applications are processed. If you submit your application and are missing a document, the immigration department will notify you and request the new item.

However, when you re-submit with the new document, your application goes back to the "bottom of the pile" as it were. Meaning potentially months of extra wait time. So it's very important to ensure that you submit all the required documents, with apostille or notary certifications, and translations the first time. This is where a lawyer or agent truly earns their fee.

You should also note that police and health certificates are time-sensitive. They are only valid for 6 months after the time of issue. Ensure that you have all the other documents in order before applying for the police record check and health certificate. As long as these certificates are valid at the time of submission they will stay valid during the process.

Most residencies come with five year terms. Those are permits in the investor, pensioner, rentista, and spousal categories. One year residencies usually are for employees, NGO volunteers and missionaries.

Obligations of residency:

You must spend at least half the year in Nicaragua (With the exception of investors. There is no time limit requirement for investor class residents)

You must respect the law

Renew your cedula every 5 years or when it expires

May not become involved in political activities

Provide proof of investment or pension income, if applicable, to INTUR

Cost to apply on your own:

Investor: $213 USD / 6400 Cordobas, plus costs of inspection of assets. MIFIC does not charge for the inspection but the investor must cover the transport and stipend costs of the inspector to come from Managua to check on the investment.

Pensioner/Rentista: $197 / 5900 Cordobas

Spousal: $197 / 5900 Cordobas

Other categories: $197 / 5900 Cordobas, ask at Immigration

*Government application fee: $500 this is new as of September 2020, for all applications. On top of the above fees.

Most lawyers and agents will charge from $700 to $1000 total for the services. By the time you include the multiple trips to Managua, the time, and the costs in translating and notarizing documents it is often worthwhile to hire someone. In addition, if your application is rejected due to and incomplete or faulty documents you must pay the application fee again and start all over.

If you are looking at buying property and using that for residency contact me any time!

If you’re looking for residency or a path to a Nicaraguan passport as a Plan B check out my consulting page!