Apostille for Nicaragua: which countries only need an apostille
Nicaragua has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 May 2013. For public documents from other member countries, the apostille replaces consular legalization.
Immigration rules changed several times between 2024 and 2026, and the authorities apply them with wide discretion. Confirm your case with the immigration directorate (DGME) or a Nicaraguan lawyer before making decisions.
| Country | Convention in force since |
|---|---|
| United States | 1981-10-15 |
| Canada / Canadá | 2024-01-11 |
| United Kingdom | 1965-01-24 |
| Germany | 1966-02-13 |
| France | 1965-01-24 |
| Spain | 1978-09-25 |
| Italia / Italy | 1978-02-11 |
| Netherlands | 1965-10-08 |
| Australia | 1995-03-16 |
| Mexico | 1995-08-14 |
| Colombia | 2001-01-30 |
| Costa Rica | 2011-12-14 |
| Honduras | 2004-09-30 |
| El Salvador | 1996-05-31 |
| Guatemala | 2017-09-18 |
| China | 2023-11-07 |
| India | 2005-07-14 |
Documents usually apostilled
- Birth certificate.
- Criminal-record certificate (last 3 years).
- Marriage certificate, if relevant.
- Pension or income certificates for retirees and rentistas.
What we could not confirm
The 2012 regulation still refers to documents “authenticated by the Consulate and the Foreign Ministry”; legally the apostille replaces that, but we could not confirm how the Migration desk applies it today. We also found no rule on who must translate documents into Spanish. Ask before you start.
Sources: HCCH, Apostille Convention status table; Regulation of Law 761 (Decree 31-2012); Spanish Foreign Ministry travel recommendations.
Reviewed: 13 Nov 2026