Immigration
Law 761 residence categories and CA-4 movement
The Ley General de Migración y Extranjería (Ley 761) governs entry and residence through the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. Nicaragua is a CA-4 member, though it has repeatedly restricted exit and entry for specific nationals and critics.
Key rules
- Residence is temporary (one year, renewable) or permanent, with permanent status generally after three years.
- CA-4 nationals may circulate for up to 90 days without a visa.
- Pensioner and rentier categories require proof of monthly foreign income and give import concessions.
- Naturalisation generally requires four years of residence, reduced for Central Americans.
- Entry and exit bans on named individuals have been applied administratively without published reasons.
Governing law
- Ley General de Migración y Extranjería (Ley 761 de 2011)Entry, residence and removal.
- Ley de Protección a Refugiados (Ley 655)Refugee determination.
- Convenio CA-4Regional free movement.
In practice
Residence files are processed in Managua and require apostilled civil documents plus a local police certificate. Given documented arbitrary denials of entry and of passport renewal, advise clients not to rely on being able to re-enter after departure.