Up to 90 days as a tourist. The Tourist Card is technically valid for 30 days, but your actual authorised stay is set by the entry stamp in your passport, so always check the stamp.

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🇩🇪GERMANY

🏳NIDE-NI

Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit NI?

Q: How much does the Tourist Card cost and how do I pay?

About US$10 at Managua airport and around US$13 at land borders. It must be paid in US dollars cash, so bring small, clean bills.

Q: How long must my passport be valid?

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry into Nicaragua.

Q: Does Schengen 90/180 or ETIAS apply to this trip?

No. Nicaragua is in Central America, not the Schengen area, so neither the Schengen 90/180 rule nor ETIAS applies. ETIAS only concerns Nicaraguans travelling to Europe.

Q: Can I extend my stay beyond the stamped period?

Yes. You can apply for an extension at the Nicaraguan immigration authority (Migración) inside the country before your authorised stay expires.

German ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for tourism in Nicaragua for stays of up to 90 days. You buy a tourist card on arrival for about US$10 (cash). Germany is on Nicaragua's visa-exemption list, so German ordinary passport holders can enter for tourism without a pre-arranged visa and stay up to 90 days. On arrival you must purchase a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo), which costs US$10 at Managua's Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (around US$13 at land borders such as Peñas Blancas), payable in cash only. The card itself is technically valid for 30 days, but a tourist stay of up to 90 days is permitted and your actual authorised period is recorded by the entry stamp in your passport, so always confirm you receive a clear entry stamp. Your passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry. Officials may ask for proof of onward/return travel and sufficient funds. A small departure fee (about US$3) can apply at non-airport land exits. Stays can be extended for an additional period at the Nicaraguan immigration authority (Migración) inside the country. Nicaragua is in Central America, not the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to this trip (ETIAS is relevant only to Nicaraguan nationals travelling to Europe). This guidance is verified against the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) and the German Embassy in Managua as of 2026-05-31.

VISA-FREETOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

Germany (PR)Living in Germany as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

Visa-free entry (Tourist Card purchased on arrival)

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days

per entry

Entries

Single entry per Tourist Card (new card on each entry)

from issue date

Visa fee

Tourist Card approx. US$10 (airport) / US$13 (land border)

consular fee only

Processing time

Issued on arrival (immediate)

standard track

Validity

Tourist Card valid 30 days; tourist stay up to 90 days per passport stamp

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check passport validity

Confirm your German passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry into Nicaragua. Renew beforehand if it is close to expiry.

· 6 months validity· Do before booking

/02

Book travel with onward/return ticket

Buy flights with a confirmed return or onward ticket within 90 days. Immigration officers may ask to see proof you will leave Nicaragua.

· Onward ticket· Within 90 days

/03

Prepare cash for the Tourist Card

Bring US dollars in cash (small, clean bills). The Tourist Card fee must be paid in cash on arrival; cards are generally not accepted for this fee.

· US$10-13 cash· USD only

/04

Buy the Tourist Card on arrival

At immigration, purchase the Tarjeta de Turismo: about US$10 at Managua airport, around US$13 at land borders such as Peñas Blancas.

· Tarjeta de Turismo· At immigration desk

/05

Get a clear entry stamp

Make sure your passport receives a legible entry stamp. The stamp, not the card, documents your authorised stay and prevents exit problems later.

· Entry stamp· Verify before leaving counter

/06

Extend in-country if needed

If you want to stay beyond your stamped period (up to the 90-day maximum, or longer), apply for an extension at the Nicaraguan immigration office (Migración) before your authorised stay expires.

· Migración office· Apply before expiry

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

9 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 9 complete

German passport valid at least 6 months on date of entry

required

Tourist Card fee in US dollars cash (approx. US$10-13)

required

Confirmed return or onward ticket within 90 days

recommended

Proof of sufficient funds for the stay

recommended

Proof of accommodation / hotel booking

recommended

Clear entry stamp confirmed in passport on arrival

required

Travel/health insurance valid for Nicaragua

recommended

Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from an endemic country in Africa or South America

situational

Small US$ cash for possible departure fee at land borders (approx. US$3)

situational

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Tourist Card (airport arrival)US$10Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, Managua; cash only

Tourist Card (land border)US$13E.g. Peñas Blancas crossing from Costa Rica; cash only

Land border departure feeUS$3Applies at some non-airport exit points; cash only

Stay extension (Migración)Variable feePaid in-country to extend beyond stamped period

Total estimateUS$10 — US$16incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Tourist Card on arrival

Immediate (at the border)

Purchased at the immigration counter when you land or cross. No advance application needed.

In-country extension at Migración

Same day to a few days

Optional, only if you need to stay beyond your stamped authorised period.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Tourism / short visit

German citizens are visa-exempt for tourist stays up to 90 days and simply buy a Tourist Card on arrival.

High

/02

Visiting friends and family

Short social visits fall under the same visa-free tourist regime with no advance visa required.

Medium

/03

Short business trips / meetings

Brief business activities are commonly handled under the visa-free entry, though work for pay requires the proper visa/permit.

Medium

/04

Transit and onward Central America travel

Travellers passing through Nicaragua on a regional itinerary use the same visa-free entry and Tourist Card.

Medium

/05

Volunteering or study

Longer or specific-purpose stays may exceed the tourist regime and need an appropriate visa or extension.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30 · major

Germany to Nicaragua route verified

Confirmed visa-free tourist entry up to 90 days with US$10 Tourist Card on arrival, cross-checked against the German Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Managua.

/09 — The questions