Nicaragua Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip. Advisory as of May 13, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 3· Reconsider Travel

Level 3 of 4 · as of May 13, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

No overall travel warning

Last updated December 10, 2025 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

May 13, 2026 — current
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Nicaragua since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Nicaragua safe? What the official advisory says

in Nicaragua due to risk of crime , health , wrongful detention , and arbitrary enforcement of local laws .

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees working in Nicaragua are generally not allowed to drive after dark due to safety risks. These include inadequate street lighting and poor road conditions. However, they are allowed to drive at all times in Managua and on Carretera Masaya between Managua and Granada.
U.S. government employees working in Nicaragua are not allowed to use public transportation due to safety risks.
U.S. government employees working in Nicaragua are not allowed to go to these places due to safety risks: Managua's Mercado Oriental
Managua’s national baseball stadium
Casinos and strip clubs
Non-personal service contractors traveling to Nicaragua on official U.S. government business must travel on a service passport starting April 15, 2026.

Wrongful Detention

The U.S. Department of State has determined that U.S. nationals are at serious risk of wrongful detention by the Government of Nicaragua. Wrongfully detained U.S. nationals may be held in prison for years, in poor conditions, and without due process or consistent access to U.S. government staff or their family. Familiarize yourself with and respect local laws and customs but be aware that local laws are often applied arbitrarily to those who are seen as government opponents. Foreign travelers may face an increased risk of detention and harassment, even if you are also a citizen of Nicaragua.

The U.S. embassy will work to monitor your health and safety in detention but cannot guarantee your release. Most U.S. nationals who are convicted of committing a crime overseas serve out their sentences in prisons in that country.

Arbitrary enforcement of local laws

Some U.S. citizens have been detained for several weeks or more. Offenders of some crimes can face 50 or more years in prison. The embassy cannot guarantee your release.

The Government of Nicaragua has imposed some exit bans on U.S. citizens that prevent them from leaving the country without a fair and transparent process under the law.

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of May 13, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Nicaragua travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Nicaragua?

As of May 13, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Nicaragua at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

What does Level 3 mean?

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) — Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

When did the Nicaragua travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on May 13, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Nicaragua?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: No overall travel warning (last updated December 10, 2025). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.