Andrew does The Americas "Travellers, there is no path, paths are made by walking" Antonio Machado (Spanish writer 1875-1939)

Bureaucracy has to many letters, it should only have four! While planning my move to Nicaragua I have had to deal with all the paperwork involved in applying for a residence visa in Nica. Maybe you're one of those people who dont find paperwork a problem, I have met those who thrive on it! But if like me you hate it.... I'm not quite sure why I'm bothering with this preamble, this article is for you Sebastian!

Anyhow if you're planning to get residence in Nicaragua, and you're a resident in Spain, this is what you need. However please take as given that if this info is incorrect in any way or form I will not accept liability, if you want that kind of security, why are you looking in a personal journal.

You need three documents, 1)Birth certificate, 2)Medical Certificate, 3)Criminal background history. The three documents need legalising, these requires up to four signatures from different institutions.

1) Birth certificate. You must legalise this document. Your consulate in the country should suffice, but its probably a good idea to make sure with the Nicaraguan Embassy.

2) Medical Certificate (Certificado Medical) This document is an official document you buy in a Tabacos estanco, you take it to a doctor, he signs it, you then take it to the Doctors Assosiation (Escuela Oficial de Medicos) of your Province for them to sign, you then send it to the Consejo Oficial de Medicos (Spanish Doctor council) in Madrid for them to sign, you then send it to Ministry of Foreign affairs (Ministerio de Exteriores) for them to sign, and then you take it to the embassy of Nicaragua for them to sign. Yep everyman and his dog gets to sign it. It's a miracle anything is left of the document.

3.) Certificado de Antecedentes personales. This document is a certificate that proves you dont have a criminal history. You get it from the closes subsecretaria of Justicia, I got it from Malaga

, they sign it, you send it to the Secretaria de Justicia in Madrid

Tel. 91 390 2011  san Bernardo, 45

you then take it to Ministerio de Exteriores for them to sign, and then, you guessed it, to the embassy for their squiggle.

4.) If you're applying for residence based on you marrying a local man/woman you need to legalise your marriage paperwork. This I've got no idea how to do.

This is a brief idea of what paperwork you're going to be needing for any more information email me at latham.andrew@gmail.com and I might reply.

Andrew