General program requirements

Nicaragua offers two different types of independent means visa: Pensionado and Rentista. The visas are essentially the same, but the Pensionado has a minimum age of 45 years old.

For each visa, the applicant must demonstrate a recurring, monthly passive income.

Pensionado visa applicants must show a $600 monthly income while Rentista applicants must show a $750 monthly income.

In each case, the requisite income must be demonstrated and approved by Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo (INTUR).

Additional fees and income requirements:

An additional $150 per month of income per dependent;
A $200 application fee for each person included in the application;
A $500 government fee for each person included in the application.

Program benefits

• No investment or donation requirement;
• Path to citizenship;
• Lower cost of living;
• Lower taxes;
• Warm climate;
• Short processing time

Requirements to qualify for citizenship

Both the Pensionado and Rentista visas are initially issued as temporary residence permits with one-year validity. The visas are renewable annually as long as the applicant can still demonstrate the necessary income. After three years of continuous residency, the applicant is eligible for permanent residency.

After four years of continuous residency, the applicant may apply for citizenship through a notary. Spanish, Guatemalan, Honduran, and El Salvadorian citizens are able to claim citizenship after just two years of residency.

Dual citizenship is not recognized unless the applicant comes from a country with a special citizenship treaty with Nicaragua.

Applications for this program may be directed to:

General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) 

Legislation upon which this program is based:

Law of Resident Pensioners and Retirees (Decree 628):

No statistics available yet for this program.