Nicaragua

Investor Permanent Residence

Nicaragua's Investor Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente de Inversionista) is a permanent residency pathway for foreign nationals who invest capital in any lawful economic activity in the country. The program is established under Ley No. 761, Ley General de Migración y Extranjería (2011), with implementing regulations in Decreto No. 31-2012. It is administered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) under the Ministerio de Gobernación. The investor category is one of three permanent residence subcategories alongside the pensionado (rentista) and family-based pathways.

• Minimum investment of US$30,000 in real estate, a business, or government-designated agricultural or forestry projects
• Investments exceeding US$60,000 require certification by an authorized public accountant
• Certificate of Investment Registration from MIFIC (Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio)
• Valid passport with minimum 6 months validity
• Birth certificate (apostilled or authenticated)
• Criminal record certificate covering the last 3 years (apostilled, valid for 90 days)
• Health certificate from a licensed physician
• Business plan, company registration, municipal business license, and tax registration (RUC)
• Notarized letter from a Nicaraguan guarantor (fiador)
• All foreign documents must be translated into Spanish

The process has two phases. First, the applicant registers as a foreign investor with MIFIC by submitting an investment registration form, business plan, personal identification, corporate documentation, and proof of the minimum US$30,000 investment. MIFIC conducts a business inspection and, if everything aligns, issues the Certificate of Investment Registration. This phase takes approximately 4 to 8 weeks. Second, once the MIFIC certificate is obtained, the applicant submits the full residency application at the DGME office in Managua. Total processing takes approximately 6 to 8 months. The application fee is US$250 for permanent residence plus US$3 for the application form.

The investment must generate measurable economic impact through job creation and active business operations. Acceptable proof includes public deeds of purchase and sale of real estate, rental contracts, machinery and equipment purchases, and professional services contracts. Passive real estate holdings without business activity may not satisfy MIFIC requirements. Under Ley No. 1240 (2025), all foreign investments must register with MIFIC's Investment Directorate to receive the RUIE certificate.

The permanent residence permit is valid for 5 years and is renewable. The cédula de residencia (residency ID card) must be renewed every 6 months in person at the DGME, effectively requiring the holder to be in Nicaragua at least twice per year. Failure to renew within the 6-month period may result in loss of residence status.

Investors holding permanent residence may apply for Nicaraguan nationality after two consecutive years of permanent residence, provided they have been physically present at least 180 days per year. Standard naturalization requires four years of legal residence. Nicaragua's 2025 constitutional amendments eliminated dual citizenship recognition effective 2026, meaning foreigners acquiring Nicaraguan citizenship may need to renounce their original nationality, with exceptions only for Central American nationals.

Spouse, minor children, and parents can be included in the investor's application. Each dependant requires police clearance (except minors), birth certificate, health certificate, passport copies, and an additional US$250 fee. Dependants receive the same 5-year permanent residence status.

Nicaragua operates a territorial (source-based) tax system. Only Nicaraguan-source income is subject to tax regardless of residency status, and foreign-source income is not taxed. Tax residency is established by spending 180 or more days in Nicaragua in a calendar year. Resident progressive tax rates range from 0% to 30% on Nicaraguan-source income.

A unique requirement is the fiador (guarantor) — a Nicaraguan citizen or permanent resident must provide a notarized letter vouching for the applicant. This can be a practical barrier for applicants without local connections. Residency approval is discretionary and the DGME is not obligated to provide reasons for denial. Investors must maintain active business operations and comply with all applicable Nicaraguan laws, including tax registration, municipal licensing, and labour regulations.

Links

• https://www.migob.gob.ni/migracion/tramites/

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