26 de April 2025
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Ricardo is a Nicaraguan who has lived in Costa Rica for 25 years, meaning his life and close family are based in Costa Rican territory. Throughout this time he had never worried about renewing his passport until the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo decided to centralize this procedure in Managua for Nicaraguans living abroad.
Ricardo’ s passport expires in 2027. By then, he will no longer be able to renew it at the Nicaraguan Embassy in San Jose as he used to, so he is evaluating the available options to obtain the document.
“It’s not that I don’t want to go to my country, but with so many things going on, you don’t know what could happen there,” he says.
Nicaraguans abroad will have to renew their passport at the Directorate of Migration and Foreigners in Managua or through a power of attorney sent to a relative in Nicaragua. In case of loss of the document they must pay a fine of US$75, according to information disclosed by the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners.
In declarations to the official media, the head of the Migration Directorate, Deputy Commissioner Aura Tellez, explained that the power of attorney must be sent “to a family member” and be apostilled.
In addition, the special power of attorney must be “exclusively” for the renewal of the ordinary passport.
Greater control and expenses for Nicaraguans
Marcos, a Nicaraguan resident in Costa Rica since 2020, is “not surprised” by the Ortega measure and assures that “it is part of the control” of the regime over the Nicaraguan population.
The exile regrets that this measure implies an increase in the cost of access to the document. “Now we not only have to pay for the passport, but we have to travel to Nicaragua, those are expenses, and in the jobs it is difficult to get permission for one or two weeks,” he says.
Regarding the possibility of processing the passport through a power of attorney sent to a family member, Marcos believes that it also implies expenses and certain risks for the family member who carries out the process in Managua.
“I feel it would be like exposing them (family) because, if they have me identified as an opponent, then they would be linked to them as well,” he stresses.
Ricardo also has relatives in his native León, who could help him to obtain a passport in Managua, but they also involve expenses that were not necessary before.
Passport centralization requirements
In addition to the power of attorney, Nicaraguans abroad who wish to renew their passport must attach a photocopy of their identity card and that of the proxy, and a photocopy of the passport to be renewed. In case of loss of the passport, a declaration of loss must be attached and a fine of US$75 must be paid.
They must also complete the passport application form, attach proof of payment of US$21.56 and two passport-sized photographs with white background, ears and forehead uncovered.
The passport is the identity document of Nicaraguans who are abroad. If they do not have this document, they cannot carry out any type of procedure in public or private institutions.
