Christmas and New Year Holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for border traffic and immigration services. With that in mind, the Minister of the Interior – María Amelia Coronel Kinloch, has announced some of the details of the plan including immigration hours to accommodate the movement of a vast number of nationals and tourists.
Border Posts
Only two border crossings will not be open 24 hours a day. They are; Peñas Blancas (6:00 am to 12:00 midnight) and San Pancho (7:00 am to 5:00 pm). Generally speaking, Nicaragua immigration will match their neighboring countries hours (Honduras and Costa Rica), hence the two non 24 hour borders. See the Interactive Border Map here.
Extra Staff
The minister said that up to 50% more staff will be assigned where needed, in particular to all of the busiest border crossings and ports, as well as the airport to ensure a smooth exit and entry. The extra staff will enable up to 33 immigration windows to be open at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua (MGA) as well as 32 windows at Peñas Blancas, 24 at Guasaule and 16 at San Pancho.
Central Office and Departmental Service Centers – SERTRAMI’S
There are now 32 local immigration offices or Servicio de Trámites Migratorios across the country and they will be open as usual from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 5pm. These are in addition to the main immigration office in in Managua.
The two service centers in public shopping malls; Metrocentro and Multicentro Las Américas are the only locations open on Sundays with hours from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Traditionally only providing service to nationals).
The Departmental SERTRAMI’S are satellite offices of the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners that can process certain documents and procedures for nationals and foreigners. For foreigners they typically process the extension of stay for tourists and the every 6 month update of cedula information for foreign residents.
