Minimum income
$600/mo
per month
Stay
60
months, renewable
Application fee
$200
Tax
0.0%
Tax relief on imports and foreign income
Path to staying
- Residence permit60 months
- Renew60 months at a time
- Permanent residencyafter 3 years
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
- Permanent residency 3 years
- Citizenship 5 years
- Dual citizenship not allowed
- Language required for citizenship
Overview
- Country
- Nicaragua
- Program
- Pensionado Visa
- Local name
- Visa de Pensionado
- Type
- Retirement
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 60 months
- Renewable
- Yes (60 mo)
- Min stay
- 180 days per 12 months
The cheapest retirement visa in the Americas at just $600/month pension income. Five-year duration, renewable indefinitely. Tax-free import of household items and vehicles.
Financial requirements
- Income requirement
- $600/mo
- Pension requirement
- $600/mo
- Application fee
- $200
Eligibility
- Minimum age 45+
- Criminal record check required
- Health check required
- Health insurance not required
Work rights
- Employment not allowed
- Self-employment not allowed
- Own a business allowed
- Work permit included no
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Max child age
- 18
- Parents allowed
- No
- Extra per dependent
- $150
Benefits and mobility
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare access granted
Tax
- Tax regime
- Exempt
- Tax rate
- 0.0%
- Regime name
- Tax relief on imports and foreign income
- Foreign income taxed
- No
- Capital gains taxed
- No
How to apply
- Method
- in person
- Processing time
- 90–180 days
- Apply from abroad
- No
Notes
CRITICAL 2026 CHANGE: A constitutional amendment ratified January 2026 effectively abolishes dual citizenship — foreigners seeking Nicaraguan nationality must renounce their existing citizenship, and Nicaraguans who obtain another nationality lose theirs. Age 45 minimum may be waived for applicants with exceptional financial stability. Tax-free import list on household items, motor vehicles, construction materials. Must be in-country 6 months/year.