Key Takeaways
• Nicaragua’s constitutional reform will ban dual citizenship after final approval set for 2026.
• Nicaraguans gaining foreign citizenship will automatically lose their Nicaraguan nationality, except some Central Americans.
• Thousands abroad may lose civil rights, voting ability, and property ownership if the reform becomes law.
Nicaragua’s recent push to end dual citizenship through a constitutional reform marks a big turning point for citizenship rights in the country. The National Assembly’s unanimous support for this change—announced during a special legislative session in the town of Niquinohomo—has started a wave of concern for many Nicaraguans inside the country and abroad.
What the Constitutional Reform Includes
Under this reform, the rules around citizenship in Nicaragua are set to become much stricter. Key sections—articles 23 and 25 of the Constitution—are being changed to reflect the following:
- If a Nicaraguan citizen obtains another country’s citizenship, they will automatically lose their Nicaraguan nationality.
– Foreigners who want to become Nicaraguan citizens will be required to officially give up their original nationality first. - There is one exception in the new law for Central Americans. People from countries in Central America might not have to renounce their current nationality to gain Nicaraguan citizenship.
The government defends this approach, saying that if a person swears loyalty to another country, they break the “legal and moral bond” that ties them to Nicaragua. Leaders have stated, “there cannot be dual fidelity.”
This reform does not become law immediately. Nicaragua’s Constitution requires any amendment of this sort to get a second round of approval from lawmakers before it takes effect. This second approval, known as ratification, is set for 2026. That means, at least for now, the day-to-day rules around dual citizenship remain unchanged—but the course is clearly set.
Why the Ban on Dual Citizenship Matters
People in Nicaragua, as well as those who have moved abroad, are now facing a real shakeup. Many families are worried about whether they’ll be able to keep their Nicaraguan citizenship after making new lives elsewhere, especially in large immigrant communities in countries like the United States 🇺🇸.
If the constitutional reform is fully enacted, Nicaraguans who accept foreign citizenship would:
- Lose their Nicaraguan nationality automatically,
- Be treated as foreigners if they return to Nicaragua,
- Lose their civil rights, meaning they could not vote, own land as citizens, or take part in public life as Nicaraguans.
For many families, the biggest concern comes from how this new rule might split families or make it harder for people who left to return home without penalties. For example, lots of Nicaraguans who moved to places like the United States 🇺🇸 send money, called remittances, to support relatives still living in Nicaragua. If these Nicaraguans lose their citizenship, those close family and community ties may be weakened. This could hurt both the people abroad and those who depend on those financial lifelines back home.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that while many countries have rules about dual citizenship, outright bans like this are much less common and usually point to deeper political or legal changes going on in the country.
Understanding the Political Background
This move to eliminate dual citizenship is not happening by itself. It is part of a larger pattern of changes pushed by the co-presidents of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
Back in January 2025, the National Assembly made major changes to the country’s leadership rules. These reforms included:
- Setting up a co-presidency, meaning both Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo officially share the presidential office and its powers equally,
- Making presidential terms last six years instead of five,
- Allowing the president to coordinate—not just lead—the key institutions of the country: lawmakers (the legislative branch), judges (the judicial branch), and people in charge of elections (the electoral branch).
Experts and critics point to these changes as signs of growing concentration of power at the very top levels of the government. They argue the latest constitutional reform about dual citizenship fits into this broader pattern, making it even harder for critics or political opponents to challenge the leadership from within or outside Nicaragua.
Recent History with Citizenship Stripping
Nicaragua’s government under Ortega and Murillo already has a history of removing citizenship rights from political rivals or outspoken members of society. Since 2023, nearly 500 people—including writers, bishops, and people accused of criticizing the government—have lost their nationality after being called “traitors to the homeland.”
These moves have drawn international notice and strong criticism from human rights defenders and other countries. Losing citizenship in these cases often results in people no longer having legal papers or being recognized by any country, making them stateless. That can create big problems: without a recognized nationality, it is very tough to travel, find legal work, open a bank account, or even get healthcare in many places.
Voices of Concern
People both in Nicaragua and living in exile have raised strong concerns about the dual citizenship ban. The reform is widely seen as one more tool for the government to limit freedom and control who counts as a “real” Nicaraguan.
Dora Maria Tellez, a former Nicaraguan health minister and famous Sandinista commander now in exile, has openly called the reform “unconstitutional” and “markedly repressive.” She says, “it’s a dictatorship that goes against everyone.”
Many observers agree that these new rules do not just affect direct critics of the government. Any Nicaraguan who hopes to take on a new citizenship for family, work, or study reasons would now face tough choices: stay only Nicaraguan, or risk losing all connection—and rights—to their homeland.
Special Exception for Central Americans
The only bright spot in the new rules is the exception for citizens from other Central American countries. If you are from a neighboring country in Central America and want Nicaraguan citizenship, you might not be required to give up your original nationality.
This exception seems to line up with Nicaragua’s membership in regional groups, which have pushed for countries in Central America to work more closely together. However, the details of how this part of the law would work have not been widely shared by the government yet.
What Will Happen Next?
Because the reform needs a second round of legislative approval in 2026 before it becomes final, many Nicaraguans now face a period of uncertainty. People who live and work in other countries will likely spend the next couple of years worrying about what their options might be. Will they have to return to Nicaragua, or choose between giving up the new life they have built elsewhere and remaining citizens of their birth country?
Employers, educational institutions, and organizations that work with immigrants are watching closely. Many groups in the United States 🇺🇸, Spain 🇪🇸, Costa Rica 🇨🇷, and other places with large Nicaraguan communities are already reporting more requests for advice and support as news of the reforms spreads.
According to official estimates presented by The Tico Times, thousands of Nicaraguans may be affected, and the country receives billions of dollars each year in remittances from individuals living abroad. The new rules could change how money flows into families and communities across Nicaragua.
International and Regional Reactions
Other countries and international organizations are paying attention to Nicaragua’s constitutional reform on dual citizenship. Similar bans in other parts of the world have often caused problems for those with strong cross-border family ties—and, sometimes, have led to complicated legal battles in international courts.
Groups that advocate for migrant rights warn that stripping citizenship from dual nationals goes against the principle that no one should be left stateless. Countries that signed on to human rights treaties have promised to avoid laws that would leave people without a nationality.
Diplomats and foreign embassies have taken notice as well. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua have published information for dual nationals and citizens about how laws could affect them, and are offering basic advice about steps to take. Information for citizens and dual nationals is available through the official U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua immigration page.
Comparing with Other Countries
Many countries around the world now accept dual citizenship as a fact of life, especially as people move more often for work, study, or family reasons. However, some countries maintain rules that treat people who gain new citizenship as having given up their country of origin.
For example, formerly, Nicaragua accepted dual citizenship with many countries as long as there was an agreement in place. If the new reform passes in its final form, Nicaragua will join a smaller group of countries that strictly do not allow dual nationality.
This shift can have an impact on long-term migration patterns, with fewer people likely to consider returning, investing, or remaining involved in the country.
The Social Impact: Families, Identity, and Connection
Citizenship is not just a legal label—it is tied to personal and family identity, history, and community. For many Nicaraguans living abroad, keeping their original nationality is a key part of their sense of self and connection to their roots. Children born in another country to Nicaraguan parents may find their citizenship status affected if the reform goes through. Families can be split or have members with different legal statuses.
Losing civil rights, such as the right to vote or own assets, may push some Nicaraguans to cut ties or move away for good. For those forced to make a choice, the reform may feel like a harsh “either/or” imposed by political leaders.
What Should Nicaraguans Do Now?
Until the constitutional reform is confirmed in 2026, the rules still allow dual citizenship in most cases. However, Nicaraguans who live abroad or hope to gain a new citizenship should:
- Check with their consulates and embassies for up-to-date advice,
- Gather important documents and records to prove their status,
- Consider how the changes may affect family, property, or financial plans,
- Seek legal or migration advice from experts in countries where they live.
Resources from services like VisaVerge.com and information on government sites offer guidance, but the reality is that many face tough, personal decisions. No matter how the reform plays out, it is clear that the changes in Nicaragua’s constitutional laws will deeply affect lives, communities, and the future of the country for years to come.
Final Thoughts
The constitutional reform banning dual citizenship in Nicaragua is not yet final law, but the path toward stricter nationality rules is well set. How these rules end up being used will shape the futures of thousands, perhaps even millions, of Nicaraguans. The debate, like the rules themselves, cuts to the heart of what it means to belong to a country—and who gets to decide. As this story unfolds, individuals, families, and communities will continue to look for answers, support, and hope in uncertain times.
Learn Today
Dual Citizenship → Status where a person is legally recognized as a citizen of two countries at the same time.
Constitutional Reform → A formal change or amendment to the country’s constitution, impacting laws and civic rights.
Ratification → The official confirmation required from lawmakers for new laws to become legally effective, here scheduled for 2026.
Remittances → Money sent by people working abroad to their families or communities in their country of origin.
Stateless → A condition where someone is not officially considered a national by any country, lacking legal citizenship.
This Article in a Nutshell
Nicaragua is moving to ban dual citizenship with a constitutional reform. The new law, if ratified in 2026, will strip Nicaraguans of citizenship if they gain another nationality. Only Central Americans are partly exempt. This change could impact thousands abroad and deeply affect families, rights, and financial connections.
— By VisaVerge.com
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