NI
Nicaragua · Residente Inversionista · Investor visa · apply in country, consulate
Permanent residence for a foreigner who invests in a lawful economic activity in Nicaragua, or in state or national financial-institution securities, and is registered with the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce. The card can run for up to five years and is renewable. The statute does not publish a dollar minimum.
| Type | Min amount | USD equivalent | Holding | Returnable | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 30,000 | $30,000 | — | Yes | Optional |
| Business | USD 30,000 | $30,000 | — | Yes | Optional |
Ley 1228, article 29(2) and article 32, makes the investor an inmigrante con capital. MIFIC registers and certifies the investment. The same article also allows certificates, treasury bonds and securities of national financial institutions. That securities route has no published minimum amount. Decreto Ejecutivo 31-2012, article 78, lists the MIFIC certificate, the mercantile registration, and the municipal and tax registrations. It does not require a business plan, a holding period, or local employees. Article 12(6) requires proof at each fiscal year-end that the activity continues. The five-year permanent-residence card for this subcategory is CA$500. A spouse, child or parent admitted with the investor is article 29(3) and pays the same CA$500, not the reduced CA$250 rate. The residence form is CA$3. An investor with a MIFIC certificate is exempt from the return-ticket guarantee deposit. The tariff is paid in córdobas at the Central Bank rate. The fees shown use the tariff figures at par with the US dollar. The authority may grant the permanent card for as little as three months. The priced term in the tariff is five years. The US$30,000 figures are the amount Nicaraguan practitioners say MIFIC still asks them to document. They are not in Ley 761, its regulation, or Ley 1240. Ley 1240, published on 24 February 2025 and in force 90 days later, requires foreign investments to be registered with MIFIC and does not set a residence floor. Ordinary naturalization is seven years from the permanent-residence card, after renouncing the original nationality. Someone who has established an industry or activity that is fully shown to contribute to national development can be considered after one year. The grant is discretionary. Central Americans of origin living in Nicaragua do not have to renounce. The 2012 regulation, article 125, requires a test of Spanish, geography, history and civics, with exemptions and no published level. Absence of more than one year can cancel permanent residence. Paid employment for someone else is a different stay category. Income tax is territorial. Nicaraguan-source capital gains are taxed.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 10, 2026 Source
parents included, the child age cap removed, a health certificate required, third-party employment closed, and the permanent-resident domicile rule added. Processing days were removed because none are published (legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni).
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