We are publishing this article in response to the many questions we have received in recent weeks from clients, friends, and contacts, concerned after hearing about a supposed “new mandatory registration with MIFIC” for foreign investors in Nicaragua. This issue caught our attention, so we reviewed the official legal texts and now share a clear and reliable summary.

Legal basis

• Law N° 1240 – Foreign Investment Law, published in La Gaceta N° 36 on February 24, 2025. Effective as of May 24, 2025.
  Article 6: all foreign investments must be registered with MIFIC, through the Directorate of Investments.
• Decree N° 8902 – Regulation of the Law, published in La Gaceta N° 99 on June 4, 2025.
  It establishes the Registro Único de Inversión Extranjera (RUIE), the official certificate confirming registration, and grants a 120-day deadline (until September 2025) for existing investments to comply.

Who is affected

• Corporations and companies active in Nicaragua, owned by foreign investors.
• Corporations that hold real estate, even if they do not carry out commercial activity.
• New foreign investment projects established in the country.

Who is not affected

• Individual foreign owners of land or houses under their personal name, with no business activity.
• Foreign property owners with no residence or economic activity in Nicaragua, who simply maintain a property for personal use (such as a vacation home).

Conclusion

The new law mainly targets foreign investments through companies and projects, ensuring they are registered and regulated. An individual foreign owner with a house or land in their personal name is not required to register with MIFIC.
The official references are:

• La Gaceta N° 36 of February 24, 2025 (Law N° 1240).
• La Gaceta N° 99 of June 4, 2025 (Decree N° 8902).

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