A brief guide to living, retiring and vacation to Nicaragua
- A Brief Biography of Nicaragua
- Country spec sheet
- US Offices and Officials in Nicaragua
- Travel Information Sheet from the US Government
- List of Nicaraguan Attorney's Registered at US Embassy in Managua (Property issue Attorneys and Other registered Attorneys)
1. A Brief Biography of Nicaragua
BACKGROUND
The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
PEOPLE
Most Nicaraguans are of both European and Indian ancestry, and the culture of the country reflects the Ibero-European and Indian heritage of its people. Only the Indians of the eastern half of the country remain ethnically distinct and retain tribal customs and languages. A large black minority, of Jamaican origin, is concentrated on the Caribbean coast. In the mid-1980s, the central government divided the eastern half of the country--the former department of Zelaya--into two autonomous regions and granted the people of the region limited self-rule.
The 1995 constitutional reform guaranteed the integrity of the regions' several unique cultures and gave the inhabitants a say in the use of the area's natural resources. Roman Catholicism is the major religion, but Evangelical Protestant groups have grown recently, and there are strong Anglican and Moravian communities on the Caribbean coast. Most Nicaraguans live in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent interior highlands. The population is 54% urban.
HISTORY
Nicaragua takes its name from Nicarao, chief of the indigenous tribe that lived around present-day Lake Nicaragua during the late 1400s and early 1500s. In 1524, Hernandez de Cordoba founded the first Spanish permanent settlements in the region, including two of Nicaragua's principal towns: Granada on Lake Nicaragua, and Leon east of Lake Managua. Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821, briefly becoming a part of the Mexican Empire and then a member of a federation of independent Central American provinces. In 1838, Nicaragua became an independent republic.
Much of Nicaragua's politics since independence have been characterized by the rivalry between the Liberal elite of Leon and the Conservative elite of Granada, which often led to civil war. Initially invited by the Liberals in 1855 to join their struggle against the Conservatives, an American named William Walker and his "filibusters" seized the presidency in 1856. The Liberals and Conservatives united to drive him out of office in 1857. Three decades of Conservative rule followed. Taking advantage of divisions within the Conservative ranks, Jose Santos Zelaya led a Liberal revolt that brought him to power in 1893. Zelaya ended a longstanding dispute with Britain over the Atlantic Coast in 1894, and reincorporated that region into Nicaragua.
By 1909, differences had developed over an isthmian canal and concessions to Americans in Nicaragua; there also was concern about what was perceived as Nicaragua's destabilizing influence in the region. In 1909 the United States provided political support to Conservative-led forces rebelling against President Zelaya and intervened militarily to protect American lives and property. Zelaya resigned later that year. With the exception of a 9-month period in 1925-26, the United States maintained troops in Nicaragua from 1912 until 1933. From 1927 until 1933, U.S. Marines stationed in Nicaragua engaged in a running battle with rebel forces led by renegade Liberal Gen. Augusto Sandino, who rejected a 1927 negotiated agreement brokered by the United States to end the latest round of fighting between Liberals and Conservatives.
After the departure of U.S. troops, National Guard Cmdr. Anastasio Somoza Garcia outmaneuvered his political opponents--including Sandino, who was assassinated by National Guard officers--and took over the presidency in 1936. Somoza, and two sons who succeeded him, maintained close ties with the United States. The Somoza dynasty ended in 1979 with a massive uprising led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), which had conducted a lowscale guerrilla war against the Somoza regime since the early 1960s.
The FSLN established an authoritarian dictatorship soon after taking power. U.S.-Nicaraguan relations deteriorated rapidly as the regime nationalized many private industries, confiscated private property, supported Central American guerrilla movements, and maintained links to international terrorists. The United States suspended aid to Nicaragua in 1981. The Reagan administration provided assistance to the Nicaraguan resistance and in 1985 imposed an embargo on U.S.-Nicaraguan trade.
In response to both domestic and international pressure, the Sandinista regime entered into negotiations with the Nicaraguan resistance and agreed to nationwide elections in February 1990. In these elections, which were proclaimed free and fair by international observers, Nicaraguan voters elected as their President the candidate of the National Opposition Union, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.
During President Chamorro's nearly 7 years in office, her government achieved major progress toward consolidating democratic institutions, advancing national reconciliation, stabilizing the economy, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and reducing human rights violations. In February 1995, Sandinista Popular Army Cmdr. Gen. Humberto Ortega was replaced in accordance with a new military code enacted in 1994 by Gen. Joaquin Cuadra, who espoused a policy of greater professionalism in the renamed Army of Nicaragua. A new police organization law, passed by the National Assembly and signed into law in August 1996, further codified both civilian control of the police and the professionalization of that law enforcement agency. Despite a number of irregularities--which were due largely to logistical difficulties and a baroquely complicated electoral law--the October 20, 1996 presidential, legislative, and mayoral elections were judged free and fair by international observers and by the groundbreaking national electoral observer group Etica y Transparencia (Ethics and Transparency). This time Nicaraguans elected former Managua Mayor Arnoldo Aleman, leader of the center-right Liberal Alliance. The first transfer of power in recent Nicaraguan history from one democratically elected president to another took place on January 10, 1997, when the Aleman government was inaugurated.
In November 2000, Nicaragua held municipal elections--the country's third free and fair election since 1990. President Aleman's Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC) won a majority of the overall mayoral races, but the FSLN fared considerably better in larger urban areas, winning a significant number of departmental capitals, including Managua.
Presidential and legislative elections were held in November 2001. Enrique Bolaños of the Liberal Constitutionalist Party was elected to the Nicaraguan presidency on November 4, 2001, defeating FSLN candidate Daniel Ortega by 14 percentage points. The elections, characterized by international observers as free, fair and peaceful, reflected the maturing of Nicaragua's democratic institutions. During his campaign, President-elect Bolaños promised to reinvigorate the economy, create jobs, fight corruption, and support the war against terrorism. Bolaños was inaugurated on January 10, 2002.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Nicaragua is a constitutional democracy with executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral branches of government. In 1995, the executive and legislative branches negotiated a reform of the 1987 Sandinista constitution, which gave impressive new powers and independence to the legislature--the National Assembly--including permitting the Assembly to override a presidential veto with a simple majority vote and eliminating the president's ability to pocket-veto a bill.
The president and the members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to concurrent 5-year terms. The National Assembly consists of 90 deputies elected from party lists drawn at the department and national level, plus the defeated presidential candidates who obtained a minimal quotient of votes. In the 1996 elections, the Liberal Alliance won a plurality of 42 seats, the FSLN won 36 seats, and nine other political parties and alliances won the remaining 15 seats. In the 2001 elections, the Liberal Party won 53 seats, the FSLN 38 seats, and the Conservative Party (PC) 1 seat.
The Supreme Court supervises the functioning of the still largely ineffective and overburdened judicial system. As part of the 1995 constitutional reforms, the independence of the Supreme Court was strengthened by increasing the number of magistrates from 9 to 12. In 2000, the number or Supreme Court justices was increased to 16. Supreme Court justices are elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly. Led by a council of seven magistrates, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) is the co-equal branch of government responsible for organizing and conducting elections, plebiscites, and referendums. The magistrates and their alternates are elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly. Constitutional changes in 2000 expanded the number of CSE magistrates from five to seven and gave the PLC and the FSLN a freer hand to name party activists to the Council, prompting allegations that both parties were politicizing electoral institutions and processes and excluding smaller political parties.
Freedom of speech is a right guaranteed by Nicaragua's constitution and vigorously exercised by its people. Diverse viewpoints are freely and openly discussed in the media and in academia. There is no state censorship in Nicaragua. Other constitutional freedoms include peaceful assembly and association, freedom of religion, and freedom of movement within the country, as well as foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government also permits domestic and international human rights monitors to operate freely in Nicaragua. The constitution prohibits discrimination based on birth, nationality, political belief, race, gender, language, religion, opinion, national origin, and economic or social condition. All public and private sector workers, except the military and the police, are entitled to form and join unions of their own choosing, and they exercise this right extensively. Nearly half of Nicaragua's work force, including agricultural workers, is unionized. Workers have the right to strike. Collective bargaining is becoming more common in the private sector.
Political Parties
Though 35 political parties participated in the 1996 elections, under new, more restrictive electoral laws passed in 2000, only three parties participated in the 2001 national elections--the PLC, the FSLN, and the PC. As a result of those elections, of the 92 seats in the National Assembly, 53 are held by the PLC, 38 by the FSLN, and 1 by the PC.
ECONOMY
Nicaragua began free market reforms in 1991 after 12 years of economic free-fall under the Sandinista regime. Despite some setbacks, it has made dramatic progress: privatizing more than 350 state enterprises, reducing inflation from 13,500% to 5.3%, and cutting the foreign debt in half. The economy began expanding in 1994 and grew 2.5% in 2001, with overall GDP reaching $2.44 billion in 2001. In 2001, the global recession, combined with a series of bank failures, low coffee prices, and a drought, caused the economy to contract.
Nicaragua remains the second-poorest nation in the hemisphere. Unemployment is officially around 22%, and another 36% are underemployed. Nicaragua suffers from persistent trade and budget deficits and a high debt-service burden, leaving it highly dependent on foreign assistance--as much as 25% of GDP in 2001.
One of the key engines of economic growth has been production for export. Exports were $640 million in 2001. Although traditional products such as coffee, meat, and sugar continued to lead the list of Nicaraguan exports, the fastest growth is now in nontraditional exports: maquila goods (apparel); gold; seafood; and new agricultural products such as peanuts, sesame, melons, and onions. Nicaragua also depends heavily on remittances from Nicaraguans living abroad.
Nicaragua is primarily an agricultural country, but construction, mining, fisheries, and general commerce also have been expanding during the last few years. Foreign private capital inflows topped $300 million in 1999 but, due to economic and political uncertainty, fell to less than $100 million in 2001.
Rapid expansion of the tourist industry has made it the nation's third-largest source of foreign exchange. Some 60,000 Americans visit Nicaragua yearly--primarily business people, tourists, and those visiting relatives. An estimated 5,300 U.S. citizens reside in the country. The U.S. Embassy's consular section provides a full range of consular services--from passport replacement and veteran's assistance to prison visitation and repatriation assistance.
Nicaragua faces a number of challenges in stimulating rapid economic growth. Long-term success at attracting investment, creating jobs, and reducing poverty depend on its ability to comply with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, resolve the thousands of Sandinista-era property confiscation cases, and open its economy to foreign trade. This process was boosted in late 2000 when Nicaragua reached the decision point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief initiative. However, HIPC benefits will be delayed because Nicaragua subsequently fell "off track" from its IMF program. The country also has been grappling with a string of bank failures that began in August 2000. Moreover, Nicaragua continues to lose international reserves due to its growing fiscal deficits.
The United States is the country's largest trading partner by far--the source in 2002 of roughly 25% of Nicaragua's imports and the destination in 2002 of about 60% of its exports. About 25 wholly or partly owned subsidiaries of U.S. companies operate in Nicaragua. The largest of those investments are in the energy, communications, manufacturing, fisheries, and shrimp farming sectors. Good opportunities exist for further investments in those same sectors, as well as in tourism, mining, franchising, and the distribution of imported consumer, manufacturing, and agricultural goods.
The U.S. Embassy's economic and commercial section advances American economic and business interests by briefing U.S. firms on opportunities and stumbling blocks to trade and investment in Nicaragua; encouraging key Nicaraguan decisionmakers to work with American firms; helping to resolve problems that affect U.S. commercial interests; and working to change local economic and trade ground rules in order to afford U.S. firms a level playing field on which to compete. U.S. businesses may access key Embassy economic reports via the mission's Internet home page at http://usembassy.state.gov/managua/wwwhemba.html .
FOREIGN RELATIONS
The 1990 election victory of President Violeta Chamorro placed Nicaragua in the ranks of Latin American democracies. Nicaragua pursues an independent foreign policy. President Chamorro was instrumental in obtaining considerable international assistance for her government's efforts to improve living conditions for Nicaraguans--the country is one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Her administration also negotiated substantial reductions in the country's foreign debt burden. A participant of the Central American Security Commission (CASC), Nicaragua also has taken a leading role in pressing for regional demilitarization and peaceful settlement of disputes within states in the region. Nicaragua has submitted two territorial disputes--one with Honduras and the other with Colombia--to the International Court at The Hague for resolution.
On the San Juan River there have been disagreements regarding navigational rights in the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border area. Nicaragua and Costa Rica signed a three-year agreement in September of 2002 to defer presenting these issues before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution. Meanwhile, the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have agreed to work toward an amicable solution and to jointly fund community development projects in the border area. At the 1994 Summit of the Americas, Nicaragua joined six Central American neighbors in signing the Alliance for Sustainable Development, known as the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA, or CONCAUSA, to promote sustainable economic development in the region.
Nicaragua belongs to the United Nations and several specialized and related agencies, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO), UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization(WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labor Organization (ILO), and UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). Nicaragua also is a member of the Organization of American States(OAS), the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). In July 2004, Nicaragua's ambassador to the OAS assumed chairmanship of the Permanent Council (the Organization's second-highest decision-making body) for a 3-month period.
U.S.-NICARAGUAN RELATIONS
U.S. policy aims to continue supporting the consolidation of the democratic process initiated in Nicaragua with the 1990 election of President Chamorro. The United States has promoted national reconciliation, encouraging Nicaraguans to resolve their problems through dialogue and compromise. It recognizes as legitimate all political forces that abide by the democratic process and eschew violence. U.S. assistance is focused on strengthening democratic institutions, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and supporting the health and basic education sectors.
The resolution of U.S. citizen claims arising from Sandinista-era confiscations and expropriations still figures prominently in bilateral policy concerns. Section 527 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (1994) prohibits certain U.S. assistance and support for a government of a country that has confiscated U.S. citizen property, unless the government has taken certain remedial steps. In July 2004, the Secretary of State issued an 11th annual national interest waiver of the Section 527 prohibition because of Nicaragua's record in resolving U.S. citizen claims as well as its overall progress in implementing political and economic reforms.
Other key U.S. policy goals for Nicaragua are:
- Improving respect for human rights and resolving outstanding high-profile human rights cases;
- Developing a free market economy with respect for property and intellectual property rights;
- Ensuring effective civilian control over defense and security policy;
- Increasing the effectiveness of Nicaragua's efforts to combat transborder crimes, including narcotics trafficking, illegal alien smuggling, international terrorist and criminal organizations, and trafficking in persons; and
- Reforming the judicial system and implementing good governance.
Since 1990, the United States has provided $1.2 billion in assistance to Nicaragua. About $260 million of that was for debt relief, and another $450 million was for balance-of-payments support. The U.S. also provided $93 million in 1999, 2000, and 2001 as part of its overall response to Hurricane Mitch. Aside from funding for Mitch reconstruction, the levels of assistance have fallen incrementally to reflect the improvements in Nicaragua. FY 2000 assistance was $25 million and FY 2001 amounted to about the same. This assistance was focused on promoting more citizen political participation, compromise, and government transparency; stimulating sustainable growth and income; and fostering better-educated and healthier families. In 2001, the United States provided a total of $6.2 million to the Supreme Electoral Council and to a wide range of non-governmental organizations to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
2. COUNTRY SPEC SHEET
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras.Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 85 00 W
Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 15.94%
permanent crops: 1.94%
other: 82.12% (2001)
Irrigated land:
880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Population:
5,465,100 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 1,036,487/female 999,226)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 1,623,065/female 1,638,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 73,935/female 94,370) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.56 years
male: 20.15 years
female: 20.98 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.92% (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.33 years
male: 68.27 years
female: 72.49 years (2005 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal 0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages:
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Managua
Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002);
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 266-6010
FAX: [505] 266-9074
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $12.34 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 54.6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products
3. US Offices and Officials in Nicaragua
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador-- Barbara Calandra Moore
Deputy Chief of Mission—Peter Brennan
Economic/Commercial Counselor—Janet Potash
Political Counselor--Carlos Garcia
Management Officer--Paula Bravo
Public Affairs Officer—Marcia Bosshardt
Consul General--Luis Espada-Platet
Regional Security Officer-- Michael Poehlitz
Defense Attache--Col. Michael Rhea
MILGROUP--Lt. Col. Hector Salinas
DEA--Phillip Welcome
USAID Mission Director--James Vermillion
Peace Corps Director—Todd Sloan
The U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua is located at Kilometer 4.5, Carretera Sur, Managua (tel. country code 505, phone 266-6010). Letters mailed in the U.S. should be addressed to American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021.
Other Contact Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Trade Information Center
14th and Constitution, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 1-800-USA-TRADE
American Chamber of Commerce in Nicaragua
Apartado Postal 202
Managua, Nicaragua
Tel: (5052) 67-30-99
Fax: (5052) 67-30-98
Caribbean/Latin American Action
1818 N Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-466-7464
Fax: 202-822-0075
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov . Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-4000.
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.
Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication).
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department's travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
Further Electronic Information
Department of State Web Site . Available on the Internet at http://www.state.gov , the Department of State web site provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key officers of Foreign Service posts and more.
Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and market information offered by the federal government and provides trade leads, free export counseling, help with the export process, and more.
STAT-USA/Internet , a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides authoritative economic, business, and international trade information from the Federal government. The site includes current and historical trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, and country analysis and provides access to the National Trade Data Bank .
4. TRAVEL INFORMATION SHEET NICARAGUA
Nicaragua has a developing economy and lacks an extensive tourist 4infrastructure.
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter Nicaragua. U.S. citizens must have an onward or return ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens. However, a tourist card valid for 90 days must be purchased upon arrival. A valid entry stamp is required to exit Nicaragua. Tourist card fees and airport departure taxes must be paid in U.S. dollars. Visitors remaining more than 90 days must obtain an extension from Nicaraguan Immigration. Failure to do so prevents departure until a fine is paid. For further information regarding entry, departure, and customs requirements, travelers should contact the Embassy of Nicaragua at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20009; telephone (202) 939-6570 or (202) 939-6531; or a Nicaraguan consulate in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Pittsburgh, SanFrancisco, or San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Armed criminals operating in remote areas in northern and central Nicaragua have committed robberies, kidnappings and extortion against passersby. Though these actions are primarily directed at local residents, travel in these areas is discouraged. If you do decide to travel to these areas, travel only on major highways during daylight hours. Though less frequent than in past years, political demonstrations and strikes occur sporadically in urban areas. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid crowds and blockades during such occurrences.
Boundary disputes involving the governments of Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica persist, particularly in the Caribbean coastal waters adjoining these countries, the Gulf of Fonseca, and on the San Juan River along the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border. Passengers and crews of foreign fishing boats have been detained and/or fined and vessels impounded. There also is a long-term boundary dispute with Colombia over San Andres Island and surrounding waters.
U.S. citizens are cautioned that strong currents and undertows off sections of Nicaragua. s Pacific coast have resulted in a number of deaths by drowning. Warning signs are not posted, and lifeguards and rescue equipment are not readily available in Nicaragua. U.S. citizens contemplating beach activities in Nicaragua's Pacific waters are urged to exercise extreme caution.
Although hundreds of passengers travel daily on domestic flights within Nicaragua without incident, these flights make use of small, uncontrolled airstrips outside of Managua, with minimal safety equipment and little boarding security. Significant safety and security improvements have, however, been made at the Bluefields, Puerto Cabezas and Corn Island airports, all of which are located on Nicaragua. s Atlantic coast.
Although extensive demining operations have been conducted to clear rural areas of northern Nicaragua of land mines left from the war, visitors venturing off the main roads in these areas are cautioned that the possibility of encountering landmines still exists.
Violent crime in Managua and other cities is increasing, and street crimes are common. Pickpocketing and occasional armed robberies occur on crowded buses and in open markets, particularly the large Mercado Oriental. Though not at levels found in neighboring Central American countries, carjackings and gang activity are rising in Managua. Gang violence, including robberies, assaults and stabbings, is most frequently encountered in poorer neighborhoods, but has occurred in the neighborhoods surrounding major hotels and open-air markets. Visitors may want to avoid walking and instead utilize official red taxicabs. Purse and jewelry snatchings from motorists sometimes occur at stoplights. Motorists should travel with their windows closed and car doors locked
U.S. visitors to Nicaragua should be on the lookout for fraudulent tour guides. The U.S. Embassy has received numerous confirmed reports of con artists posing as tour guides to defraud tourists. Although the Ministry of Tourism is working on a licensing program for guides, there is currently no professional identification system for tour guides.
Travel to Honduras on other than principal highways with border crossings at Guasale, El Espino and Las Manos is potentially hazardous because of criminal elements operating in parts of northern Nicaragua.
If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Anyone obtaining a new or replacement passport in Nicaragua must go to the main Immigration Office to obtain an entry stamp in their new passport; anyone failing to do so will not be permitted by Nicaraguan authorities to leave the country. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad," for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. This publication and others, such as "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America," are available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs , or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov .
Medical care is limited, particularly outside Managua. Basic medical services are available in Managua and in many of the smaller towns and villages. However, treatment for many serious types of medical problems is either unavailable or available only in Managua.
Malaria is endemic, particularly in low-lying areas such as Managua and around the beaches. Dengue is also a problem. The water in Managua has been tested and found safe for drinking. However, you are urged to drink bottled water, especially when traveling outside of the capital.
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost thousands of dollars. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's internet site at http://www.cdc.gov .
8. Traffic, Safety and Road Conditions
U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Nicaragua is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstances.
- Safety of public transportation: poor
- Urban road conditions/maintenance: Fair
- -Rural road conditions/maintenance: poor
- Availability of roadside assistance: none
Road travel after dark is hazardous in all areas of the country. Nicaraguan roads are in poor repair, potholed, poorly lit, frequently narrow, and lack shoulders. Many roads, severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Mitch in October 1998, have not been repaired. Detours are common and are often not marked. Although it is improving, road signs are generally poor to non-existent. Oxcarts, horses and unlit and/or abandoned vehicles are frequently encountered even on main thoroughfares in Nicaragua. Motorcycles, often carrying three or even four passengers, dart in and out of traffic with little or no warning. Many vehicles are in poor condition, travel very slowly and are likely to break down without warning. Wheels have been known to fly off cars and axles to collapse on moving vehicles.
Speed limits vary depending on the type of road, but, because the government lacks the resources, traffic rules are rarely enforced. Driving is on the right side of the road. The Nicaraguan National Police are responsible for road safety.
Nicaraguan drivers do not usually signal when turning, slowing or stopping. If signals are used, they often do not mean what U.S. drivers would expect: for instance, a right hand turn signal, could mean the driver is turning right, but it could also mean he is turning left or is stopping. The most common signal in Nicaragua is a hand waving from the driver's side window. This signal has no specific meaning, except to alert other motorists that the person signaling is about to do something.
Because of the conditions discussed above, traffic accidents often result in serious injury or death. This is most often true when heavy vehicles, such as buses or trucks, are involved. Traditionally, vehicles involved in accidents in Nicaragua are not moved (even to clear traffic), until authorized by a police officer. Drivers who violate this norm may be held legally liable for the accident.
Nicaraguan law requires that a driver be taken into custody for driving under the influence or being involved in an accident that caused serious injury or death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault. The minimum detention period is 48 hours; however, detentions frequently last until a judicial decision is reached (often weeks or months), or until a waiver is signed by the injured party (usually as the result of a cash settlement).
Visitors to Nicaragua might want to consider hiring a professional driver during their stay. Licensed drivers who are familiar with local roads can be hired through local car rental agencies. In case of accident, only the driver will be taken into custody.
For specific information concerning Nicaraguan driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance contact the government of Nicaragua at http://www.cancilleria.gob.ni . Additional information can be obtained from Intur, the national tourist organization, at intur@intur.gob.ni .
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Nicaragua's civil aviation authority as Category 2 -- not in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Nicaragua's air carrier operations. While consultations to correct the deficiencies are ongoing, the Nicaraguan air carriers currently flying to the U.S. will be subject to heightened FAA surveillance. No additional flights or new service to the U.S. by Nicaraguan air carriers will be permitted unless they arrange to have the flights conducted by an air carrier from a country meeting international safety standards. Flights to the U.S. by Nicaragua's air carriers are not permitted unless they arrange to have the flights conducted by a carrier from a country meeting international safety standards. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.htm .
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. In addition, DOD does not permit its personnel to use carriers from Category 2 countries for official business. For information regarding DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at (618) 229-4801.
Nicaraguan customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Nicaragua of items such as firearms, ammunition, antiquities, medications, etc. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Nicaragua in Washington, D.C. or one of Nicaragua's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Nicaraguan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Nicaragua are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
Before excavating archaeological materials, or agreeing to buy artifacts of historical value, all persons are strongly urged to consult with the National Patrimony Directorate of the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture. Nicaraguan law and a recently concluded bilateral accord limit the acquisition, importation into the U.S. and commercialization of said goods. Severe criminal penalties may apply.
The Nicaraguan economy is primarily cash-based. Though many restaurants and hotels now accept credit cards, especially in Managua, acceptance is not as widespread as in the U.S. Travelers checks are accepted at a few major hotels and may be exchanged for local currency at authorized exchange facilities ("casas de cambio"). There are few automatic teller machines, particularly outside Managua. English is not widely spoken.
Nicaragua is prone to a wide variety of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov .
For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/childrens_issues.html or telephone (202) 736-7000.
U.S. citizens living in or visiting Nicaragua are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Managua and obtain updated information on travel and security in Nicaragua. The U.S. Embassy is located at Kilometer 41/2 (4.5) Carretera Sur, Managua; telephone (505) 266-6010 or 268-0123; after hours telephone (505) 266-6038; Consular Section fax (505) 266-9943; e-mail: consularmanagu@state.gov web page at http://www.usembassy.state.gov/managua
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated February 15, 2001 to update sections on entry and exit requirements, safety and security, crime and road conditions.
Our contact address is: EmbassyInfo@state.gov
For specific consular questions, please address them directly to: ConsularManagua@state.gov
Recommended Law Firm
Colonial Los Robles # 45, del Hotel Colon 2 c al SurP.O Box 2422 Managua, Nicaragua.
Teléfono(s): (505)267-1020 / (505)267-2003 / (505)267-2005
Fax: (505) 267-1005
E-mail: carsomar@cablenet.com.ni
5. LIST OF ATTORNEYS REGISTERED AT EMBASSY MANAGUA
Following is a list of attorneys who work on and who specialize in Property issues & Cases .
Alvarado y Asociados |
Halleslevens, Sanarrusia & Asociados |
Dra. María Lucrecia Arosteguí Gámez |
Dra. Leana Machado de Ferrey |
Barrios y Asociados |
Dr. Daniel Olivas Zuniga |
Dra. Ivania Guzmán iguzman@ideay.net.ni |
Dr. René Sánchez |
Our contact address is: EmbassyInfo@state.gov |
Zelaya, Barquero & Asociados pedrojbarquero@yahoo.com |
Other Registered Lawyers:
The Embassy assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons whose names appear on this list. The attorneys' names are arranged alphabetically and the order in which they appear has no other significance. All attorneys are also Notaries Public.
ALVARADO & ASSOC. Specialization: Intellectual and Industrial Property, Commercial, Banking and International Law, Foreign Investments, Labor Law, Real Estate and Telecommunications |
MUÑOZ , HENRY A: Specialization: Civil Law |
AREVALO-LACAYO , NARCISO E. Specialization: Civil and Criminal Law (does not handle drug-related cases). |
PACHECO-LAMPSON, ROY Specialization: Civil & Criminal Law |
BARRIOS-OLIVARES , RAÚL Specialization: Corporate, Civil, Fiscal and Labor Law |
PEREZALONSO LANZAS, LUIS MANUEL Specialization: Civil and Criminal Law |
CONSULTORES JURIDICO-FINANCIEROS Legal and Financial Consultants, Fernandolino Narvaez Mojica, Senior Partner |
PLATA, FRANCISCO S. Specialization: Civil Law |
CASTILLO-RAMÍREZ, EDMUNDO: Specialization: Labor and Trade Union Law |
ROMERO-ROJAS , ORESTES Specialization: Labor Law |
F.A. ARIAS & MUNOZ Specialization: Civil, Labor and Trade Union Law |
SABORÍO MORALES , ALBERTO: Specialization: Constitutional Law |
FLETES , JOSÉ ANTONIO: Specialization: Criminal Law |
SABORÍO , WALTER ALEJANDRO: Specialization: Civil and Mercantile Law |
LEGIS GROUP: (Associate to Martínez & Gutierrez; Miami , Florida ) |
SÁNCHEZ , RENÉ S. : Specialization: Mercantile Law |
MARTÍNEZ & GUTIERREZ: (Associate of Grupo Legis, Managua ) |
SOTELO-MIRANDA , ENRIQUE: Specialization: Civil Law |
MARTÍNEZ-ESPINOZA, MAURICIO Specialization: Civil and Criminal Law |
TABOADA & ASSOCIATES Specialization: Corporate law and International transactions |
MENDIETA-GUTIÉRREZ, URIEL Specialization: Civil Law |
TENORIO, JOSE ALEJANDRO Specialization: Criminal and Civil Law |
MORALES MASIS, SERGIO RAFAEL Specialization: Criminal Law |
VALENCIA MORA, GUADALUPE Specialization: Property and Criminal Law |
MUNGUIA-NOVOA , JUAN: Specilaization: Civil Law |
