Do I need a visa or a yellow fever vaccine to enter Nicaragua?
Visitors from the U.S., Canada and the UK don't need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. You pay a $13 tourist entry fee in cash on arrival, and your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months. You only need a yellow fever certificate if you're arriving from, or recently traveled through, a country with yellow fever risk.
The detail
- Bring proof of onward travel. You need a return or onward ticket, and officers may ask for proof you can cover your stay.
- Check your nationality. Since February 16, 2026, around 128 nationalities need a visa in advance, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Visa on arrival has been removed for them.
- The 90 days are shared. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador share one 90-day allowance under the CA-4 agreement. If your time across those countries goes over 90 days, you pay a late fee of $3 a day plus a visa of roughly $30. It's a hassle, so we don't recommend it.
- Yellow fever rules. If you've been in a yellow fever risk country in South or Central America or Africa, you need the vaccine at least 10 days before you arrive. Bring the original paper yellow card.
- Cash limits. Declare $10,000 or more in cash on arrival.
- Exit tax. The $42 departure tax is normally included in your airline ticket.