Nicaragua Sanctions
NINicaragua is currently subject to 6 active sanctions programs imposed by Global Affairs Canada, European Union Council, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These measures include asset freeze, travel ban, financial restrictions and trade restrictions. This page lists every program targeting Nicaragua, the legal bases behind them, and the most recent changes.
Last updated 12 Jun 2026
Programs
6
Authorities
6
Restriction Types
4
Restrictions
Sanctioning Authorities
Sanctions Programs
Total designated: 35 (35 individuals)
Resources
At the European Council on 21 January 2019, EU Member States condemned the muzzling of political opponents, independent media and civil society, and the use of anti-terrorist laws to repress dissenting opinions in the Republic of Nicaragua. In view of the continuing violations of human rights and civil liberties in the Republic of Nicaragua and to contribute to a peaceful negotiated way out of the current crisis, the Council established a new restrictive measures framework on 14 October 2019. This framework enables the EU to impose targeted restrictive measures, including travel bans and assets freeze, against persons, entities or bodies responsible for serious human rights violations and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Nicaragua, as well as persons associated with them. Derogations to the restrictive measures are possible, including the delivery of humanitarian aid. Adopted by: EU.
Resources
Sanctions program targeting persons contributing to the situation in Nicaragua, including blocking of property and additional steps to address the national emergency with respect to Nicaragua. Implemented under executive orders and statutes, and codified at 31 CFR Part 582.
Resources
+11 more
14 designated entities (14 individuals). Designation sources: UK. Earliest designation: 2021-11-15. Latest update: 2025-04-09.
Resources
Swiss sanctions targeting Nicaragua. Total designated: 24 (21 individuals, 3 entities).
Resources
UK sanctions regime targeting designated persons connected with Nicaragua.
Recent Changes
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Added: Executive Order 14088 – Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua (October 24, 2022), Executive Order 13851 – Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua (November 27, 2018), Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, as amended, 31 CFR Part 582 – Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations. Removed: Executive Order 14088, Executive Order 13851, Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335 (formerly Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018), 31 CFR Part 582 - Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 General License(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Added: Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335 (formerly Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018), 31 CFR Part 582 - Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations. Removed: Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, 31 CFR Part 582
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 statutory_guidance(s)
Restrictions added
Added: financial_restrictions
Target countries updated
Added: BF, HR, JM, MZ, NI, TZ, UG, ZW. Removed: BO, CM, CI, LA, DZ, AO, BG, NA, PG, VG, KW, MC, NP, SS, VE
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Added: Executive Order 14088, Executive Order 13851, Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, 31 CFR Part 582. Removed: Executive Order 14088 - Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua (October 24, 2022), Executive Order 13851 - Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua (November 27, 2018), Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, as amended, 31 CFR Part 582 - Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 Regulation(s), 2 Statute(s)
Nicaragua sanctions regime renamed
Program renamed from "Nicaragua sanctions" to "Nicaragua sanctions regime"
Legal basis updated for Nicaragua sanctions regime
Added: Sanctions Act 2018
Resources added
Added: 1 guidance(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 General License(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Added: Executive Order 14088 - Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua (October 24, 2022), Executive Order 13851 - Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua (November 27, 2018), Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, as amended. Removed: Executive Order 14088, Executive Order 13851, Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Nicaragua sanctions renamed
Program renamed from "Nicaragua sanctions regime" to "Nicaragua sanctions"
Legal basis updated for Nicaragua sanctions
Removed: Sanctions Act 2018
Resources added
Added: 1 statutory_guidance(s), 1 designations_list(s)
Restrictions removed
Removed: financial_restrictions
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Added: Executive Order 14088, Executive Order 13851, Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335. Removed: Executive Order 14088 - Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua (October 24, 2022), Executive Order 13851 - Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua (November 27, 2018), Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, Public Law 115-335, as amended
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 General License(s)
Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua renamed
Program renamed from "EU Restrictive Measures in view of the Situation in Nicaragua" to "Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua"
Legal basis updated for Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua
Added: Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua, Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua
Resources added
Added: 2 statute(s), 1 advisory(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Legal bases changed
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Legal bases changed
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 FAQ(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 Regulation(s)
Restrictions removed
Removed: investment_ban
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
The Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 renamed
Program renamed from "UK Nicaragua sanctions" to "The Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020"
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 General License(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 General License(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 Regulation(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 FAQ(s), 1 General License(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 source(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Legal bases changed
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 Interpretive Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 FAQ(s), 3 Guidance(s), 1 General License(s)
Restrictions added
Added: investment_ban
Nicaragua sanctions regime renamed
Program renamed from "Nicaragua Sanctions" to "Nicaragua sanctions regime"
Legal basis updated for Nicaragua sanctions regime
Added: Sanctions Act 2018. Removed: Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018
Resources added
Added: 1 statutory_guidance(s)
Restrictions added
Added: financial_restrictions
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Legal bases changed
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 Regulation(s), 1 Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s)
Restrictions removed
Removed: investment_ban
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 Interpretive Guidance(s), 2 Licensing Policy(s), 1 General License(s), 1 FAQ(s), 2 Statute(s)
Legal basis updated for OFAC Nicaragua-related Sanctions
Legal bases changed
Resources added
Added: 2 Executive Order(s), 2 Statute(s), 1 Regulation(s), 6 Federal Register Notice(s), 1 General License(s), 1 Interpretive Guidance(s), 1 FAQ(s), 2 Guidance(s)