Nicaragua Updates Visa Categories: 128 Countries Listed Under Category C (Visa Consultada) from 16 February 2026

February 16, 2026|Joshua

Nicaragua will require nationals from 128 countries to obtain a visa consultada, or prior authorization, before traveling to the country starting 16 February 2026, as part of updated visa category classifications issued by the Ministry of the Interior.

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Nicaragua has issued Disposición Administrativa No. 002-2026, updating its official visa classification lists under the country’s migration law. The measure was published by the Ministry of the Interior through the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería and takes effect on 16 February 2026.

The disposition revises the lists of countries whose nationals may enter visa-free (Category A) and those classified under Category C (visa consultada), which requires prior authorization before travel.

Under the updated classification, nationals of 128 countries are listed in Category C and must obtain a visa consultada before boarding transport to Nicaragua.

What Disposición 002-2026 Changes

Nicaragua’s migration system, governed by Law No. 761 (Ley General de Migración y Extranjería), classifies foreign nationals into visa categories:

Category A: Visa-free entry for short stays
Category C (visa consultada): Prior authorization required from the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería before a visa may be issued

Disposición 002-2026 updates these official lists. It does not create a new visa category but revises the countries assigned to each classification.

The measure:

Publishes an updated list of 69 countries whose nationals may enter visa-free
Publishes an updated list of 128 countries classified under Category C (visa consultada)
Maintains exemptions for holders of diplomatic, official, service, and special passports where bilateral agreements remain in force

Full List of Countries Classified Under Category C (Visa Consultada)

The following countries are listed under Category C in Disposición 002-2026. In some cases, the requirement applies only to holders of ordinary passports, as specified in the official text.

Afghanistan
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Benin
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Bhutan
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chad
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Slovakia
Slovenia
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Equatorial Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Iran
Iceland
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Jamaica
Jordan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Kiribati
Laos
Lesotho
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
North Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Morocco
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
New Zealand
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Rwanda
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Central African Republic
Samoa
Saint Kitts and Nevis
San Marino
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Lucia
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Syria
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Thailand
Tanzania
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Diplomatic, official, service, and special passport holders may remain exempt where bilateral agreements apply.

Special Provisions

Colombia

The official text notes a limited reciprocity arrangement concerning Colombia. Certain Nicaraguans born on the Caribbean coast and Colombians born in the Raizal communities of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina may retain specific visa-free privileges.

This does not constitute general visa-free access for all Colombian citizens.

Effective Date

The updated visa classifications take effect on 16 February 2026.

From that date:

Airlines and transport carriers are expected to verify that passengers from Category C countries hold valid visa consultada authorization
Border officials will apply the updated classification when assessing admissibility

Travelers should confirm their visa classification before departure.

What Is a Visa Consultada?

Under Law No. 761, a visa consultada requires prior centralized approval from the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería.

Key characteristics:

Consulates cannot issue the visa without authorization from migration authorities
Applies to tourism, business visits, transit, and other short stays
Typically grants 30 days of stay, extendable up to 90 days
Transit visas generally allow up to 5 days

Holding a visa consultada does not guarantee admission; entry remains subject to border inspection.

Application Process

1. Prepare Required Documents

Passport valid for at least six months
Visa application or formal request letter
Passport photographs
Police or criminal record certificate
Proof of financial means
Travel itinerary

2. Submit Application

Lodge application at a Nicaraguan embassy or consulate
The case is forwarded for centralized approval
Online initiation is available via the Ministry of the Interior

3. Await Decision

Migration authorities approve or deny the request. Additional documentation or guarantees may be required.

4. Visa Issuance

Once authorized, the visa is issued at the designated consulate. Fees may apply.

Processing times vary. Applicants should apply well in advance of travel.

Official Position

Disposición 002-2026 presents the updated classifications as an administrative measure under Nicaragua’s sovereign authority to regulate the entry and stay of foreign nationals.

The official document does not specify geopolitical or diplomatic motivations.