Nicaragua: Information on whether a woman born in Nicaragua of Nicaraguan parents who later moved to Costa Rica and acquired Costa Rican nationality could recover her Nicaraguan nationality, whether there are any circumstances that would bar her from doing so, and whether her minor children would be entitled to Nicaraguan nationality
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NIC26528.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nicaragua: Information on whether a woman born in Nicaragua of Nicaraguan parents who later moved to Costa Rica and acquired Costa Rican nationality could recover her Nicaraguan nationality, whether there are any circumstances that would bar her from doing so, and whether her minor children would be entitled to Nicaraguan nationality, 1 March 1997, NIC26528.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab4724.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Further to the information provided in Responses to Information Requests NIC25647.E of 18 December 1996 and NIC16084.E of 21 December 1993, a consular official at the embassy of Nicaragua in Ottawa provided the information that follows during a 21 March 1997 telephone interview.
A person who holds a Nicaraguan birth certificate will be issued a Nicaraguan passport upon request. This acknowledges the person's Nicaraguan nationality. Except in cases where the person has acquired the nationality of a country other than that of a Central American nation or Spain, an authentic Nicaraguan birth certificate is enough to entitle the person to a Nicaraguan passport. No information was available at the time of the interview on other exceptional circumstances that might bar a Nicaraguan-born person from being recognized as a Nicaraguan. The source added that, as indicated in NIC25647.E, minor children of a Nicaraguan parent abroad are considered Nicaraguan if they are registered at a Nicaraguan consulate or embassy before they reach the age of 21.
Please find attached excerpts from the Constitution of Nicaragua that contain provisions on nationality and on citizenship, the latter referring mostly to the political rights of nationals who have reached 16 years of age. Recent constitutional amendments do not include modifications of the articles pertaining to nationality (Flanz May 1996).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Flanz, Gisbert H. May 1996. "Republic of Nicaragua-Supplement," Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Edited by Gisbert H. Flanz. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications.
Embassy of Nicaragua, Ottawa. 21 March 1997. Telephone interview with consular official.
Attachment
Flanz, Gisbert H. September 1987. "Nicaragua," Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Edited by Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, pp. 12-13, 17.
