Home > North America > Nicaragua > How To Get Residency In Nicaragua | A Complete Guide
How To Get Residency in Nicaragua | A Complete Guide
Capital: Managua
Population: 6,676,948 (2024, 110th)
Ethnic Group: 69% Mestizo, 17% White, 9% Black, 5% Indigenous
Area: 130,375 km2 (96th)
Offical Language: Spanish
Currency: Córdoba (as of June 19th, 2025, 1 Nicaraguan Córdoba = 0.027 USD)
GDP per Captial: $8,492 (2024, 129th)
Human Development Index: 0.706 (2024, 123rd)
Country Profile:
Nicaragua, often called the “Land of Volcanoes,” is the largest country by area in the Central American isthmus.
It’s a nation rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, with volcanoes, lakes, and tropical rainforests defining its primary landscapes. Culturally, Nicaragua boasts a vibrant tradition of music and dance.
However, the country faces multiple economic and political challenges, including a high poverty rate, weak infrastructure, and an unstable political situation.
Visa & Immigration System:
Nicaragua’s immigration visas can primarily be divided into four types:
1. Temporary Residence Card: This is issued to foreign employees working for a Nicaraguan employer or to religious personnel.
These temporary residence cards are generally renewed annually, with a maximum duration of three years. After three years, holders of a temporary residence card can apply for Nicaraguan permanent residency.
2. Investor Permanent Residency: Foreign investors who commit over US$30,000 to business operations in Nicaragua can directly apply for Nicaraguan permanent residency.
Holders of this permanent residency card must enter Nicaragua every six months to renew their local ID.
3. Retirement Visa (Pensionado Visa): This visa is granted to foreign applicants over 45 years old whose monthly public pension income is at least US$1,000.
The validity of the Nicaraguan Retirement Visa directly correlates with the applicant’s income source. If your income comes from a permanent source, like a government pension, the visa will be valid for five years. However, if the income is from sources that may not be permanent, such as rental income or annuities, the visa’s validity might only be one year.
4. Passive Income Visa (Rentista Visa): This visa is issued to foreign individuals with a monthly income of at least US$1,250.
Actually, your income doesn’t have to be limited to passive sources; any income acquired from outside Nicaragua (non-salary income, remote work income, etc.) can be included in this calculation.
Dependents:
For most Nicaraguan immigration visas, the primary applicant’s spouse, minor children, and other financially dependent children or direct relatives (such as parents) can also obtain local residency as dependents.
Minimum Stay Requirements:
While Nicaragua’s visas don’t have an explicit minimum stay duration, applicants are generally required to renew their local ID within Nicaragua every six months.
Permanent Residency & Citizenship:
After legally residing in Nicaragua for three years, foreign nationals are eligible to apply for permanent residency.
After five years of legal residency in Nicaragua, foreign nationals may be eligible to apply for naturalization. To qualify, you must reside in the country for at least 180 days per year, have a basic understanding of Spanish, and pass a Spanish-language test on Nicaraguan culture and history.
Passport Power:
Nicaragua does not recognize dual citizenship. Its passport currently ranks 41st globally, allowing citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 127 countries and regions worldwide (as of June 18, 2025).
Useful Links:
Nicaragua Immigration Office：https://www.migob.gob.ni/migracion/tramites/solicitud-de-residencia-permanente
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