Nicaragua · Citizenship
Nicaragua citizenship for Americans: how many years, and can you keep US citizenship?
Short answer
Apply 7 years after getting a permanent residence card, and renounce US nationality first. Temporary residence years don't count.
The rules
| Timeline | 7 years from the date of your permanent residence card |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship | No: you must renounce US nationality; only Central Americans by origin keep theirs. |
Not yet verified Read in reproduced copies of the 2024 reform.
Pending change A constitutional change requiring renunciation awaits confirmed publication.
Good to know
- Permanent card first: temporary years, such as retiree residence, don't count.
- Shorter routes: 2 years for parents of Nicaraguan children; 1 year for founding an industry.
- Marriage: to a Nicaraguan is a route; its time period isn't stated.
- Exams: Not established yet
- Not a right: the state can say no.
- Keeping it: you lose it by taking another nationality.
Sources (5)
Legal basis and exact figures
- Clock: Ley 761 art 53(1) as reformed by Ley 1228 (Gaceta 222, 29/11/2024): 7 years from the permanent-residence card, after renouncing (previously 4). 53(2) Central Americans of origin; 53(3) marriage or stable union; 53(4) 2 years for parents of Nicaraguan children; 53(5) 1 year for founders of an industry. Old arts 30, 54-55 derogated.
- Pending change: constitutional art 23 reform ('previa renuncia a su nacionalidad originaria'), first legislature Gaceta 89, 20/05/2025; second-legislature approval reported January 2026, publication not confirmed. Loss on acquiring another nationality (art 64). Effect of renunciation under US law is a US-law question.
Every rule, with its legal basis
The rules
Ordinary naturalisation: residence of seven years counted from the date of the permanent-residence card, after renouncing the nationality of origin (Ley 761 art 53(1) as reformed by Ley 1228, Gaceta 222, 29/11/2024; previously four years).
Shorter routes: marriage or stable union with a Nicaraguan registered in the civil registry (53(3), period not stated in the text read); two continuous years of residence for parents of Nicaraguan children (53(4)); one year of permanent residence for those who establish an industry or activity contributing to development (53(5)); discretionary exceptions for economic, social, cultural, sporting, health or investment interest (53(1)). Former two-year routes for Spaniards and investors (old arts 54-55) were derogated. Grant is a sovereign act and may be refused (art 53). Which residence counts: only time after the permanent-residence card; temporary residence (jubilado, rentista) does not count on the text, and the three-year temporary-to-permanent path (old art 30) was derogated.
Absences: the 1982 nationality regulation required permanent, uninterrupted residence (lead; not read in a current source).
Language or tests: not established.
Dual nationality allowed by the host: no for US nationals — renunciation is required by art 53(1), and constitutional art 23 as reformed requires naturalisation 'previa renuncia a su nacionalidad originaria' (first legislature Gaceta 89, 20/05/2025; second-legislature approval reported January 2026, publication not confirmed). Only Central Americans of origin may naturalise without renouncing (53(2)). Acquired nationality can be lost by acquiring another nationality (art 64). Effect of a renunciation statement under US law needs separate US-law analysis.
Not yet verified Whether every part of this timeline is confirmed at the official source.
Links
- Ley 1228, Ley de Reforma y Adiciones a la Ley 761 (Gaceta 222, 29/11/2024)
- Ley 761, Ley General de Migración y Extranjería, texto consolidado (Gaceta 09, 18/01/2024)
- Ley de Reforma Parcial a los arts 23 y 25 de la Constitución (primera legislatura, Gaceta
- Press reports of second-legislature approval of arts 23/25 reform (Confidencial, Revista E
- Consortium Legal: Immigration reform in Nicaragua, changes of interest (29/07/2025)
Citizenship in Nicaragua, in full → The full Nicaragua guide →
Questions people ask
How many years until I can become a citizen of Nicaragua?
7 years from the date of your permanent residence card
Can I keep US citizenship if I become a citizen of Nicaragua?
No: you must renounce US nationality; only Central Americans by origin keep theirs.