last edited Dec 11, 2019
Entry Requirements and Visa for Nicaragua
Location Map of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
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People
For travel with a tourist purpose.
For French Citizens
No visa is required for French citizens for stays of less than 3 months; a passport valid for 6 months after the planned return date is sufficient. In theory, a return or onward ticket (including by land) may be requested.
Regarding taxes, a $10 fee is charged upon arrival in the country, plus a $7 fee for land departures (the $35 for air departures is usually included in the ticket price). These fees can only be paid in local currency or US dollars.
Warning: The 90-day visa-free stay applies in practice to the four countries of the "C4," a "common area" including Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. This means the total duration of a continuous stay in these four countries cannot exceed 90 days.
Other Nationalities
The same applies to Canadians, Swiss citizens, EU nationals, and a few other nationalities.
Long Stays
In Case of Violation
Missing Stamp
Entry into Nicaragua requires a stamp in your passport upon arrival. However, for those traveling by land between countries, especially via secondary routes, immigration services may be hard to find as they are not always located at the border. It is still best to locate them, as without the passport stamp, you risk a fine upon departure or even issues for "illegal entry into the country."
Overstaying the Authorized Period
Overstaying the 90-day visa-free period can lead to problems when leaving the country. A fine must be paid immediately in US dollars, calculated proportionally to the number of days overstayed, which can quickly become a significant amount.
Vehicles
Consulates
In France
General Consulate: 34 av. Bugeaud, 75016 Paris. Tel.: 01 44 05 90 42. Open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Honorary consulates in the provinces
- Lyon: 49 rue de Créqui, 69006 Lyon. Tel.: 04 72 81 64 04.
- Toulouse: 23 rue du Languedoc, 31000 Toulouse. Tel.: 05 61 25 85 43.
Other Countries
- Belgium: General Consulate, 55 av. de Wolvendael, 1180 Uccle. Tel.: 2 375 65 00.
- Canada: There is no representation of the country in Canada.
- Switzerland: General Consulate, 37-39 rue de Vermont, 1202 Geneva. Tel.: 022 740 51 60.