If you are searching for a new place to visit and new adventures to experience, Nicaragua, also known as the land of volcanos, is the perfect match for you. But, before traveling to this amazing country, check if you need a Nicaragua visa; if yes, what are the requirements for obtaining it.
Who Needs a Visa for Nicaragua?
Foreign citizens from one of the countries listed below do not need a visa to enter and visit Nicaragua with just a valid passport for 90 days:
- All EU citizens
- Abkhazia
- South Ossetia
- Iceland
- San Marino
- Israel
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Andorra
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Kuwait
- Singapore
- Argentina
- Liechtenstein
- Solomon Islands
- Australia
- Macau
- South Africa
- Bahamas
- Madagascar
- South Korea
- Bahrain
- Malaysia
- Barbados
- Marshall Islands
- Switzerland
- Belarus
- Mexico
- Taiwan
- Belize
- Monaco
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Turkey
- Brunei
- North Macedonia
- Tuvalu
- Canada
- Norway
- Ukraine
- Chile
- Palestine
- United Arab Emirates
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- United Kingdom
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- United States
- El Salvador
- Qatar
- Uruguay
- Fiji
- Russia
- Vanuatu
- Guatemala
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Vatican City
- Honduras
- Saint Lucia
- Venezuela
- Hong Kong
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Citizens from the countries listed below can visit Nicaragua by obtaining a visa on arrival:
- Angola
- Ghana
- Nigeria
- Algeria
- Grenada
- North Korea
- Azerbaijan
- Guinea
- Oman
- Benin
- Guinea-Bissau
- Palau
- Bhutan
- Guyana
- Papua New Guinea
- Bolivia
- India
- Peru
- Burkina Faso
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Burundi
- Jamaica
- Rwanda
- Cambodia
- Jordan
- Samoa
- Cabo Verde
- Kazakhstan
- Senegal
- Central African Republic
- Kiribati
- Serbia
- Chad
- Kyrgyzstan
- Seychelles
- Colombia
- Lesotho
- Suriname
- Comoros
- Malawi
- Tajikistan
- Ivory Coast
- Maldives
- Tanzania
- Dominica
- Mauritania
- Thailand
- Dominican Republic
- Mauritius
- Togo
- Djibouti
- Micronesia
- Tonga
- Egypt
- Moldova
- Tunisia
- Ethiopia
- Montenegro
- Turkmenistan
- Equatorial Guinea
- Morocco
- Uganda
- Eswatini
- Mozambique
- Uzbekistan
- Gabon
- Myanmar
- Zambia
- Gambia
- Namibia
- Zimbabwe
- Georgia
- Nauru
Nicaragua Visa Types
Depending on the purpose of your visit to Nicaragua, here are all the Nicaragua visa types:
- Tourist visa.
- Business visa.
- Study visa.
Tourist Visa
The tourist visa is issued to foreign nationals who want to enter the country for a visit, tourism, medical controls, and humanity purposes. A tourist visa is issued for three months. Foreigners who want to stay longer than three months must apply for a residence permit.
Business Visa
Applicants who want to enter the country for business purposes must apply for a Nicaragua business visa. A business visa allows you to stay in the country for as long as the embassy/consulate issued the visa.
The processing time for a Nicaragua business visa is between three to fifteen working days.
Study Visa
Students who want to study in Nicaragua must apply for a Nicaragua study visa. The requirements for a student visa can change depending on the country you come from or whether you need to apply for a visa or not. Foreign students who do not need a visa to enter the country must apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) and a study permit. Students who need a visa to enter the country must apply for a Nicaragua study visa before entering the country (in addition to the electronic travel Authorization and study permit).
Nicaragua Visa Requirements
Here are all the Nicaragua visa documents required for a Nicaragua visa:
- Valid travel document. The passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date and in good condition. Include copies of previous visas (if any).
- Photographs. Two passport sized photos that must be recently taken, at least within the last six months.
- Health insurance. Your health insurance must be valid and cover any medical expenses while in Nicaragua.
- Proof of accommodation. Document proof that you have an accommodation place in Nicaragua. This document can be a hotel reservation, a rental agreement, an invitation letter from a friend or family member, etc.
- Nicaragua visa application form. You can obtain a Nicaragua visa application form at the embassy/consulate of Nicaragua in your home country. After obtaining the application form, complete it and sign it at the end.
- Fee payment. Make sure you attach the receipt of your visa application fee payment to your application form.
- Bank statement. This document issued by the bank on your behalf proves that you are financially stable and can financially support yourself while in Nicaragua.
- Return flight ticket. A return flight ticket must confirm that you will return to your home country after your visa expires.
How to Apply for Nicaragua Visa?
To apply for a Nicaragua visa, you must follow these steps:
- Contact your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate and book a Nicaragua visa appointment.
- Gather and submit all the requested documents at the nearest embassy or consulate of Nicaragua in your home country.
- Wait for a response. You will receive an email or SMS within three days from the embassy or consulate to which you have submitted the documents with your visa result.
Duration of a Nicaragua Visa
The duration of a Nicaragua visa depends on the visa type:
- A Nicaragua tourist visa allows you to stay in Nicaragua for 90 days.
- A Nicaragua residence permit allows you to legally stay in the country for one to five years. The duration of a residence permit depends on the purpose of your stay.
Nicaragua Visa Fees
Here are the Nicaragua visa fees:
- $10 for a tourist card.
- $200 for a temporary residence annual card.
- $500 for a permanent residence card valid for five years.
- $25 for an extension of your stay in the country.
*You can finish the fee payment at the nearest embassy/consulate of Nicaragua in your home country.
Important: The Nicaragua visa fee may be subject to change depending on where you apply, age, etc. It is important to contact the embassy/consulate of Nicaragua in your home country before applying for a Nicaragua visa and ask them directly for the amount of the fee payment you need to finish.
Residence Permit for Nicaragua
A residence permit will allow you to legally stay in Nicaragua for one to five years. You have different options for applying for a Nicaragua residence permit.
Investment Residence Permit
You can apply for an Investment Residence Permit by:
- Investing in a business in Nicaragua
- Investing in your own business in Nicaragua.
- Investing in private property in Nicaragua.
- Investing in a special project in Nicaragua.
The minimum investment amount in any categories listed above must be $30,000.
Retirement Residence Permit
To apply for a retirement residence permit in Nicaragua, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- You must be at least 45 years of age.
- You must have at least $600 monthly income.
- You must demonstrate at least $1,250 of monthly passive investment income in rental, dividends, etc.
Note: If you are issued a Nicaragua residence permit, you will automatically be issued a cédula which in Nicaragua is known as a green card.
Why Should You Visit Nicaragua?
Here are some interesting facts on why you should visit Nicaragua:
- Nicaragua is known as the land of volcanos.
- There are charming colorful buildings in the country.
- You can surf in the country almost every single day.
- The largest lake in Central America is in Nicaragua.
- You have incredible hotels that will make your visit to Nicaragua worthwhile.
- You can go hiking in active and non-active volcanoes.
- There is delicious food that the locals cook.
- You can go sandboarding on the surface of volcanos.
- In Nicaragua you have very rich wildlife.
- You have very affordable prices in the country.