Nicaragua seduces visitors with a combination of volcanic landscapes, colonial architecture, beautiful beaches and pristine forests, and everything is so extraordinary that it seems unreal.
Nicaragua has two distinct seasons, the period of which varies from coast to coast. The most pleasant time to visit the Pacific coast and central regions coincide with the dry season's first months (December and January) when the weather is cooler and the forests are still lush. Except for the last month of the dry season (usually mid-April to mid-May), when the land is arid, and the air is dusty, Nicaragua can be visited any time of the year. Nicaraguans spend Semana Santa on the beach, and by that time, the accommodations on the coast are all booked up for weeks or even months.
Entry into the country is only authorized with a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity from the date of entry. How to apply for a Nicaragua tourist visa? How long is a tourist visa for Nicaragua? Is it easy getting a tourist visa for Nicaragua? Let's answer these questions in the article down below.
Getting a tourist visa for Nicaragua: Visa on Arrival
According to the CA-4 Agreement, visa holders from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras, regardless of nationality, can visit each of these countries without acquiring a new visa.
However, even if you are not required to obtain a visa to enter Nicaragua, you must purchase a tourist card in Nicaragua, which costs $10.
Furthermore, if the applicant has multiple entries used/unused Schengen, Canada, or U.S. visas in force, they do not require a visa to enter Nicaragua. Although the following nations are exempt from this chance, they can obtain a visa on arrival if they have a valid Schengen or Canada or United States visa with multiple entries used/unused. Nationals of the following nations are also unable to transit without a visa.
Documents Required for Nicaragua Tourist Visa on Arrival:
1. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months and include a main page copy.
• Copy of round-trip air tickets
• Proof of lodging
• Confirmation of hotel reservation or
• Invitation letter from the host in Nicaragua
• Any extra supporting documents
Nicaragua Visa on Arrival Fee
On Arrival Tourist visa in Nicaragua price is approximately 50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality.
How to apply for Nicaragua tourist visa
Applicants who plan to visit Nicaragua for tourism and sightseeing will be granted a tourist visa. To carry out your tourist activities in Nicaragua, you can apply for a tourist visa. So, if you are not a lucky one who does not need a new visa, here are the needed requirements.
Nicaragua tourist visa requirements:
1. Application Form
• A properly completed application form is required.
2. Two passport-size pictures in a white background
• No hat, glasses, cap, or bare forehead
3. Passport and a copy of a main page.
• Passport must be valid for at least six months.
4. Copy of National Identification Card and Resident Permit/Visa (if Your Country of Residence and Citizenship are Different)
5. Travel Itinerary
• Copy of round-trip airline tickets
• Proof of lodging o Confirmation of hotel reservation or o Invitation letter from the host in Nicaragua
• Include the host's contact information
6. Proof of Financial Capability
• Sufficient finances to pay expenses for the entire time
• International Credit Card
• Cash
• Traveler's checks
• Sponsorship letter
7. Certificate of Criminal Record
• It must be given by the applicant's home country or the nation where he or she has been legally residing.
8. Copy of Visas You Have Obtained
* Additional documents can be required by the Embassy.
Nicaragua Tourist Visa Processing Time
A Nicaragua Tourist Visa takes 3-15 working days to process on average. It is dependent on the nation from which you are applying for a visa.
Fees for Tourist Visas in Nicaragua
The cost of a tourist visa in Nicaragua ranges from $20 to $50. The charge may differ based on your nationality or the country where you submit your application.
Where can I apply for a tourist visa in Nicaragua?
You will apply for a Nicaragua Tourist Visa at one of the Nicaragua visa application centres, embassies, or consulates in your country of residence, whichever accepts visa applications. If none exist in your country, you must apply to the Embassy or consulate closest to your location.
In order to avoid delays or agglomerations at the different border posts, the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners Affairs recommends filling out the form and send it seven days before entering Nicaragua to the appropriate institution.
The Embassy strongly recommends that citizens entering the country by land or maritime border follow this mechanism to avoid delays that could last more than 24 hours at the border.
How long is a tourist visa for Nicaragua? Nicaragua tourist visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days. However, if you wish to stay for a longer period, after 30 days from entry into the country, you must go to the Immigration offices. Otherwise, fines amount to 50 Cordobas per day spent in an irregular situation. Customs authorities charge a tourist visa in Nicaragua price of ten U.S. dollars for the travellers who are not required to apply for a visa as mentioned above. There is no exit fee. If you plan to stay longer, you can also apply for an overstay tourist visa Nicaragua.
Citizens who also hold Nicaraguan nationality must remember that if they exceed 90 days of stay after entering the country with a European passport, they must document themselves as Nicaraguan to remain and leave the country afterwards. Tourists can do the same with an overstay tourist visa Nicaragua.
According to the provisions of Law No. 761, General Law of Migration and Foreigners, citizens of other countries visiting Nicaragua, during their stay in the national territory have the duty to keep, carry and present, at the request of the competent authorities, their passport or other identity document proving their immigration status in Nicaragua. If they are in an irregular migratory situation, will be sent to the General Directorate of Migration and Aliens.
It is recommended to keep the documentation safe and always have a copy of the I.D. card and passport in case of theft and loss.
Documents required for Nicaragua tourist visa, include vaccinations. Mandatory: Yellow fever (for travellers from the WHO list of countries with risk of yellow fever: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, African Continent). Polio, DPT, MMR, rubella, measles and mumps for children under 5 years of age. Recommended: Measles and D.T. (diphtheria and tetanus). (diphtheria and tetanus). For minors, vaccination against tuberculosis is recommended.
Nicaragua: how to reach by different transports
Managua International Airport (MGA; tel: 233 1624/28; www.eaai.com.ni) near the capital is small but expanding. Tiny Granada International Airport operates two daily flights between Granada and San Jose and Liberia in Costa Rica. Managua is Nicaragua's most important bus hub, with at least five international bus lines. There are connections to Costa Rica and Panama from Granada, Masaya and Rivas, while from León there are runs to San Miguel and San Salvador, the shortest route between the two countries. Nicaragua can be reached overland by crossing three border posts with Honduras - Las Manos, El Espino and Guasaule - and one with Costa Rica, Sapoa. The border with Costa Rica can also be crossed by sailing from Los Chiles and crossing the river to San Carlos. Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas, on the Caribbean coast, are served with particular frequency by fishing boats and cargo ships, and it is fairly easy to get passage to the other Central American ports and islands.
Three domestic airlines in Nicaragua mainly serve the airports of Managua, Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas and Islas de Maíz. Local bus services are regular and frequent, but very crowded. Nicaraguan buses are particularly infamous for the frequency of pickpockets, so you should take precautions and keep a constant eye on your luggage. Some places in Nicaragua are located on the Caribbean coast, and Lago de Nicaragua can only be reached by boat. Travel along the Río San Juan towards El Castillo and San Juan del Norte is not exactly cheap. Car and bicycle rentals are the most popular options for visiting the country. It is possible to rent cars and bicycles: you will enjoy breathtaking views.
So, now you are ready to go, make sure to take your time and fully discover this marvellous place!
