Nicaraguan Visa Guide 2026: Requirements, Types, and Steps

Most short-term visitors to Nicaragua enter without a prior Nicaraguan visa, but you still need to plan for paperwork and cash at the border. For many travelers, the key document is the tourist card, issued on arrival for $10 USD in cash and normally valid for 90 days. This guide explains the full journey — from checking your nationality category to extending your stay or moving into residency — and flags the rules that authorities enforce strictly, including overstays, passport validity, and the CA-4 regional clock. Travelers from the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 are in the visa-exempt group.

Nationality categories: who needs a visa?

Nicaragua sorts visitors into three groups:

• Category A nationals — visa-exempt for short stays. They travel without an entry visa and use the tourist card instead.
• Category B nationals — need a visa, but can often obtain it at a consulate or on arrival at a port of entry.
• Category C nationals — must secure a consulted visa through a consular post with prior authorization from Nicaragua’s Immigration Department.

If you fall outside Category A, start early: airlines may deny boarding without the proper visa.

Before you fly or drive: key preparations

Entry officers focus on a few basics. Prepare the following:

• A passport valid for your whole stay, with at least six months remaining beyond your planned departure date.
• The online immigration form (en línea) — ideally submitted at least 7 days before arrival.
• $10 USD in cash for the tourist card; immigration does not accept cards.
• Proof of onward travel (e.g., a return ticket).
• Proof of funds — roughly $200 in cash or a credit card.
• Paper copies of documents in case phones fail.

Arrival and inspection at the port of entry

At Managua airport, travelers usually move from immigration to customs in about 15–20 minutes.

• An officer checks your passport and the online form confirmation.
• You pay the $10 tourist card fee in cash, unless you are entering under the CA-4 Convention, where nationals are exempt from the fee.
• Customs screening is normally brief. Note that Nicaraguan customs also does not accept credit or debit cards.
• Budget small bills for fees, taxis, and snacks.
• If you are transiting and need to leave the airport, ask about a transit visa.

The 90-day limit and the CA-4 clock

Nicaragua participates in the CA-4 border control agreement with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

• Your 90-day tourist stay starts at your first entry into any CA-4 country, not at each border crossing.
• Some land borders don’t require full entry/exit formalities inside the region, but authorities still count your days.
• If you need more time, you can seek an extension before the 90 days end.
• The CA-4 framework allows a 30-day extension request, and Nicaragua’s tourist card can be extended for another 90 days at immigration’s discretion.
• Keep your entry stamp readable and protected.

Important: your CA-4 clock may already be running from an earlier CA-4 entry. Track it carefully to avoid overstays.

Extending a tourist card inside Nicaragua

Extensions require planning and an appointment.

• Book your slot through the government’s online system: https://citas.mint.gob.ni.
• Bring:
• Your passport (with at least six more months validity),
• Your most recent Nicaraguan entry stamp,
• Two passport photos if requested.
• Fill out the extension request form at the Immigration office and present any supporting documents the officer asks for.
• Apply before your tourist card expires.
• Once approved, immigration adds time to your authorized stay. Keep the new paperwork with your passport when traveling within the country.
• Fees vary by office.

Overstays: fines, exit blocks, and detention

Nicaragua enforces overstays strictly.

• A daily fine applies for each day beyond your authorized period.
• Authorities can block your departure until the fine is paid, and detention is possible.
• Immigration control may be located before airline check-in, so an unpaid overstay can prevent you from boarding.

Tip: track the end date on your tourist card and your CA-4 clock, and schedule extensions early. Use the Directorate of Migration and Immigration site: https://www.mint.gob.ni/dgme.

When a short trip needs a visa

Not all visitors are tourists. Visa types include:

• Business visa — for negotiations, meetings, or work-related travel. Non-U.S. citizens living in the United States 🇺🇸 may apply if they meet criteria.
• Transit visa — for layovers when you wish to exit the airport.
• Category B nationals — may obtain visas on arrival or via a consular post.
• Category C nationals — must use the consulted-visa route with prior immigration authorization.

Carry supporting documents; border officers decide entry at the desk.

Choosing long-term residency

If you want to stay longer, Nicaragua offers residency routes:

• Investment Residence Permit
• Minimum investment: $30,000 in a business, private property, special project, or new company.
• Pensionado residency
• For retirees aged 45 and older.
• Requires $600 per month, plus $150 per dependent.
• Rentista residency
• Also begins at age 45.
• Requires $750 monthly income from any source.

Processing typically takes two to eight months. Income-based cases usually finish faster than investor/business files. Residency requires you to stay at least six months yearly in Nicaragua.

Residency file: typical document requirements

Prepare a clean packet for your residency appointment:

• Completed residency request form from immigration offices.
• Copy of passport biodata page.
• Copy of most recent Nicaraguan entry stamp.
• Two passport photos (white background, no glasses or hats, ears visible).
• Proof of income and bank statements showing you can support yourself.
• U.S. citizens may present a notarized income affidavit from their embassy.
• Keep originals and copies, labeled clearly.
• Book online and arrive on time — late arrivals may lose appointments.

Practical timeline to plan around

A simple sequence many travelers follow:

1. 7 days before travel: submit the online immigration form and save the confirmation.
2. Day of travel: pack your passport, onward ticket, and cash for the tourist card.
3. Arrival day: complete inspection, pay the fee, and receive a 90-day stay.
4. Around day 60: decide whether to extend, switch status, or depart.
5. Before day 90: attend your appointment to request an extension or file residency papers.

VisaVerge.com reports that travelers who treat the tourist card like a visa often forget the CA-4 count and overstay.

Health rules to check before boarding

• Nicaragua dropped COVID-19 vaccine card and RT-PCR test requirements on July 21, 2023.
• Yellow fever rules are more specific:
• A yellow fever certificate is not required for people who only transit through a risk country.
• Not required for travelers from non-risk countries who stay in Panama 24 hours or more.
• Exemptions: children under 1, adults over 60, pregnancy, lactation, egg allergy, and altered immunity with medical evidence.
• Consider travel health insurance and consult a clinician about necessary vaccines.

Conduct, work limits, and common scams

• A tourist card does not permit work or participation in local political activity.
• Respect local laws; disputes at checkpoints rarely end well for foreigners.
• Common street problems:
• Taxi overcharging.
• Fake tour guides near busy terminals and nightlife areas.
• Safety tips:
• Use licensed taxis when possible.
• Agree on a fare before entering a taxi.
• Keep your passport secure and carry a copy.

ETIAS for Nicaraguan citizens heading to Europe (2026)

Nicaraguan passport holders traveling to the Schengen Area for tourism or business (up to 90 days) will need ETIAS by the final quarter of 2026.

• ETIAS is an entry authorization for visa-exempt travelers — not a traditional visa, but airlines will check it.
• Applicants need:
• A valid Nicaraguan passport,
• An email address,
• A credit or debit card to pay the fee online.
• The form asks for identity details, contact information, passport data, and first point of entry.
• Approval lasts three years or until the passport expires.

Quick checklist for a smooth entry and stay

• Confirm which nationality category you fall into, especially if you are not Category A.
• Pack:
• Passport with six months validity,
• Online form confirmation,
• Cash for the tourist card,
• Proof of funds and onward travel in a folder.
• After arrival:
• Store your tourist card and entry stamp details, and keep a photo backup.
• If you will extend:
• Book early through the appointment system and arrive on time.
• If you seek residency:
• Expect a two-to-eight-month process and keep organized records of income.

These habits prevent problems that commonly derail trips and ensure compliance with Nicaragua’s immigration rules.