The job market

Prospects for expats in Nicaragua

The job market

Nicaragua is home to one of the fastest growing job markets for English teachers in Central America.

Despite considerable efforts to introduce macroeconomic and open-trade policies there has not been significant change in Nicaragua’s economy and job market. Towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century, employment as well as self-employment have shown positive growth but there hasn’t been any considerable change in either production or employment, resulting in GDP growth and employment still falling below the average for Latin American countries.

There is very high demand for native English speaking teachers in Nicaragua. The job market is not very competitive and you can typically find work throughout most of the year. However, most Nicaraguan language schools hire English teachers in person and it is less common to interview for jobs in advance over the phone or by e-mail. Even though wages are not very high, the cost of living in Nicaragua is extremely low so English teachers can still afford a comfortable lifestyle.

If you are planning on working in Nicaragua, you will need to apply for a work permit.

Labour laws

For most jobs based in Nicaragua, you must abide by the Nicaraguan immigration and labour laws. Other than starting a business or volunteering for a non-profit organisation, there are few career opportunities for expats in Nicaragua.

The Nicaraguan immigration law prohibits foreigners living in the country on tourist visas to obtain legal employment. Unfortunately, there are few exceptions. If you are fortunate enough to be offered employment from a Nicaraguan company they will assist you in getting a work permit. However, unless you have special knowledge or niche skills, those employment permits are temporary. If you want to work longer than 6 months, you must apply for a residency permit.

Further reading

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