Retiring in Nicaragua: retiree and rentista residence in 2026

Where things stand

• Retirees (subcategory 11) and rentistas (subcategory 12) receive temporary residence of 3 months to 1 year, renewable. Renewal is requested 30 days before expiry.
• These categories do not lead to permanent residence. You could only get it by qualifying another way: immigrant, investor, family tie to a Nicaraguan, refugee status or Central American origin.
• Annual fee: US$/$CA 100 for retirees and US$/$CA 200 for rentistas.
• Paid work requires a separate permit costing US$/$CA 200.
• We found no current tax benefits for retirees or rentistas.

How much income is required?

Current law sets no figure. A regional law firm (Consortium Legal, January 2026) cites a reference minimum of US$1,200 a month. The US$600/750 and US$1,000/1,250 figures found on many sites came from Law 694 and no longer have a legal basis.

Specific documents

Besides the documents every residence application needs, retirees provide a certificate of the source and amount of their pension from the paying entity, and rentistas a certificate of the source and amount of their stable income.

What Law 694 offered (now repealed)

Immediate permanent residence, duty-free import of household goods up to US$20,000, a vehicle benefit every 4 years and a VAT exemption on materials to build your home. None of this has applied since 2 August 2024.