This article is in response to questions and concerns regarding residency card revalidation under the new Migración y Extranjería requirement limiting the validity of a Cédula de Residencia ID Card to a three (3) month or six (6) month term. The new procedure that was adopted last year, 2020 applies to the “Revalidation” of the ID card itself, not your residency term.
Those on the 3 month card program would have been personally requested to attend migración and had their existing card revalidated for a new one with a 3 month expiry period.
Those on the 6 month card program would have been to migración to obtain a first time card or a renewal since the new procedures were introduced and been given a residency card valid for a 6 month period.
If neither of those scenarios applies to you then your card expires on the original date shown on the card, i.e. one year or 5 years it was issued (first time card or renewal).
There are currently only two normal foreign residency terms in Nicaragua; a one year (referred to as temporary) and a five year (referred to as permanent).
The concern from some people was that if their residency card needed revalidation while they are out of the country and it shows an expired date when travelling back, an airline may require them to produce a return ticket or proof of onward travel out of Nicaragua. See the paragraph on Proof of Return Ticket or Onward Travel in the previous Nica-Biz post on Immigration Rules for Entering Nicaragua.
Other than making sure you are not out of the country when the card needs revalidation you can go to Migración y Extranjería and explain why you need an early revalidation.
Reports are that a normal revalidation is streamlined and the service is completed in under an hour.
There are also two things you can do in order to mitigate any problems with flight check in personnel. Both need to be done at the main/central office of migración in Managua (although you could ask at your local office);
1) Make sure that you have your residency stamp in the back of your passport, the one you are using now. It would have been stamped in the passport that you had at the time of obtaining your residency (or renewal) which could be a different passport than the one you are using currently. The fee for this procedure is now US $10.
2) Obtain a Constancia de Residencia or Certificate of Residency, the fee for which is now US $20
For both items, you will likely be asked to purchase a “Formulario” (a form) for a small fee (US $2 or US $3). Complete the form or check the boxes and go to the window they direct you to with your passport and Residency Card. Click here for the amended fees and fines from last August, 2020.
As previously stated, it’s the card and not your residency term that needs revalidation at the 3 or 6 month mark. Your residency was approved for the 1 year or 5 year period, therefore the passport stamp and certificate above should reflect that and be enough to satisfy any airline check in personnel when flying in.
Once back in Nicaragua, Migración y Extranjería will be familiar with the procedures and will have your information on the computer in front of them. In the event your card needed revalidating while you were away, you will have to be guided by their instructions.
As usual, this post is offered as practical information in order to assist you with any further research you may wish to do. If you have any concerns, you should obtain your own legal advice.
