Customs declaration requirements for Nicaragua
Customs Declare produces the completed Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA) for Nicaragua’s own customs authority, in Spanish, from your invoice and supporting documents. You or your broker review and submit it -- nothing leaves your workspace automatically.
Declaration form
Moderate confidence- Form
- Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA)
- Issuing authority
- Direccion General de Servicios Aduaneros (DGA)
- Primary language
- Spanish
- Accepted languages
- Spanish
- Required supporting documents
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill or land transport receipt, certificate of origin where preference sought
- Last verified
- Aug 30, 2026
Import requirements & restrictions
Import permit required
Import of food and beverages into Nicaragua requires a permit from the Ministry of Health's Food Inspection Office; non-processed food is regulated instead by the Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA). Either body must issue the import permit prior to each individual shipment, requiring a (phyto)sanitary certificate, certificate of origin, and commercial invoice. Firearms and hunting arms separately require an import license.
Nicaragua Ministry of Health / IPSA
Import licensing required
Under the Central American Customs Union Treaty (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama), a local food or beverage product with valid sanitary registration in any ONE signatory country is recognized as valid for import in the rest -- a separate registration per country is not required. Customs procedures across these countries follow the shared CAUCA/RECAUCA (Central American Uniform Customs Code) framework, with the single DUCA declaration document (administered via SIECA, the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat) replacing multiple national customs forms.
SIECA (Central American Economic Integration Secretariat)
Duty & tax
- VAT (default rate)
- 15%
- MFN duty rate data
- Available
- Preferential rate
- None on record
- Free duty calculator
- Check a duty rate for Nicaragua
Quick answers
What customs declaration form does Nicaragua require?
Nicaragua’s import declaration is the Documento Unico Aduanero (DUA), issued by Direccion General de Servicios Aduaneros (DGA).
Which languages does Nicaragua accept on a customs declaration?
Spanish
What supporting documents are required to import into Nicaragua?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill or land transport receipt, certificate of origin where preference sought
What is the VAT rate on imports into Nicaragua?
The default VAT rate on record for Nicaragua is 15%.