Nicaraguan Passport from the United States: How to Apply or Renew
The Nicaraguan passport is the travel document that identifies you as a citizen of Nicaragua abroad, and it is issued by the Directorate General of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME). If you live in the United States, you can get it or renew it without traveling to Nicaragua, although the consular network has shrunk and today the process is concentrated in just a few offices. In this guide we explain what you need, where to apply now, the step-by-step process, the timelines and what to do if you lose it.
Notice: after the 2024 consulate closures, Nicaragua's consular network in the U.S. is now reduced. Only three offices remain open (Washington D.C., Miami and New York), and they serve clients by appointment only.
Contents
What you need for the Nicaraguan passport
The documents depend on whether this is your first issuance or a renewal, but in general you will be asked for identification proving your nationality and parentage. These are the documents usually requested:
- 📄 Recent birth certificate issued in Nicaragua.
- 🪪 Valid Nicaraguan ID card.
- 📷 Photos that meet the required passport format.
- 📘 Previous passport, if this is a renewal.
The exact requirements may vary depending on your case and the type of application. Confirm them with the consular office or with Migration before your appointment, and also check our guide to the Nicaraguan ID card if you need to update that document.
Where to apply now
With the consular network reduced, the passport is handled at the three offices that remain open in the United States. Service is by appointment only, which you must request at citas.cancilleria.gob.ni:
- 📍 Washington D.C.
- 📍 Miami (Florida)
- 📍 New York
In addition to applying in person, some types of application can be started online. First issuance and renewal due to expiration can be started through Migration at migob.gob.ni/migracion; even so, in most cases you will need to appear at the office to complete the biometric data capture and pickup.
How to apply step by step
- Check your application type: first issuance, renewal due to expiration or replacement. Some can be started online through Migration.
- Gather the documents (recent birth certificate, ID card, photos and, if renewing, your previous passport).
- Request your appointment at citas.cancilleria.gob.ni at the nearest open office.
- Attend your appointment in Washington D.C., Miami or New York with all the requirements.
- Confirm the current fee and the payment method at your appointment, and ask when you can pick up the document.
- 🌐 Appointment portal: citas.cancilleria.gob.ni
- 💻 Online application (Migration): migob.gob.ni/migracion
Timelines and cost
Delivery time depends on the type of application and the workload at each office. Since service is by appointment only and the network is reduced, it is best to book as far in advance as possible, especially if your passport is about to expire or you need to travel soon.
The cost of the passport varies depending on the type of application and the office, and the figures going around do not always match. Do not take any figure as final: confirm the current fee and the payment method directly with the consular office before paying.
Lost or stolen passport
If your passport was lost or stolen, the replacement is done in person, by appointment, and generally cannot be started online. You will usually be asked for some report or proof of the loss, in addition to the same identity documents as a regular application.
If you need to travel or regularize your situation right away and do not have a passport, ask the office about a safe-conduct, a temporary travel document issued in specific cases.
Frequently asked questions about the Nicaraguan passport
Who issues the Nicaraguan passport?
It is issued by Nicaragua's Directorate General of Migration and Foreign Nationals (DGME). From the U.S., the process is handled through the consular offices that remain open.
At which offices can I apply in the U.S.?
After the 2024 consulate closures, only three remain open: Washington D.C., Miami and New York. All serve clients by appointment only, requested at citas.cancilleria.gob.ni.
Can I do the process online?
Some types of application, such as first issuance and renewal due to expiration, can be started online through Migration (migob.gob.ni/migracion). Replacement after loss usually cannot.
What documents should I bring?
Generally a recent birth certificate, ID card, photos and, if it is a renewal, your previous passport. Confirm the full list when you book your appointment.
How much does it cost?
The price varies depending on the type of application and the office, and the published figures do not always match. Always confirm the current fee with the consular office before paying.
What if I lost it or it was stolen?
The replacement is done in person, by appointment, and generally cannot be started online. You will usually be asked for a report of the loss along with your usual identity documents.