Nicaragua Pensionado Visa (Law 694)
At a Glance
- closed
- $1,000 a monthpension or retirement income from a government, public or private institution; minimum; payable in local currency equivalent · main applicant, Residente Pensionado category
- $150 a monthin addition to the main applicant minimum, per dependent family member · each dependent family member
- INTUR Public Service Center in Managua (or a Nicaraguan consulate abroad, which forwarded the file to INTUR); the migration directorate (DGME) then issued the residence category.
- 15 daysworking days: 10 for the INTUR Technical Committee opinion plus 5 for INTUR to issue the certification · INTUR stage only, not the later migration card
The Law 694 pensionado and rentista residence is closed. Law 1210, the General Tourism Law, repealed Law 694 in full, with effect from Aug. 2, 2024 (National Assembly legislative index; Law 1210, Article 38).
Law 694 gave retirees and people with stable passive income a residence category with import duty and IVA exemptions. None of its income thresholds or benefits apply any longer.
- New applications: not possible under Law 694 since Aug. 2, 2024.
- Former thresholds: a pension of $1,000 a month or passive income of $1,250 a month, plus $150 a month for each dependent.
- Replacement: pensioner and rentier residence now falls under the general migration law, handled by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME). Its current conditions could not be confirmed from an official source for this update.
Entry rules and the options for longer stays are in the Nicaragua country guide.
No one can qualify under Law 694, because the law was repealed on Aug. 2, 2024.
For reference, the law required a main applicant aged at least 45 years with a pension of $1,000 a month (Residente Pensionado) or stable passive income of $1,250 a month (Residente Rentista), plus $150 a month for each dependent (Law 694).
Some websites quote lower thresholds for retirees and rentiers under the current rules. No official source for those figures could be reached, so they are not stated here.
The Law 694 document list no longer applies. Under the repealed law, files went to the tourism institute: INTUR Public Service Center in Managua (or a Nicaraguan consulate abroad, which forwarded the file to INTUR); the migration directorate (DGME) then issued the residence category.
The DGME sets the documents for residence under the general migration law. Its procedure pages could not be reached for this update, so applicants should confirm the current list directly with the DGME or a Nicaraguan consulate.
No Law 694 fee applies, because the program no longer exists. The US$200 application fee this page used to show had no official source and has been removed.
Fees for residence under the general migration law are set by the DGME and could not be confirmed from an official source for this update.
No applications are accepted under Law 694. The INTUR review it set, about 15 days for the tourism institute's stage, ended with the repeal.
Retirees and people with passive income who want to live in Nicaragua now deal with the DGME under the general migration law.
Under Law 694, holders had to spend at least 6 months a year in Nicaragua, consecutively or not (Law 694). That obligation and the category itself ended with the repeal on Aug. 2, 2024.
No official guidance on how existing Law 694 holders are treated could be reached for this update. Holders should confirm their status and renewal dates with the DGME.
Law 694 granted retirees and rentiers exemptions from import duties and IVA on household goods, a vehicle and building materials. They ended with the repeal on Aug. 2, 2024 (Law 694).
Under the general tax law, an individual is tax resident after more than 180 days in Nicaragua in a calendar year, and income tax applies to Nicaraguan-source income (Law 822 on Tax Concertation, Articles 7 and 10).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nicaragua pensionado visa still available?
No. Law 694 was repealed in full by Law 1210, the General Tourism Law, with effect from Aug. 2, 2024.
What income did Law 694 require?
A pension of $1,000 a month for the pensionado category or passive income of $1,250 a month for the rentista category, plus $150 a month per dependent. These thresholds no longer apply.
Do the Law 694 tax exemptions still apply?
No. The import duty and IVA exemptions ended with the repeal of the law.
Where do retirees apply for residence in Nicaragua now?
With the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) under the general migration law. Its current income thresholds and fees could not be confirmed from an official source.
How It Compares
Similar visas elsewhere
| Program | Country | Income | Fee | Max stay | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suriname Residence Permit for Retirees | Suriname | - | $150 | 24 mo | |
| Honduras Pensionado Visa | Honduras | $1,500/mo | $300 | 60 mo | |
| Indonesia Retirement KITAS (E33F and E33E) | Indonesia | $3,000/mo | IDR 7,000,000 | 12 mo | |
| Madagascar Retirement Residence Permit | Madagascar | - | - | - |
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