Moving To Nicaragua

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Customs Regulations for Nicaragua

Since there are so many important documents needed to clear customs in Nicaragua, you may want to consult a customs brokering service for your international move to help get your paperwork organized.

Passport (copy or original, must include all pages except blank)
Residence visa
Import permit (household goods and personal effects)
Work permit
Certificate of residence
Bill of Lading/Air Waybill
Full inventory (original copy)
- Must be in English or Spanish
- Must be typed
- Must include brand name, price and serial number for all appliances and electronic devices
Purchase invoices for all new items -must be attached to inventory, notarized by origin consulate
Letter of authorization for destination agent to clear shipment

Nicaragua has certain rules for the import of household goods and personal effects, which includes furniture, bedding, linens, rugs, dishes, etc.

Shipper must be present for customs clearance
Duty-free entry permitted if you are working under contract for the Nicaraguan government OR if you are an accredited diplomat/foreign retiree
Extra charges are billed directly to shipper -includes demurrages of container at the port and abandonment fines (lack of documents)
All household goods and personal effects subject to duties and taxes (some exceptions apply)

When importing items into Nicaragua, some goods are limited to specific quantities. Also, certain goods require special authorization for import, while others are subject to duties and specific taxes to clear customs. These items should be packed and declared separately on the inventory. This includes but is not limited to:

New items -require original receipt/invoice
Personal firearms and hunting rifles -require Import License
Radio and telephone equipment
Animal and agricultural products -require permits
Alcohol, tobacco and food -require permits if shipped in large quantities
- Alcohol -limited to 3 liters
- Tobacco -limited to 500 grams
- Cigarettes -limited to 200

Nicaragua prohibits the import of the following items under any circumstances:

Illegal drugs and narcotics
Explosives
Assault weapons -swords, knuckledusters, etc.
Gunpowder
Ammunition
Toluene
Chemicals
Pornographic and subversive materials -includes films, literature, etc.

To ship your vehicle to Nicaragua, you need an experienced and dependable international automobile shipping company. International Sea & Air Shipping has a vast knowledge of overseas automobile transport, as well as shipping laws and customs regulations.
Here are the required documents for importing your vehicle to Nicaragua:

Original title and registration
Certification from Nicaraguan Consulate in origin country
Original commercial/purchase invoice
Original Bill of Lading

There are also several regulations when importing an automobile into Nicaragua.

New and used automobiles permitted (amount paid varies based on vehicle’s model, year, size and accessories)
Diplomatic personnel eligible for duty-free vehicle import
Vehicles subject to heavy taxes by treasury department
Documents must indicate automobile’s make, model, year and engine capacity
Vehicles more than 10 years old prohibited unless:
- Shipper is returning native Nicaraguan who has been out of country for at least one year
- Vehicle is being donated to fire brigades, Nicaraguan Red Cross, churches or other religious foundations
- Vehicle is an antique or classic

If you’d like to successfully cross the Nicaragua border with your pet, then adhere to all of these regulations:

Veterinary health certificate -issued by vet in origin country less than 10 days prior to arrival at destination, must be notarized and submitted to Nicaraguan Consulate for authenticity
Certificate of vaccination -issued by veterinarian less than 30 days prior to arrival (includes rabies)
Import permit -original copy from Ministry and Agriculture
Invoice indicating value of animal
Pet owner must be present at customs clearance
Quarantine not required for dogs, cats and rodents coming from same continent
Birds may be subject to quarantine (because of Avian Flu threat)

In addition to import duty and taxes-which are due when both private individuals and commercial entities import goods-imports are subject to excise duties and sales tax. Customs duties are levied between rates of zero percent and 164 percent, but the average rate sits at about 15 percent. As for sales tax, imports are subject to a standard 15 percent value-added tax (VAT), which is levied on the sum of the duty, CIF value and excise, if applicable. Of course, some items are exempt from this VAT.

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Nicaragua

First, one of our trained moving specialists will provide a personal consultation, thoroughly outlining your moving options based on specific criteria, such as:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Nicaragua?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying?
Your family/household size. Will you be moving alone or with your family? For business or personal reasons?
Cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

What Will Moving to Nicaragua Cost?

For an accurate estimate of your shipment size, you should scheduling a home survey as early as possible for your move to Nicaragua. Our moving specialists will assess your belongings to give you the best potential estimate to expedite your relocation.

The cost of moving to Nicaragua will vary considerably based on the cubic footage of your belongings and your proposed destination arrival time.

Don’t forget to ask about our overseas packing and custom crating services, too!

About Nicaragua

Sitting between Honduras and Costa Rica, Nicaragua is the largest country along the Central American isthmus. Its proximity to the Equator gives the nation a tropical climate, with the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Nicaragua’s official language is Spanish, but it features a decent variety of ethnicities, resulting in an assortment of religions.

Agriculture and textiles combine to make up about 50 percent of Nicaragua’s exports, including coffee, gold, sugar, peanuts, tobacco, cotton and beef. In fact, over half of these exports travel to the United States. Tourism is also a big industry in Nicaragua, specifically colonial cities such as Leon and Granada.

Managua, however, is the country’s most significant cultural and industrial center. The capital city is also the main hub for Nicaragua’s politics, education and economy. Managua features the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, which is Nicaragua’s primary international gateway.