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Residency for Canadians in Nicaragua

Canadians have the same right to apply for residency and obtain the same benefits as any other nationalities. They will be able to apply as retirees, Foreign Investors, (below there are two links with information about this status) Business people, Missionaries, Spouse, Workers etc.

I decided to write this article because sometimes there is confusion in this process.

Basically the difference with US & British citizens or some other nationalities is regarding the legalization of their documents.

Because Canada it is not part of the Hague Convention for Public Documents of 1961 (Apostille) documents have to be authenticated to be legal in Nicaragua.

I will explain according my experience the path to follow:

Every single document to be legal and valid to apply for residency such as: birth certificate, police record, pension letter, marriage license (when it is necessary) naturalization certificate (when it is necessary) have to be authenticated and translated.

The first step will be to notarize the documentation; then it must be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada first and then to the Nicaraguan Consulate in Washington DC, and finally to the Nicaraguan Foreign Affair Ministry in Managua.

Nicaraguan Consulate in Washington accepts pre-paid envelop to be sent to Managua directly. People at the Consulate are very nice, professionals and cooperative.

At that time the applicant is ready to start the process in Nicaragua, as for then it will be just a matter to qualify according the law. Be aware Nicaraguan’s government requires original from the documents to apply for residency.

Please take in consideration that when a foreign person comes to Nicaragua will receive a tourist Visa which will last depending of their nationality. Canadians and USA citizens will receive Visa by 90 days which can be renewed for another 90 days, If during this time it is in the process to obtain residency it will be mandatory to renew the Visa until the Residency is granted and receive the Cedula. If somebody stays in Nicaragua without Visa will be fined and the penalty will be C$ 50 per day (Cordobas). There are immigration offices in the main cities of Nicaragua and extension can be obtained in any of them.

The testimony below is from a Canadian who already obtained his residency as retiree, and because he was from the Province of Ontario he didn´t send his documents to Ottawa. Please check with your government.

Testimony of a Canadian who already received his residency, as retiree, regarding how to legalize his documents:

“Authentication. Good day Paul, I hope that you are doing well. I have just returned to Nicaragua. During my stay in Canada, I collected the doctor´s letter, the police report, my birth certificate, and the statements for two different pensions. First I had them notarized, then I had the Ministry of Government Services in Ontario certify the notarized copies. After doing so, I phoned the Nicaraguan Consulate in Washington D.C. to find out where I should send the notarized, certified documents to be authenticated. I was told to send them to the Washington Consulate, because it has jurisdiction over residents of the province of Ontario in Canada. In the package of documents which I sent to Washington, I included a pre-paid FedEx envelope with your name and address on it, which the consulate will use to forward the documents once it has authenticated them.

“Telf……….. : 001-202-939-6531
Horario…….: Monday to Friday 9:00am – 1:00pm
Dirección: 1627 New Hampshire Ave NW Washington DC 20009.

 

Paul Tiffer       Speaks English
Abogado y Notario Público
Tiffer & Asociados
Reparto Bolonia Hospital Militar 1c. al lago, 1c. abajo Cel.: 8884-1652; Tel.: 2266-8622
Managua, Nicaragua E-mail: [email protected]

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