Nicaragua nationalizes a Palestinian pharmaceutical company and a Panamanian investor

The Director General of Migration and Foreigners, General Commissioner Juan Emilio Rivas Benites, granted Nicaraguan nationality to two foreign citizens through resolutions No. 3446 and No. 3447, endorsed by the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior, María Amelia Coronel Kinloch. The resolutions, signed in Managua on September 26, 2026, take effect as of their publication in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 181 on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the Naturalized section (p. 9587). The act is supported by Law No. 761, General Law of Migration and Foreigners, and its Regulations contained in Decree No. 31-2012.

A naturalized Palestinian pharmacist

Resolution No. 3446 grants Nicaraguan nationality as a naturalized citizen to DANYA R. N. BANIFADEL, originally from the State of Palestine. According to the file, the applicant proved continuous and uninterrupted permanent residence in the country for two years, as well as ties of affinity and consanguinity with Nicaraguans.

The data recorded in the resolution are as follows:

• Of legal age, married, and with a degree in pharmacy.
• Born on February 10, 1996, in Nablus, State of Palestine.
• With domicile and residence in the department of León.

The resolution was registered on folios 073-074 of the Nicaraguan naturalized citizens book No. 12 corresponding to the year 2026, under the official reference Reg. 2026-00693.

A Panamanian investor

Resolution No. 3447 grants nationality as a naturalized citizen to METHGAL JUNIER SHIHAB KHATIB, originally from the Republic of Panama. The file highlights his continuous and uninterrupted stay in Nicaragua for four years, his status as a Central American by origin, and his activity as an investor, contributing to the social and economic development of the country.

• Of legal age, single, business administrator, and investor.
• Born on March 6, 1992, in the Corregimiento of Barrio Sur, District of Colón, Province of Colón, Republic of Panama.
• With domicile and residence in the department of Managua.

The registration was entered on folios 075-076 of the same naturalized citizens book No. 12 of the year 2026.

Legal framework and effects

Both resolutions invoke article 117 of the Regulations of Law No. 761 and the sovereign nature of granting nationality. Resolution No. 3446 is based on articles 22, 23, 64, and 65 of the Political Constitution of Nicaragua, with the reforms of Law 1234 and Law 1268; Resolution No. 3447 cites articles 22, 23 second paragraph, 98, 99, and 100 of the Magna Carta.

The applied regulatory framework includes:

• Law No. 761, General Law on Migration and Foreigners, published in La Gaceta No. 125 and 126 on July 6 and 7, 2011, and its reforms contained in Law No. 1228.
• Decree No. 31-2012, Regulation of Law No. 761, published in La Gaceta Nos. 184, 185, and 186 on September 27 and 28 and October 1, 2012.
• Ministerial Agreement No. 12-2018 of the Minister of the Interior, dated October 18, 2018.

Naturalized citizens shall enjoy the rights and prerogatives granted by law and shall be subject to the obligations corresponding to Nicaraguans, as provided in each resolution.

With these two resolutions, the Ministry of the Interior adds new naturalized citizens to book No. 12 of the year 2026, in a procedure that Nicaraguan legislation reserves as a sovereign act of the State. Publication in La Gaceta is decisive: both resolutions take effect only upon their appearance in the Official Gazette, such that the two citizens formally acquire Nicaraguan nationality with edition No. 181 of October 5, 2026.

Source: La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 181, Monday, October 5, 2026, Naturalized section, p. 9587 (official reference: Reg. 2026-00693).