Government of Canada services and information in Managua, Nicaragua

Refer to International adoption.

Adoption processes in Nicaragua are handled by the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Family (MIFAN) (in Spanish), which supervises and coordinates the process through its National Adoption Council, an interinstitutional body that evaluates each adoption request and ultimately authorizes or rejects the adoption of a child.

As this is a private legal matter, we suggest that any prospective parent contact the Ministry directly and also retain the services of a local Attorney that deals with Family Law and adoptions.

Canadians wishing to adopt should be aware that the entire process may take years and that the Nicaraguan government may ask for additional documentation beyond that which is listed in the website.

Surrogacy

The Nicaraguan government does not recognize surrogacy as a legitimate process and persons involved may face prosecution and detention. Consult with a Nicaraguan lawyer if considering any such option.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

Children born to Canadian parents in Nicaragua are considered by the Nicaraguan government to be Nicaraguan nationals, independently of their Canadian citizenship status. As Nicaraguan nationals, children have to be registered before the relevant municipal authorities and have to be issued a Nicaraguan Long Form Birth Certificate. As Nicaraguan nationals, they will also require a Nicaraguan passport in order to leave the country, even if there is no intention on the part of the parents to return.

For the birth registration process, please visit the corresponding civil registry office with jurisdiction over the place of birth. Additional information may also be found the Nicaraguan Civil Registry website (in Spanish).

Refer to Canadian citizenship.

Complete your citizenship application before booking an appointment to present your documents in person. Send an email to mngua@international.gc.ca or call (505) 2268-0433 or 2268-3323 to book an appointment. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

Pay your application fees online before you apply for citizenship services.

In case of a stolen card/certificate, you should report it to your local police department. It is recommended to obtain a police report and get an official translation of the report (English or French).

Refer to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Criminal record checks.

Refer to Death abroad.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

Civil marriage is a private legal matter and requires the presence of a practicing Nicaraguan lawyer to carry out the ceremony and to then register the marriage at the Nicaraguan Civil Registry Office. Please retain the services of a local lawyer to confirm the full list of requirements, including any and all documentation that you may require from Canada or elsewhere.

Nicaraguan authorities will not accept authentications / certifications done by the Embassy of Canada to Nicaragua, in Managua.

You cannot get married at a Canadian embassy or consulate. Canadian consular officials do not perform marriage ceremonies, and they do not have to attend a marriage ceremony in a foreign country.

Marriages that are legally performed in a foreign country are usually valid in Canada, and you do not need to register them in Canada.

Nicaragua does not perform or recognize same-sex marriages in its Civil Code.

In all instances, please consult with a local attorney familiar with the Nicaraguan Civil Code for full details on how to get married in Nicaragua.

Consular officials do not provide any legal advice or represent a person in court. The office provides the following notarial services, by appointment only, to Canadian citizens and, in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are intended for use in Canada. Send an email to mngua@international.gc.ca or call (505) 2268-0433 or 2268-3323 to book an appointment.

Notarial services are not considered primary services and are only provided when the time and resources of the Mission allow it, and are subject to consultation with headquarters. Consular officers may deny notarial services.

You should first seek notarial services from local notary publics or lawyers, as they are legally authorized to perform these tasks in their respective countries.

Note: Documents must be in English or French, or accompanied by an official translation in English or French.

Authentication/Attestation (certify the document signature, the position of an official and the seal are genuine):

• Documents issued in Canada must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa before the office will certify the documents (fees apply).
• Witness a signature on a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad form (fees apply).
• Clients requiring information about authenticating documents while outside of Canada, refer to Authentication of documents.

Certified copy (certify the document is a true copy of the original):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a certified true copy (fees apply).

All other notarial services requested will be evaluated case-by-case, to determine if the service can be rendered by the Consular staff.

Note: Complete all documents before booking an appointment. Sign all documents in front of the consular officer.

Refer to Canadian passports and travel documents.

You can pay online for all your passport services before completing your passport application.

Book an appointment to present your documents in person. Send an email to mngua@international.gc.ca or call (505) 2268-0433 or 2268-3323 to book an appointment. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

• Report a lost or stolen passport

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad and Retiring abroad.

Nicaraguan law does not recognize same-sex marriage. It does not penalize it either, but services related to same-sex marriages such as registration of the marriage and applying for local marriage-related rights may be denied.

Overall Nicaraguan society is conservative Catholic / Chirstian. Same-sex relationships are generally rejected and open displays of affection between same-sex couples may result in rejection, verbal harassment and other acts of hostility. While instances of physical violence are very rare, care should be taken outside the main tourist areas, in the evenings and in rural areas.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

The Embassy does not provide information about immigration or visas to Canada.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.