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ETIAS for Nicaraguans

Traveling to Europe From Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Requirements to Visit Europe

By mid-2025, travelers from Nicaragua will need to apply for a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to visit the Schengen Area in an effort to improve EU border management and security.

With the new ETIAS visa waiver, Nicaraguan passport holders will be able to visit all of the Schengen member states, which consists of 22 EU countries as well as 4 non-EU countries.

Discover Nicaraguan ETIAS Requirements

Nicaraguans who are visiting the Schengen Area for tourism or business for up to 90 days do not need a European visa.

However, through the use of the ETIAS visa waiver, Schengen member countries are implementing new systems to strengthen border control. This means that Nicaraguan tourists and business travelers will need to get an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to Schengen territory for any period of time. 

For eligible Nicaraguan applicants, ETIAS requirements include:

  • Valid passport administered by the Nicaraguan authorities
  • Credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS fee online
  • Active email address to be notified when ETIAS is approved

How to Apply for ETIAS for Nicaraguans

Nicaraguan applicants must complete the ETIAS application form to apply for a European visa waiver. The form will ask for basic personal information as well as standard travel details and passport data.

Questions on the ETIAS Application Form Include:

  • Name and surname
  • Nationality
  • Date, location and country of birth
  • Residential address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
  • First content of entry

 

Nicaraguan citizens will also need to answer some basic security questions regarding health and immigration history in order to comply with European law. The answers will be cross-referenced against international criminal and informational databases to ensure that the information provided is correct and matches the Schengen security standards.

Questions may be about the following subjects:

  • Criminal recent history
  • Employment history
  • Travel to conflict areas
  • Previous travels to Europe

Most applications will be processed and approved quickly, but travelers are advised to apply for ETIAS as soon as possible prior to their trip to Europe to ensure the application arrives in time. The applicant will be notified by email once the ETIAS has been approved.

Traveling from Nicaragua to Europe

With the approved ETIAS, Nicaraguans will be able to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for permitted activities. The same ETIAS authorization is valid throughout the Schengen zone, so Nicaraguans will not need a separate travel authorization for each country they visit during their trip.

By pre-screening visa-exempt travelers, ETIAS will improve security and strengthen external Schengen borders. This will make European destinations safer for Nicaraguan citizens. The travel authorization is valid for 3 years (or until the corresponding passport expires) and multiple visits are allowed during this time.

All visa-exempt travelers from non-EU countries, including Nicaragua, will need to apply for the travel authorization. ETIAS is not a visa, but will be a mandatory entry document. The ETIAS will be verified when the Nicaraguan passport is scanned at the external Schengen border.

Border control officers and immigration authorities may ask for further documentation proving that the traveler intends to stay within the Schengen area for a limited time. 

Additional documents required at the border may include:

  • A return ticket as evidence of the traveler’s plan to leave Europe
  • Proof of onward travel
  • Financial information proving that the Nicaraguan traveler can support themselves during their stay in Europe

Because the final decision is up to the European authorities, please note that obtaining an ETIAS authorisation does not guarantee entry into the Schengen territory.

Information on the ETIAS Application