Under Disposición 002-2026, in force from 16 February 2026, Nicaragua's migration directorate lists the nationalities that do not need a visa to enter — among them the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar — and those that need a consulted visa (Category C), among them Mexico, Colombia, New Zealand, China, India and Cuba (for several, ordinary passports only). The UK Foreign Office says British visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa and must pay an arrival tax of 10 US dollars in cash. The directorate's leaflet says the consulted visa is applied for, paid for and downloaded online, without going to a consulate.
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Oct 2, 2026· How this site works
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
The UK Foreign Office, whose advice is for people travelling on a full British citizen passport from the UK, says you must pay an arrival tax of 10 US dollars in cash.
The UK Foreign Office says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
No official source we could read makes travel insurance a condition of entry. Canada's travel advice says good health care is limited, especially outside of Managua.
The UK Foreign Office tells British visitors, who can visit Nicaragua for up to 90 days without a visa, that they may be refused entry if they do not have an onward ticket. Nicaragua's migration directorate says applicants for a Category C consulted visa must present a return ticket to their country of origin or departure.
Canada's travel advice says customs officials may ask you to show proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay. No official source we could read states an amount.
Under Law No. 761 as reformed in 2024, a non-resident, a category that includes tourists, who stays in Nicaragua irregularly is fined 3.00 Central American pesos per day, payable in córdobas at the Central Bank rate. An exit visa for a non-resident whose stay has expired costs 10.00 Central American pesos plus the fine for each day of expired stay.
The UK government says there is a departure tax of 35 US dollars, normally included in the price of the air ticket. No Nicaraguan official page we could read states it.
Nicaragua's customs Traveller's Declaration, which all travellers entering or leaving must complete, asks whether you carry cash, securities, objects or precious metals worth US$10,000.00 or more, and if so asks for the currency, value, origin and destination of the funds.
The UK Foreign Office says you must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk. WHO's country list gives the requirement for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.
International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)
No official source we could read gives a best time to visit Nicaragua. Canada's travel advice says the hurricane season is from mid-May to the end of November in the Pacific, and from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea; the UK Foreign Office says it normally runs from June to November.
The UK Foreign Office, whose advice is for people travelling on a full British citizen passport from the UK, says you must pay an arrival tax of 10 US dollars in cash, and that the US dollar, in cash or travellers cheques, is the only foreign currency freely exchangeable in Nicaragua.
The UK Foreign Office says the 90-day period for Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador starts when you enter any of these countries and does not restart when you cross borders (the CA-4 Agreement also includes Honduras), and that if you overstay you may get a fine.
Canada's travel advice says that, according to UN reports, Nicaraguan authorities prevent certain individuals from entering or departing Nicaragua for political reasons and arbitrarily seize and search private property, including personal phones and computers, for anti-government content. Canada says Nicaraguan law prohibits political activity by foreigners, and the UK Foreign Office says it is illegal for foreigners to take part in any political activity and can lead to arrest, detention or deportation.
The UK Foreign Office says a group of volcanoes, several of which are active, stretches the length of the country, in particular San Cristóbal, Masaya, Cerro Negro, and Telica and Concepción on Ometepe Island, and advises not to hike on volcanoes without an experienced guide. It says the hurricane season normally runs from June to November.
| Passports | Visas & entry authorisations | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | eVisa | — |
| Albania | Visa-free | — |
| Algeria | Visa-free | — |
| Andorra | eVisa | — |
| Angola | Visa-free | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | eVisa | — |
| Argentina | Visa-free | — |
| Armenia | eVisa | — |
| Australia | Visa-free | — |
| Austria | Visa-free | — |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa | — |
| Bahamas | eVisa | — |
| Bahrain | Visa-free | — |
| Bangladesh | eVisa | — |
| Barbados | eVisa | — |
| Belarus | Visa-free | — |
| Belgium | Visa-free | — |
| Belize | Visa-free | — |
| Benin | eVisa | — |
| Bhutan | eVisa | — |
| Bolivia | Visa-free | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | eVisa | — |
| Botswana | eVisa | — |
| Brazil | Visa-free | — |
| Brunei | Visa-free | — |
| Bulgaria | Visa-free | — |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | — |
| Burundi | eVisa | — |
| Cabo Verde | eVisa | — |
| Cambodia | eVisa | — |
| Cameroon | eVisa | — |
| Canada | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Central African Republic | eVisa | — |
| Chad | eVisa | — |
| Chile | Visa-free | — |
| China | eVisa | — |
| Colombia | eVisa | — |
| Comoros | eVisa | — |
| Costa Rica | Visa-free | — |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | — |
| Croatia | eVisa | — |
| Cuba | eVisa | — |
| Cyprus | Visa-free | — |
| Czechia | Visa-free | — |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa | — |
| Denmark | Visa-free | — |
| Djibouti | eVisa | — |
| Dominica | Visa-free | — |
| Dominican Republic | Visa-free | — |
| Ecuador | Visa-free | — |
| Egypt | eVisa | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | eVisa | — |
| Eritrea | eVisa | — |
| Estonia | eVisa | — |
| Eswatini | eVisa | — |
| Ethiopia | eVisa | — |
| Fiji | eVisa | — |
| Finland | Visa-free | — |
| France | Visa-free | — |
| Gabon | eVisa | — |
| Gambia | eVisa | — |
| Georgia | eVisa | — |
| Germany | Visa-free | — |
| Ghana | eVisa | — |
| Greece | Visa-free | — |
| Grenada | eVisa | — |
| Guinea | eVisa | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | eVisa | — |
| Guyana | eVisa | — |
| Haiti | eVisa | — |
| Hong Kong | Visa-free | — |
| Hungary | Visa-free | — |
| Iceland | eVisa | — |
| India | eVisa | — |
| Indonesia | eVisa | — |
| Iran | eVisa | — |
| Iraq | eVisa | — |
| Ireland | Visa-free | — |
| Israel | Visa-free | — |
| Italy | Visa-free | — |
| Jamaica | eVisa | — |
| Japan | Visa-free | — |
| Jordan | eVisa | — |
| Kazakhstan | Visa-free | — |
| Kenya | eVisa | — |
| Kiribati | eVisa | — |
| Kuwait | Visa-free | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | eVisa | — |
| Laos | eVisa | — |
| Latvia | Visa-free | — |
| Lebanon | eVisa | — |
| Lesotho | eVisa | — |
| Liberia | eVisa | — |
| Libya | eVisa | — |
| Liechtenstein | eVisa | — |
| Lithuania | eVisa | — |
| Luxembourg | Visa-free | — |
| Madagascar | eVisa | — |
| Malawi | eVisa | — |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | — |
| Maldives | eVisa | — |
| Mali | eVisa | — |
| Malta | Visa-free | — |
| Marshall Islands | eVisa | — |
| Mauritania | eVisa | — |
| Mauritius | eVisa | — |
| Mexico | eVisa | — |
| Micronesia | eVisa | — |
| Moldova | Visa-free | — |
| Monaco | eVisa | — |
| Mongolia | eVisa | — |
| Montenegro | eVisa | — |
| Morocco | eVisa | — |
| Mozambique | eVisa | — |
| Myanmar | eVisa | — |
| Namibia | eVisa | — |
| Nauru | eVisa | — |
| Nepal | eVisa | — |
| Netherlands | Visa-free | — |
| New Zealand | eVisa | — |
| Nicaragua | Free movement | — |
| Niger | eVisa | — |
| Nigeria | eVisa | — |
| North Korea | eVisa | — |
| North Macedonia | eVisa | — |
| Norway | Visa-free | — |
| Oman | eVisa | — |
| Pakistan | eVisa | — |
| Palau | eVisa | — |
| Palestine | Visa-free | — |
| Panama | Visa-free | — |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | — |
| Paraguay | Visa-free | — |
| Peru | eVisa | — |
| Philippines | Visa-free | — |
| Poland | Visa-free | — |
| Portugal | Visa-free | — |
| Qatar | Visa-free | — |
| Republic of the Congo | eVisa | — |
| Romania | Visa-free | — |
| Russia | Visa-free | — |
| Rwanda | eVisa | — |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | eVisa | — |
| Saint Lucia | eVisa | — |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | eVisa | — |
| Samoa | eVisa | — |
| San Marino | eVisa | — |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | eVisa | — |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa-free | — |
| Senegal | eVisa | — |
| Serbia | eVisa | — |
| Seychelles | eVisa | — |
| Sierra Leone | eVisa | — |
| Singapore | Visa-free | — |
| Slovakia | eVisa | — |
| Slovenia | eVisa | — |
| Solomon Islands | Visa-free | — |
| Somalia | eVisa | — |
| South Africa | Visa-free | — |
| South Korea | Visa-free | — |
| Spain | Visa-free | — |
| Sri Lanka | eVisa | — |
| Sudan | eVisa | — |
| Suriname | eVisa | — |
| Sweden | Visa-free | — |
| Switzerland | Visa-free | — |
| Syria | eVisa | — |
| Taiwan | eVisa | — |
| Tajikistan | eVisa | — |
| Tanzania | eVisa | — |
| Thailand | eVisa | — |
| Timor-Leste | eVisa | — |
| Togo | eVisa | — |
| Tonga | eVisa | — |
| Trinidad and Tobago | eVisa | — |
| Tunisia | eVisa | — |
| Turkey | Visa-free | — |
| Turkmenistan | eVisa | — |
| Tuvalu | eVisa | — |
| Uganda | eVisa | — |
| Ukraine | eVisa | — |
| United Arab Emirates | eVisa | — |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | 90 days |
| United States | Visa-free | — |
| Uruguay | Visa-free | — |
| Uzbekistan | eVisa | — |
| Vanuatu | eVisa | — |
| Vatican City | Visa-free | — |
| Venezuela | eVisa | — |
| Vietnam | eVisa | — |
| Yemen | eVisa | — |
| Zambia | eVisa | — |
| Zimbabwe | eVisa | — |
Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
No official page we read states the rule for 6 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Macau, and South Sudan.
It depends on your passport. Under Disposición 002-2026, in force from 16 February 2026, Nicaragua's migration directorate lists the nationalities that do not need a visa to enter — among them the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar — and those that need a consulted visa (Category C), among them Mexico, Colombia, New Zealand, China, India and Cuba (for several, ordinary passports only). The directorate's leaflet says the consulted visa is applied for, paid for and downloaded online. The UK Foreign Office says British visitors can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, and Canada's travel advice says Canadians need no tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days.
The UK Foreign Office, whose advice is for people travelling on a full British citizen passport from the UK, says you must pay an arrival tax of 10 US dollars in cash, and that there is also a departure tax of 35 US dollars, normally included in the price of your air ticket.
No official Nicaraguan page we could read states the stay. The UK Foreign Office says British visitors can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, that the 90-day period starts when you enter Nicaragua, Guatemala or El Salvador and does not restart when you cross borders (the CA-4 Agreement also includes Honduras), and that in Nicaragua you can extend your stay by up to 30 days by paying a fee before the 90 days expire. Canada says no tourist visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. No official source we could read states the extension fee.
The UK Foreign Office says you can travel between Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador for up to 90 days without a visa, that the CA-4 Agreement also includes Honduras (for which British nationals need a visa), and that the 90-day period starts when you enter any of these countries and does not restart when you cross borders; you'll have to go through immigration checks at borders.
It is the visa for the nationalities in Category C under Disposición 002-2026, among them Mexico, Colombia, China, India and Cuba (several for ordinary passports only). Nicaragua's migration directorate (DGME) says in a February 2026 leaflet that you register and apply online at tramitesconsulares.mint.gob.ni, that immigration reviews the application, that you pay online by VISA or Mastercard once notified, and that you then download the approved visa; it says you do not have to go to a consulate. DGME's visa page still describes the visa as granted through Nicaragua's diplomatic and consular representations, and lists for the Category C consulted visa a passport valid for at least 6 months, a visa request letter, a criminal or police record certificate and a notarized maintenance undertaking.
Canada says to exercise a high degree of caution in Nicaragua due to the political situation, the potential for civil unrest and crime. The UK Foreign Office says it is illegal for foreigners to take part in any sort of political activity, and that you can be arrested and detained or deported for taking part in a protest.
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source
Nicaragua visa and entry requirements
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
