Moving to Nicaragua from Colombia
What depends on your nationality: entry, documents and your government’s advice.
Immigration rules changed several times between 2024 and 2026. Confirm your case with the DGME or a Nicaraguan lawyer.
Entry
Category C: you need a pre-approved visa authorized by Migration before travelling (ordinary passports). The initial stay is 30 days, extendable to 90, valid for Nicaragua only.
Documents and apostille
Colombia has applied the Apostille Convention since 2001-01-30. Your public documents (birth certificate, criminal record, marriage certificate) only need an apostille to be used in Nicaragua.
Worth knowing
Visa-free entry is kept, under partial reciprocity, for Raizales born in San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina.
Guides
- What changed in Nicaragua’s immigration rules from 2024 to 2026
- Nicaragua residency in 2026: categories, requirements and fees
- Retiring in Nicaragua: retiree and rentista residence in 2026
- How long you can stay in Nicaragua as a tourist and how to extend
- Nicaragua visa requirements by nationality (2026)
- Apostille for Nicaragua: which countries only need an apostille
- Permanent residency and Nicaraguan citizenship: rules since 2024
- Working in Nicaragua as a foreigner: permits and remote work
- Safety and travel advisories for Nicaragua (2026)
Sources: Disposition 002-2026 on visa categories (text reproduced by Canal 4); HCCH, Apostille Convention status table; Law 1228 (amending Law 761), La Gaceta No. 222, 29 Nov 2024.