How to Get Nicaragua CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 4 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from naturalised citizens who naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Americas
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Nicaragua, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 4 years
Person has been resident in Nicaragua for a continuous period of 4 years since being granted a permanent resident permit.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required (except if person is a national by birth of Spain or a Central American country (see the rules for citizenship of a specific country).
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Language test (except persons who have studied in Nicaragua, elderly persons and persons with certain disabilities or health conditions).
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Certificate of good conduct (provided by police).
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Nicaragua, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has been permanently resident in Nicaragua for 2 years as the spouse of a citizen.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Nicaragua. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Nicaragua, without any authority making a decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Nicaragua to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
For people born in Nicaragua, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Nicaragua, without any authority making a decision.
Person is born in Nicaragua. Unless born to foreign diplomats, foreign employees of international organizations, or those sent by their national governments to work in Nicaragua.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Nicaragua, the rules below set out what applies. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a minor under the age of 21 whose parent is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation and has parental authority over the child. Child must choose between Nicaraguan citizenship and the citizenship of origin upon reaching the age of majority or upon emancipation.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Nicaragua, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer to other relatives
Person has Nicaraguan children and has been permanently resident in Nicaragua for 2 years.
Transfer from former citizen
Person is born abroad to a parent who once held citizenship and requests for citizenship upon reaching the age of majority or upon emancipation.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Nicaragua, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a citizen by naturalisation who lost citizenship due to acquisition of a foreign citizenship, express renunciation or using both citizenships to enter and exit Nicaragua.
Citizens of specific countries
Holding the citizenship of a particular country is the basis of this route in Nicaragua. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a citizen by birth of a Central American country or a Spanish citizen by birth and has been permanently resident in Nicaragua for 2 years. No requirement to renounce the other citizenship.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Nicaragua, without any authority making a decision.
Person is an infant found in Nicaragua of unknown parentage.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Nicaragua. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has performed extraordinary services to Nicaragua. Under this mode the person becomes a citizen by birth.
Person has been permanently resident in Nicaragua for 2 years, and has established an industry or exercises an activity that contributes to the economic, social or cultural development of the country. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Not available in Nicaragua: Adoption, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
The two directions differ in Nicaragua: citizens who naturalise abroad are treated differently from new citizens.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from naturalised citizens who naturalise abroad
Person is a citizen by naturalisation who voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country.
Compare with neighbours
Among the 7 countries in Central America with a residence route, the most common requirement is 5 years, while Nicaragua sets 4 years.
Check where Nicaragua sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belize | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Costa Rica | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 El Salvador | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Guatemala | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Honduras | 3 years | None | Citizens abroad only |
 Panama | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 19, Nationality law Art. 53, Execute Decree 31/2012 112, 125.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Nicaragua Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/nicaragua/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/nicaragua/">How to Get Nicaragua Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Nicaraguan citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Nicaragua requires 4 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Nicaragua allow dual citizenship?
Partly. Nicaragua accepts it for citizens who naturalise abroad, but not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for Nicaraguan citizenship?
Yes, Nicaraguan citizenship requires a language test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Nicaraguan citizenship?
Civic knowledge is not assessed as part of the naturalisation process for Nicaraguan citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Nicaraguan citizenship?
Giving up your current citizenship is required, with major exceptions.
Can I get Nicaragua citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Nicaragua. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Nicaragua citizenship by descent?
Yes, Nicaragua has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Nicaragua citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Nicaragua.
Related pages
Also see: Nicaragua passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.