In Nicaragua, the way in which the government gives a foreign person permission to work is through the application for temporary residence, which has a few subcategories, and permanent residence.

1) Document to present for Temporary Residency

1. Application Form.
2. Letter of request of residence, addressed to the General Direction of Migration and Foreigners.
3. Original in good condition and photocopy of the passport (validity not less than six months). Nationals of CA-4 countries, in exceptional cases, may present original and photocopy of valid Identity Card.
4. Two passport-size photographs (4½ inches high by 3 ½ inches wide), white background, without glasses, hat, cap, ears and forehead uncovered.
5. Certificate of Criminal Record, issued by the competent authority of the country of origin or residence for the last three years, apostilled or duly authenticated by the Nicaraguan Consulate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country of origin, and by the chancellery in Nicaragua. Minors under 18 years of age are exempt from this requirement.
6. Birth certificate and naturalization certificate in case of having acquired another nationality, issued by the competent authority of their country of origin, duly apostilled or authenticated as the case may be.
7. Health certificate issued by the authority of your country of residence or the Nicaraguan health authorities.
8. Once the Resolution of Residence Authorization is approved, the citizen must make a guarantee deposit, equivalent to a return ticket to his/her country of origin, which will be deposited in the DGME cashier's office, for which he/she must present two proformas from two different airlines.
9. Exceptionally, complementary documentation may be requested in order to authorize or deny such request. If such documentation is not presented within the time limit granted, the proceedings will be filed and the citizen will have to complete the procedure again.
10. Requirements to present according to the profession (SubCatergories):

• Scientists, professionals, technicians and specialized personnel

1. Letter requesting residency with condition one (TO WORK), in the case of citizens hired abroad, they must present such letter at the moment of their entry through any border post.
2. Individual work contract certified by the Ministry of Labor, (specifying that this will become effective once the DGME grants the citizen the residence with authorization to work).
3. Proof of compliance with article 14 of the Labor Code, issued by the Ministry of Labor.
4. Notarized commitment of the employer, where he/she guarantees the return to his/her country of origin or previous residence once the labor contract is concluded.
5. Photocopy of the University Degree or Certification that accredits the trade, profession or activity to which he/she is dedicated, according to the position to perform in Nicaragua, issued by the competent authority of the country of origin or previous residence, authenticated by the Nicaraguan Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin and the chancellery in Nicaragua.
6. Photocopy of the Deed of Incorporation of the applicant company, duly registered in the Commercial Registry and certified before a Notary Public. In case of Non-Governmental Organizations, they must present a Certificate from the Registry and Control Division of the Ministry of the Interior, and a photocopy of its publication in the Official Gazette.
7. Photocopy of the Deed of Legal Representation and Identification of the legal representative of the Company.
8. In the cases of foreign workers of free trade zones, it will present endorsement of employee and company of free trade zone issued by the National Commission of Free Trade Zone.
9. Once the Resolution of Residence Authorization is approved, the citizen must make a guarantee deposit, equivalent to a return ticket to his country of origin, which will be deposited in the DGME cashier's office, for which he must present two proformas from two different airlines.
10. Once the residency application has been authorized, a guarantee deposit is required, equivalent to a return ticket to the country of origin, which will be deposited in the DGME's cashier's office, for which two proformas from two different airlines must be presented.
11. Exceptionally, complementary documentation may be requested (Article 63 numeral 7 of the Regulation to Law 761, General Law of Migration and Foreigners).

•  Independent Workers

1. Letter requesting the residence in the subcategory of independent worker, addressed to the General Direction of Migration and Foreigners, specifying the business to be established and the service to be provided.
2. Declaration of merchant registered in the Commercial Registry, specifying the activity or service to be performed (authenticated copy).
3. Photocopy of Commercial Registration from the Mayor's Office.
4. Photocopy of registration in the General Directorate of Income, RUC.
5. Notarized declaration of sources of income.
6. Electronic Solvency of the General Directorate of Income (copy).
7. Certificate of Supplier of the State, (this is applicable to independent Consultants).
8. Once the Resolution of Residence Authorization has been approved, the citizen must make a guarantee deposit, equivalent to a return ticket to his country of origin, which will be deposited in the DGME cashier's office, for which he must present two proformas from two different airlines.
9. Present two proformas of the value of the return ticket to your country, from two different airlines, which will be deposited in the cashier's office of the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners.
10. Exceptionally, complementary documentation may be requested (Article 63 numeral 7 of the Regulation to Law 761, General Law of Migration and Aliens).
11. Fees :

• Residency application form: U$ 3 Caja - Migration.
• Annual Temporary Residence: U$ 200 Caja - Migration.
• Annual temporary residence, migratory subcategories established in the numerals 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11 of the art. 25 of the law 761: U$ 100 Box - Migration.

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The other subcategories are Businessmen and Non-profit Legal Persons; Journalists; Students; Religious; Dependent Worker; Economic Dependent; Artists; Sportsmen and Sportswomen.

More details here.

Important:

• Once the Resolution of Residence Authorization has been approved, the citizen must make a Guarantee Deposit, based on the provisions of article 128 of Law 761, "General Law of Migration and Foreigners".
• It will have to present the proforma of the cost of the airplane ticket of two airlines.
• All documents presented in photocopy must be certified by a notary public.
• All procedures are personal.
• All documents coming from abroad must be authenticated or apostilled.
• The documents must be translated into Spanish.
• During the application process you must maintain your stay in the country.
• All procedures are personal.

2) Common requirements for obtaining Permanent Residency

1. Application Form
2. Letter of request of residence, addressed to the General Direction of Migration and Foreigners.
3. Original in good condition and photocopy of passport (valid for no less than six months). Nationals of CA-4 countries, in exceptional cases, may present original and photocopy of valid Identity Card.
4. Two passport-size photographs (4½ inches high by 3 ½ inches wide), white background, without glasses, hat, cap, ears and forehead uncovered.
5. Birth certificate and naturalization certificate in case of having acquired another nationality, issued by the competent authority of your country of origin, duly apostilled or authenticated as the case may be.
6. Certificate of Criminal Record, issued by the competent authority of the country of origin or residence for the last three years, apostilled or duly authenticated by the Nicaraguan Consulate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their country of origin, and by the chancellery in Nicaragua. Minors under 18 years of age are exempt from this requirement.
7. Health certificate, issued by the competent authority of their country of origin or previous residence, apostilled or authenticated, or by the Nicaraguan health authorities.
8. Exceptionally, complementary documentation may be requested to authorize or deny such request, if not submitted within the time limit granted, the proceedings will be filed and the citizen will have to carry out the procedure again.
9. Fees:

• Residency application form: U$ 3 Caja - Migration.
• Permanent Residence for 5 years: U$ 500 - Cashier - Immigration.
• Permanent residence for 5 years, migratory subcategories established in the numerals 1 and 5 of the art. 30 of the law 761: U$ 250 Cashier - Immigration.

The subcategories are Immigrant with capital or Investor; Resident Annuitant; Foreigners with affinity or consanguinity link with Nicaraguan. More details here.

Important:

• All documents coming from abroad must be authenticated or apostilled.
• Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Criminal Record Certificates and Health.
• Certificates, Diplomas of Professionals or Certificates of Studies Abroad, must be translated into Spanish by an authorized translator before a notary with more than 10 years of notarial practice.

All procedures are personal.

3) Steps in any of the cases:

1. You must go to the Direction General de Migración y Extranjería to purchase the Migratory Procedure Form, which has a cost of U$3.00. From there you will have the form you require.
2. Present all the above requirements (including the form), according to your category at the Immigration office. There you will be given an appointment to be attended by a migration officer.
3. Wait to be called by the officer at the window to receive your documents. You will need to present your documents once you have been notified of the authorization of your residency.
4. What should I do? Wait to be notified by the DGME about the authorization of residence, once notified you must pay the corresponding fee and have your photo taken for your identity card.
5.  What will I get? Temporary residence card.

Location of immigration offices, here.
More information here.