Great Nicaragua 🇳🇮 Relocation FAQ 2024

[@williamgraff7627]

Scott, I have watched many of your videos. My wife is from Nicaragua and now living in Florida, We plan to move back to Nicaragua in 2025, We will be looking in the areas from Masachapa to Leon.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Awesome! And welcome to the channel!

I just completed an absentee ballot for Broward County in Florida. It has 30 or so items for me to vote on. Everything from the national , county and city representatives, to water and school district members, judges, school board, mayor and initiative like approving marijuana and abortions, changing benefits for homesteaders, etc. Here the people can vote for president and their deputy representatives. Period. Its true violent crime is very low, especially outside of a few areas in Managua. Outside of guarded communities we all have concertina wire on our walls and fences ... to deter petty crime which is a" thing" everywhere in a poor county. Likewise we don't see reports or stories of pick pockets, etc., outside of Managua. Like Scott advises, we all use common sense when in Managua and never have had a problem, even Ofriental which is the biggest and cheapest marketplace in Central America with a reputation for danger. When I first came, my car was broken into in Estili when I was parked to eat in the center of town. The police swarmed the car afterwards and took fingerprints of the entire car; they were embarrassed this happened. The country wants tourism the government really tries to make us feel safe. And community membeers and neighbors help the police sole petty cfrimes and many times taken items get back to their owners.

[@LaNoire27]

Hi Scott, Im planning to visit Nicaragua in 2025. Would definitely like to connect.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

That's awesome. And for sure, shoot me an email.

[@edisonarauz6827]

My parents are from suburbs of Chicago. Wheaton area and it’s getting too expensive, they sold their house in Wheaton. Bought a small condo so they can visit family and they have moved to Leon Nicaragua, and they love it. New hospitals, infrastructure is great. Natural healthy foods. Gyms. It’s very nice. It’s like Europe mixed in with North America. Amazing. I’m moving there as well soon. I have lived in Canada and moved back to USA. Now going to Nicaragua .

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

That's awesome! So they are here in town? Do I know them? How long have they been here?

[@bodyloverz30]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog Can I bring my private duty nurse or other household staff?

[@Paul-mu8mk]

Thank you for this amazingly informative post. I’m moving from Canada and you answered so many questions I didn’t know I had yet.

[@monicaroberts4692]

This is the best expat video that I have seen for any county. Beautiful job. Not sure this will be my county, but so enjoyed the video!!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Glad you enjoyed it! That really means a lot!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I plan to do one of these annually with an ever expanding list as we determine what the FAQs tend to be.

[@BbTenn]

I agree. I’m leaning toward Argentina, but Scott’s videos are packed with useful info for any prospective expat.

[@agnesandree6387]

I want to move in Nicaragua

[@historialeft]

Try implementing chapters for videos of this length

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I need staff for some of these tasks. It's SO much time every day trying to get these published. Adding chapters is hard. I have it set for KZbin to add them automatically and sometimes it does, but not very often.

[@historialeft]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlogI hear you, would be easy and insanely cheap to find a part time editor here in Nicaragua.

[@GPosner8]

I will be journeying through Nicaragua for one month in March ‘25. I’ve been catching up with your videos to help me get acquainted with Nicaragua and I can’t wait to visit. Thank you for all the great information you provide on your channel. 👏🏻👍🏻🙏🤙🏻✌🏻

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Awesome! Let us know when you are about to come! Do you know where you will be visiting yet?

[@GPosner8]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog my list of places to visit seems to grow every day. Granada, Ometepe, Bluefields, El Ostional and I’d love to travel down the San Juan River from San Carlos to Grey town. Thank you so much for responding to my comment and I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m there ✌🏻👍🏻🙏🤙🏻

[@donjohnsonsigns1]

I'm getting closer to coming there I'm probably going to be there within the next month or so if I can get a good plane flight pricing

[@kingcountyband]

Hi Scott! Just dropping in to say hello haven't had much time lately to watch but have been meaning to say I haven't gone anywhere (both literally and figuratively)! My son will be down there in just under a month! Wooohoooo! Hope that you're doing well!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Hello! And that's great!

[@faustinodibauda251]

Great video Scott lots of thorough info . loved it!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RedOctober2011]

Hi Scott, I have been watching some of your videos, and in several you say that Nicaragua is safe. But I noticed that your yard is surrounded by an 18 foot high cinderblock wall with barbed wire coils along the top.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Yes, and my doors are wide open. If I didn't have walls, horses would wander in and my dogs would wander out. Imagine being in the US but not having to even close your doors, let alone lock them! You can't, because you can't. But here, we can. But don't mistake safety for wanting to own things. Just because we are safe doesn't mean someone won't swipe a cell phone left on a table if no one is looking. Our house is wide open. I mean WIDE open... every door, totally open, around the clock. If we didn't have a wall people would steal things. You'd just walk through the house and take whatever isn't nailed down. North Americans live an "inside" life where you close the house and stay inside. Nicaraguans live an "outside" life where everything happens outside, including my phone, laptop, cameras, etc. all out doors much of the day, just sitting in the garden. So what to a North American feels like something that must indicate danger (is that why we had walled yards in Texas?) to a Nicaraguan represents our incredible degree of safety and a desire for privacy since unlike the US, the sidewalk is chalk full of people! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3qxgomqnsuolbc

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Watch my interview with Elton from yesterday, he mentions that it's the tropics and Americans often get confused as to why we use reliable cinder blocks instead of wood. But wood is costly and rots away fast. Cinderblock is built to last. So wood isn't used for normal construction. Plus Central Americans expect hundreds of years from their walls or houses. That wall is 50+ years old, as is the house. It was built when things WEREN'T safe when the US was here and people would be grabbed. But the US was kicked out in 79 and the war with the US has now been over for decades. Now it's safe, and big walls originally meant to keep marauding foreign forces from stopping in now provide a safe way to keep your dogs inside and your life private and the sound of traffic out.

[@RedOctober2011]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog Interesting. Thanks.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

you bet. i'm also the exception. i live in the country in a compound with giant homes. i have offices here so need a lot of space that isn't available in normal communities. most people don't have high walls. but many do for sure. but petty crime IS a major concern. violent crime is not.

[@coreyzinberg3784]

Awesome videos, I’m just now starting to rabbit hole all your videos, and thinking about move to the area, can you recommend a area close to the beach that would be suitable for a air b and b

[@davidlegrand2931]

Thanks very informative Scott but i have to ask do i need special plugs or adapters to use a laptop ,camera or phone while in Nicaragua , what are the line voltages?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Good one for the next list. Nicaragua is on NA power the same as the US, Canada and Mexico. It's standard power so anything you use in the USA will work the same in Nicaragua.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Im taking notes for the 2025 show.

[@guillermoaquino2955]

Hi Scott I love your video of Nicaragua. I have a few questions regarding a retirement visa the requirements criminal background chek and the process and did you purchase the place where you currently live did you pay cash or finance some portion of the price. Im currently in Ecuador but my family is currently thinking of moving abroad. Thank you for the videos

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I own and rent many places here. My house is rented, I pay by the month. Two places I've bought here outright (cash), one place I bought here financed (some cash, some monthly.) I currently own three places and rent three places. So I've experienced a little bit of everything. I buy what I know that I want, I rent when I need something temporarily or it isn't the right long term fit for us. What kind of questions on the background checK?

[@garnetbendles5460]

Hi I'm from nicaragua but stay in Texas. My family stay in bluff nicaragua our internet is terrible. Speed is only 10 mbps. I saw your starlink internet video. Do you know if it's available in nicaragua. Because I'm building a hotel there and I need internet. Let me know. Thanks

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

It's not officially available. But I have a couple community members who have it. Is Bluff code for Bluefields? Those that have Starlink here mostly report that it works. But you always have to worry that it will be cut off as officially Starlink doesn't operate here and doesn't have a license and their equipment, which people successfully bring in, isn't approved. I don't think it is very risky. But it's important to be aware that it's not as convenient or reliable as using it other places. Caveat emptor.

[@garnetbendles5460]

@ScottAlanMillerVlog my community is 15 minutes from bluefields. You can google bluff,nicaragua and you can have more information about here. Thank for the information

[@Ron-ec3tl]

Hay Scott, there are some limited employment opportunities for tourists/residents. For instance i worked as an english teacher at UNAN Matagalpa. I had to pay taxes as well.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

How long ago was that? I met someone recently who also worked as an English teacher at a uni too and they had to pretend that they were a tourist and couldn't pay taxes without getting caught. They had to hide it all as it wasn't legal.

[@Uncommon-pixels]

Looks real safe! Because You have 15 ft high walls with barbed wire on top!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Boy I have to explain this a lot. This isn't America. We don't have closed or locked doors. Without walls, people will just walk in and walk off with your television. I have SO many videos explaining this for people who haven't lived in less locked down countries. When you live outside, and you want a laptop in the garden, you can't just leave it open to the street or someone's going to walk off with it. In North America, you fear home intruders, with weapons. In Nicaragua we fear kids walking off with stuff you leave on the table outside. So in other areas, people lock their doors and stay hidden away in their houses. We live outside, but need walls so that people don't casually steal our stuff. Two weeks ago, someone got access to our laundry area because we left it open and they stole our SOAP!

[@schoolnyc]

Sorry Scott I was asked one time when entering by customs for proof of a return ticket. Last trip Avianca did not allow me to board because I purchased a one way ticket. I had to use there app and purchase a return ticket, almost missing my flight.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Yes, that's a scam by Avianca. It is NOT required, but Avianca is known for pulling scams to get oversold planes to be able to go without paying you the required fees. You can sue them if you miss your flight, but the US provides very few consumer protections so it is hard. But that is in no way Nicaragua requiring anything. Lots of people have this not just with Nicaragua. Airlines have figured out that it is an essentially impossible to fight scam and so it is commonly used to sell tickets or to kick people off of flights and not pay them their legally mandated compensation.

[@brendanmartin5669]

You are required to have proof of onward travel when you enter as a tourist although they very rarely ask for it. Once when we entered they asked for it and we didn't have it. They gave us a bit of grief. We could explain our itinerary and after a bunch of talking they let us in (It cost 50 dollars). We have also had multiple friends experience the same, but Nicaragua always at the end let them enter. Like I said they rarely ask for it. If you wish to verify this you can go to Nicaraguas website or the U.S. state department website.

[@williamgraff7627]

Scott, what is the name of your hotel? Is it open? Is it in Poneloya? We are in Nicaragua again August and September for about 3 weeks. Looking for beach house. Thanks Mark and Maritza.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I don't have a fully open hotel at this point - it's a little complicated. The Simple Beach Lodge was moved to being operated as a hostel by a business partner. So while on a technical level, I have a hotel, on a practical level I do not. It's a party hostel. It's THE party hostel. But not very likely a place where my normal audience would want to go for a beach vacation. It's Las Peñitas. Email me, there is an AirBnB style property that might make sense for you. [e-mail]

[@raulobregon4093]

Hi Scott, could you show us your house and how much do you pay for it?

[@allisonbradley5603]

Hi Scott!! We are heading to Nica this fall!! Question: can you tell us about entry into Nica with, and traveling around Nica with Starlink? Thank you so much 😁

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Starlink is not enabled in NIcaragua, nor is it legal as Starlink has not licensed the gear here. Bringing it here constitutes an import, which would be outrageously expensive since you'd have to license the operating spectrum. Assume hundreds of thousands of dollars. But Nicaragua has far better internet coverage that North America, there's no need for Starlink here. Starlink pulled out of Nicaragua when the country went to nationwide fiber and no one had any interest in satellite anymore. We had it on order for years and they silently cancelled their plans to come here and didn't offer refunds (but I think we were able to request them - but they definitely tried to keep the money.)

[@GladysFanning]

I am doing my research on nicaragua but i wiuld like to also conect with u as well.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

email is in the show notes.

[@takiaabel249]

Do you have a recommendation for a lawyer to assist with obtaining residency?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Are you already in country? You should almost always be in country for at least six months before starting down that path.

[@takiaabel249]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog We will be moving full time in March but we have visited and stayed previously so this time we come back we will seeking residency. want to consult with a reliable lawyer ahead of time as we may need a creative path to residency

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

No need to consult ahead, normally. Everything in Nicaragua is designed around the idea that you will be living here, full time, before discussing residency. That's not a REQUIREMENT, but all your processes and expectations are built around that. That's why there's no means of verifying lawyers outside of the country, no info online, etc. Just move, then talk to lawyers. It's rare to need residency in under a year, and common to not need it for years. You have lots of time for your situation to change or to work out a "creative" process for residency. But there are three basic paths that basically cover everyone. Rentista for people working or investing abroad (this is nearly everyone), Pensionado for those retired on government style pensions or social security, and investor for the super rare people looking to pump money into the economy. It's VERY hard to fall outside of those categories.

[@SimonSwerdlow]

Thank you for your videos. How can we talk?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Email info is in the show notes.

[@LinzLife325]

Where do you get paperwork for extensions to stay?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Migracion. Every regional capital will have an office. But if you are moving around, Migracion in Managua will be required.

[@LinzLife325]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlog thank you so much for always getting back to everyone that has questions! It really says a lot about how much you care! 😊😊

[@TEKKKNO]

I tried to communicate with nicaraguan ministry of interior usibg the website (information portal) also sent a few emails but no response Also called them by phone woman answered me when i asked here if she speaks english bcoz i dont speak spanish,she just close the line In ur experience is english forbidden in official governmental places or simple they dont speak english ?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

No one speaks English here, but of course it isn't forbidden, it's an official language. But there is extremely little English training available because anyone that can speak English can make really good money in the private sector. So you are never going to find a government official able to speak English, it's not realistic. The central government works in Spanish, expecting English or any other non-native language isn't realistic. Even being in the country, we have to do everything in Spanish. In general, Nicaragua is not reachable remotely. There are very few systems designed for communications with the outside world. The government doesn't even have a functional email system so expecting anything more complex than that isn't likely going to come to fruition. Are you sure that MINT is who you want to be talking to?

[@TEKKKNO]

@ScottAlanMillerVlog 🤯 this is crazy ,but i see many nicaraguan governmental websites use only spanish language without English language

[@TEKKKNO]

@ScottAlanMillerVlog I should talk to Directorate General of Migration and Immigration ,but i found the informations on mint portal website , (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería) they responsible for visas and foreign things And they are part of interior ministry but i found it weird and rude i sent 2 emails without any response and when i call them and just when i stsrt speaks english they close the phone I sent and email in spanish language and will see what's gonna happen

[@TEKKKNO]

Do u have fb page or group so i can get.more informations looks like u r expert in central american countries Those countries have every thing beaches green lands volcanoes quite life style ancient ruins, why they treat them countries like this weird

[@TEKKKNO]

I just want to know one thing that's why i tried to call them ,my country require visa before arrive and they write a note on mint website says (When there is no Nicaraguan representation abroad and due to the interest of the State, the entry of foreigners included in Category "C" is required, the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration will notify the Airline in writing authorizing their entry without a Consular Visa, so that the transport companies allow them to board in the country of origin or residence. Once they arrive in the country, they will be authorized to enter with a Border Visa, having to comply with the established requirements.) That's it 🤷

[@LinzLife325]

Hi there! I sent you an email on your website to be able to speak to you. I haven’t heard anything back. Pls let me know if there is an alternate way to reach you direct

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

On my website? There's no website for me. The emails that I have have all been responded to. I don't see any missed ones. The only email for me is the one on this KZbin account. It's the one in the episode descriptions and it is listed on the contact form of the KZbin account. Did you use that one? If so, email me again as the email system shows every email read and responded to.

[@schoolnyc]

You left out the Chica's -

[@JaySJay]

Scott, You make it sound like a safe country meaning not much violent crime, but I read in one of your comments that petty crime is high. How about human rights? is it safe from that perspective? Government is not like North Korea or Russia. Is it? Is it a democratically elected government? Any concern that government can take property from you?

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Well coming from the US where all democracy is a complete farce, it's spiritually nice to be in a country that actually has people actually vote rather than a fake system to fool them into thinking that they voted. But the great thing about being an ex-pat is that there is no way for the manner in which your host country selects its rulers that can matter to you. YOu would never avoid living in the US just because of the electoral college or jerrymandering, you'd never not like in the UK because they have a monarch or the house of lords - lacking democratic systems doesn't alter what LIVING in those countries is like. Same anywhere. By definition an expat cares about safety, cost of living and other RESULTS of government, but doesn't have any skin in the game of the government itself. You continue to be in the polity of your country of origin, not your country of "visiting." There's NO concerns of the government taking your property away like in the US. That's such not a thing here that Nicaraguans can't understand that that can actually happen in the US. Things like eminent domain or companies talking the government into taking away your property for them don't exist. Property is actually protected here unlike common law countries. So that's a huge reason that people chose to move and invest here. I'm an American who has had property seized by private companies buying off government officials in New York, so it's important to me to be in a country with strong laws and protections like Nicaragua. Human rights.... well Nicaragua ranks as one of the best track records in women's rights in the world, and is not involved in funding or fighting in any foreign wars. So while lots of countries fall into similar categories (at least of not killing children with your tax money) there are only a handful in the world that can combine that with a great general violent crime record and some of the best protections for women in the world. Getting away from cops that might shoot you in your own home, even when you call them for protection, or being arrested based on the color of your skin, arbitrary laws and detentions that are made by local despots and not be lawmakers, are great reasons to move to Nicaragua. As someone who comes from a country directly involved in human rights violations against Nicaragua, that lost a lawsuit in the ICJ to NIcaragua for human rights abuses, and that is actively using tax payer money to pay for the killing of children in the middle east, human rights abuses are a key reason that I feel it is unethical for me to remain in the US. I don't feel I can support that. And TODAY a US ally, following the lead of the US in 1979, just killed a journalist and cameraman in a place where the US is backing the slaughter of civilians. Yeah. For sure. Human rights, solid laws, high safety... reasons to come to NIcaragua. But more importantly, reasons to get out of the US!

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

I was having lunch yesterday with a girl that just arrived from France which she is escaping because of their suspension of democratic dialogue, total ending of freedom of speech and aggressive embracing of human rights abuses. Nicaragua is a haven specifically for people looking to be in a place that puts value on human life. All human life.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Petty crime is high like it is in Europe. It's not really a "but" kind of thing... petty crime tends to exist where violent does not and vice versa. In the US, you don't steal someone's phone because they might shoot you. Violent retaliation fears tend to disuade small time crime, while encourage more major crime. So while phone snatching goes down, mass shooting goes up. If the penalties for petty crime are low, petty crime happens. If the penalties get harsh, those same elements skip the small time crime and just go for the big scores. So as you'd expect, they turn to armed invasion, muggings, car jacking or drug dealing instead of pick pocketing.

[@Bombastic-ahhh]

​@ScottAlanMillerVlog Hello, I heard about Nicaragua as a possible place to relocate through Jeff Berwick, and he mentions man 31:22 y of the same points you make here. Your information is excellent, and I'm definitely going to visit soon. Any particular time of year you would recommend for a one week vacation? Thanks!

[@BbTenn]

@@ScottAlanMillerVlogHey Scott, you are so right about the farcical state of democracy in the US. Election Day is nearly upon us, and I have zero confidence in the integrity of the voting process. I moved from Canada to the US a number of years ago to escape the lunacy in that country only to find the US isn’t much better (and is in some ways worse). Looking forward to expatriating within the next year or so.

[@arjrpr11]

If Nicaragua is as safe as the USA then I don’t want to go😢 - if you live in the states I am not sure we can say it’s a safe country.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

The US is actually pretty safe. Unless you are comparing to Europe, it's quite safe. Where are you looking at that is long term safe like Nicaragua (Rather than just one good year?) Nicaragua is safer than the US, but it's close. But the difference is that Nicaragua has normal violence (mostly criminals hurting criminals) and the US has an extremely high incidence of criminals hurting regular people and the police hurting innocent people. Nicaragua only approaches the dangers of the US if you are a criminal. If you are not a felon, then it's WAY safer.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

Also big different. US dangerous are shifted heavily toward women and children. Criminals in Nicaragua tend to be adult males. You don't want any kind of violence, of course. But there truly is an important difference between "innocent violence" that makes you scared to do go to school or the mall; and totally avoidable violence where you know you can safely walk the streets alone at night because you aren't involved in anything that would lead to violence. Violent crime as a single number is very misleading. Nicaragua is safer overall. But meaningfully it's like Europe. As a tourist or a normal citizen not committing crimes, you get the same safety levels as the safest countries. Maybe not Switzerland, but Germany or France or Italy or Spain at least. People move to Nicaragua FROM Canada for safety reasons. For example.

[@ScottAlanMillerVlog]

And this one is hard. I was just in Argentina and people who live there full time, people who grew up there, were very adamant that it is much less safe than NIcaragua. But violent crime stats say that it is insanely safe. But it's hard because both countries are so safe that locals refer to "snatch and grab" as "danger", whereas the US refers to mass shootings as "danger". So the perspective is wildly different. ANd to really see what safe looks like, in Romania they consider "someone who would snatch a wallet from an unlocked car" to be danger.