You can buy one at the Oriental Market in Managua very easy and cheap. However if you get caught with it there is serious jail time. Once you obtain residency, it is not very difficult at all to get license for guns. You can own as many as you can afford but have to register and obtain a license for each and every one. As far as fully protecting your home? It isn't going to happen in Nicaragua without several armed guards and this is providing they don't rip you off How hard is it to get a 9mm?

thanks for the responds. If it were me, the goal would be to get her to the States and married before the baby is born. I don't mean to imply any puritanical judgement here, but the baby is going to complicate the process and significantly increase the cost.

It is my understanding That Nicaraguan Immigration will no longer accept applications for residency submitted by attorneys. You will have to submit the application yourself. Having a lawyer no longer means the process will go through without a hitch. The main thing you will need assistance is help with filling out the documents if you don't understand Spanish. There are relocation services that offer the service for less than $100. When Nicaragua became a signatory to the Hague Convention it became possible for citizens of signatory countries to get documents apostilled, which apparently cuts out a couple of other stages in the process of obtaining documents for Nicaragua residency applications. Unfortunately, Canada is a not a signatory, so I still have to get a copy of my citizenship paper and have it certified. The catch for me is that Canada will not provide this document without seeing a document that explains why it is needed (presumably to protect citizens from their documents being used by others). So I spent the good part of a day, on and off, trying to reach any Nicaraguan consulate to obtain whatever document provides the requirements for pensionada/rentista visa applications. The only time I reached a human, she was Spanish-speaking and she put me through to the voicemail of someone who wasn't there. All subsequent calls (to consulates in L.A., San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Miami . . .) reached wrong or out-of-service numbers or endless series of number-punching for extensions that provided only voicemail. Gaaah! I will try again Monday. I still have to get a copy of my U.K. birth certificate (how can there be a copy of it--mine is so old it's hand-written!) and get that apostilled. I don't even want to think about how I'm going to show my proof of income--that's a whole other complication I haven't quite tackled yet. Oh, and if anyone can get me a working email address for ScotiaBank in Managua I'd be very grateful--I've tried two so far, with no replies, just a bounce. I'm glad I got started on all this early. I'd hate to have run into all these obstacles just a few weeks before my move date!

I drove back to the states from Nicaragua this past October, I stayed mostly in Auto-Hotels which cater mostly to "couples", but are gated and have a garage below the apt or room. Get in before dark and hit the road early. Mexico...no problem, go thru the border area early and put some clicks behind you. Nica to the Mex border...5 days...The Cops are the worst, I believe one stole my cell ph. while another had me conversing with him (cheapie ph) watch them carefully, don't flash any big bills, just small stuff, other wise a great trip and lots of fun. Some of the drivers north of Nicaragua were very courteous and would pull over to the shoulder if you want to pass. I live in Playa Remanso and will be returning in January. Jamie iguanalover-thank you for your comments, very much appreciated

Thanks, mapper55! I am giggling. LOL In listening to my wife's tales of Nicaragua, it would appear that 'logic' and 'celebration' have nothing in common. Last night was the 'Celebration of the Virgin Mary' which is sort of like Halloween without the spooky stuff. Dec 24th is the big celebration of Christmas, not the 25th. Lots more bombas and general noise starting at 6am (noon, 6pm and midnight as well), and everyone gets falling down drunk so don't go out on the roads. As for 'why', remember Matthew 6:5. The more noise you make (and treats you hand out) the better Christian you must be.

Thanks for the response. I intend to buy property in RAAN territory on the coast and a farm of approximately 400 - 800 acres up in the northeast mountaneous area. Where I am from you have to be self sufficient and I expect the same there, probably more so. I will most likely set up coastel businesses where I will train the people, assign a manager and mostly stay out of the way as long as it is running to expectations. As I know it will take time to find the right properties I might as well set up some businesses while I rent and look if it appears feasable. That will also let me know if I need to get other specialized equipment before bringing it there. You would probably find it cost prohibitive to buy all new equipment in Nicaragua, but I have never looked for this type of equipment. If you are coming in as a retiree, you are only given a tax break on the first $20,000 of 'household goods' you want to bring in. If your equipment is not new, the tax assessor has a lot of leeway in establishing value but that could go either way. Are you planning on starting a business in Nicaragua? In theory they are very welcoming to new businesses, but the process sounds very paperwork intensive to me. A google search for 'starting a business in nicaragua' will provide a lot of information but perhaps someone who has done this could respond. Good luck.

what are the other beaches that are less expensive than san juan del sur There are other beach areas that are very pretty but much less expensive that San Juan Del Sur