If your company is planning to expand operations to Nicaragua, you’ll need to put together a talented team of employees who are willing to make the move. You’ll also need to make sure they have the necessary visas and permits to live and work in Nicaragua.
Types of work visas in Nicaragua
While citizens of some countries will need a visa to travel to Nicaragua, there are several nations whose citizens are exempt from this requirement.
Many expatriates who plan to live and work in Nicaragua on a short-term basis choose to enter the country as a tourist. However, they’ll also need a work permit. Employees who plan to remain in Nicaragua for the long term should apply for a residency visa.
There are 2 types of residency visas in Nicaragua: temporary residence visas, which are valid for 1 year, and permanent residence visas, which is valid for 5 years.
Nationals from other countries who plan to work in Nicaragua for up to 1 year should obtain a work permit. To work for a company in Nicaragua on a long-term basis, international employees should also get a temporary residence permit.
Requirements to obtain Nicaragua work visas
To work in Nicaragua, international employees have to apply for a temporary residency permit. Some of the documents needed for the application, include the following:
- 2 passport photographs
- A passport with at least 6 months of validity
- A duly completed visa application form
- A formal letter from the employer in Nicaragua proving the applicant’s income
- An original birth certificate as well as a photocopy
- A criminal background check from any country the applicant has lived in within the preceding 3-year period
- A medical document proving that the applicant has no known communicable diseases
- Notarized commitment from the employee, where it is guaranteed the return to the country of origin, once the employment contracts ends
Application process
Before hiring an international employee, your company will need to present a letter explaining why there are no qualified workers in Nicaragua who could fill the position. Once this has been established, the application process can begin.
Applicants should submit the application and supporting documents to the Nicaraguan embassy or diplomatic mission in their country of residence. Upon approval, the applicant will receive a temporary residence visa that will allow them to live and work in Nicaragua for 1 year.
Other important considerations
While a temporary residence permit is issued for an initial period of 1 year, it can be renewed. After 3 years of living in Nicaragua as a temporary resident, nationals from other countries will need to apply for permanent residence. This status must be renewed every 5 years as long as the individual is living in Nicaragua.
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