Residencia Temporal Rentista

The Residencia Temporal Rentista lets foreign nationals who receive stable income from investments, distributions, rental income, or other lawful economic activities outside Nicaragua reside in the country. Originally established under Ley No. 694 (2009) as a permanent residence with generous fiscal benefits, the category was substantially reformed in November 2024, when Ley No. 1228 repealed Law 694 entirely, reclassified rentista residence as temporary rather than permanent, and removed the associated customs and tax exemptions. It is now governed by Ley No. 761 (General Migration and Immigration Law) as amended, and administered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME). Unlike the pensionado category, the rentista has no age restriction but requires a higher minimum monthly income.

• No minimum age requirement (unlike the pensionado, which requires age 45)
• Confirmed stable passive income of at least US$750 per month from investment sources abroad — this figure, fixed by Ley 694 and its reglamento, remains current, as Ley 1228 (2024) published no revised monetary threshold
• Income must be demonstrable for at least five years
• Additional US$150 per month per dependant
• Applicants are prohibited from industrial, commercial, or public-sector employment, with limited exceptions (self-owned business holding at least US$75,000 in registered property, authorized professional services, or teaching/scientific research at qualified institutions)

• Written application and valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Birth certificate, apostilled or authenticated
• Criminal record certificate from country of origin, apostilled
• Health certificate from a licensed physician confirming absence of contagious diseases
• Certification of income sources showing stability for at least 5 years (investment statements, rental income documentation, distribution records)
• Two passport-size photographs (white background)
• All documents legally translated into Spanish and authenticated

Residence is issued for 1 year and must be renewed annually. Renewal requires a renewal form, passport copy, residency card copy, health certificate, police record, and supporting documentation submitted to the DGME.

Spouse (including common-law partners who present official certification of stable union), dependent children, and parents may be included. Each dependant adds US$150 per month to the income requirement and must provide the same core documentation (passport, birth certificate, health certificate, and criminal record where applicable).

With the repeal of Law 694, the former fiscal benefits — customs exemptions on household goods, vehicles, and construction materials, plus VAT and professional-equipment exemptions — no longer apply, and standard Nicaraguan tax rules govern. Nicaragua operates a territorial tax system: only Nicaraguan-source income is taxed, so foreign passive income is generally not subject to Nicaraguan tax. Tax residents (180+ days per year) may still have filing obligations.

Applications are submitted in person at the DGME main office in Managua; the former INTUR/consular pathway was eliminated by the 2024 reform. Applicants are typically asked to attend a brief interview, and processing generally takes about 2 to 8 months. Government fees run roughly US$200 plus US$500 per person. Note that DGME Disposición No. 002-2026 (effective 16 February 2026) reformed entry-visa categories by nationality — reclassifying some nationalities into the online "consulted visa" category — which affects how prospective applicants must enter Nicaragua but does not change the rentista income requirement.