Cédula in hand in 8 to 18 months, without the immigration-mill nightmare.

No. You need to be physically present at three points: the in-person filing visit at Migración in Managua (1 day), the fingerprinting and medical check (usually done the same trip), and the cédula pickup once you're approved.

Many of our clients fly in for a week, knock out 1 and 2 back-to-back, then leave and return later only for pickup. We coordinate the appointments so you minimize trips.

Honest answer: depends on what's on it. Old DUIs, minor possession charges, anything more than 10 years out — usually fine. Violent crimes, drug trafficking, fraud, or anything within the last 5 years can be a hard stop.

Tell us when we talk. Your FBI or RCMP check is going to show it anyway, and surprises mid-process are far worse than disclosure on day one. Our lawyers have successfully filed for clients with old records on the books. The only thing they can't help is someone who hid it and got caught.

Realistically, no — not as the primary income source. Migración wants traditional bank-statement income, deposited monthly, traceable to a regulated institution. Crypto trading P&L is too volatile and too opaque to satisfy "stable monthly income."

What works: have a US or Canadian bank account that's funded regularly — from whatever source, including crypto cash-outs — and show 12 months of consistent monthly deposits to that account. File using the fiat statements. The crypto stays in the background where Migración doesn't have to evaluate it.

You're right to ask. Nicaragua is a small country, with one Migración office in Managua processing every foreign residency case, and the file moves at the pace of that office. There is no expedited track. No one we know — Nicaraguan or foreign — has bought a faster timeline.

What we can control is the part before filing: how cleanly your documents move through the apostille → translation → assembly sequence. That's where we save you 2 to 4 months of false starts. Once the file is at Migración, we're all waiting on the same desk.

No. Nicaragua allows dual citizenship after 5 years of residency if you decide to naturalize — but you can keep your home passport. Most of our clients hold their original citizenship and a Nicaraguan cédula side by side indefinitely.

Tax-wise, US citizens are still subject to US tax on worldwide income regardless of residency. Talk to a US tax accountant before assuming residency changes your obligations.

Outright denials on properly-prepared files are rare. The far more common outcome is a request for additional documentation, which we help you resolve and re-submit.

If you do get a denial, the lawyer fees and government fees you've already paid are gone. We help you understand whether the denial is fixable (most are) or terminal (rare). If it's fixable, we'll walk you through the next steps. If it's terminal, we'll tell you that straight.

Under Pensionado and Rentista — no. The pathway specifically requires that your income comes from outside Nicaragua, and taking a local salary violates that condition. You can run a remote business, freelance for foreign clients, or invest passively.

Under Inversionista — yes, but only in your own registered Nicaraguan business. You can't take a salary from someone else's company. After 5 years and naturalization, all restrictions lift.

Annual cédula renewals are short and almost always rubber-stamp. You bring your current cédula, proof of continued residency in country (utility bill or rental contract), and a $50 fee. Same-day issuance is typical.

After 5 years of continuous residency, you can apply for permanent resident status (renewal every 10 years) or for Nicaraguan citizenship if you want a second passport. We send you a reminder before each renewal — no one misses it on our watch.