Travelers heading to Central America are facing an unwelcome surprise: Nicaragua has abruptly withdrawn from the CA-4 free mobility agreement, requiring visitors from 128 countries—including New Zealand, Australia, and many others—to obtain pre-approved visas through embassies.The change, which took effect February 16, 2026, caught countless travelers mid-trip with zero warning from airlines or booking platforms. The CA-4 agreement previously allowed visa-free travel between Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras for most nationalities.A New Zealand couple shared their experience on Reddit, describing how they discovered the policy change literally the day before their scheduled flight from Mexico to Managua. "No heads-up from the airline (Copa), no notices, nothing," they wrote.The new "Category C consulted visa" requires travelers to send passport details to Nicaragua's Ministry for approval—with no clear timeline published—then physically visit a Nicaraguan consulate or embassy to get the visa stamped. Processing times could be weeks or months, according to early reports from affected travelers.When the New Zealand travelers arrived at the airport, Copa Airlines staff confirmed they couldn't enter Nicaragua and offered little help with rebooking. "They were brutally unsympathetic," the couple wrote. The airline had actually cancelled their entire booking—including their Mexico to Panama segment—without informing them, forcing them to pay change fees plus fare differences for new flights.New Zealand's SafeTravel website mentions the visa requirement but provides no practical details on processing times or application procedures. The sudden policy shift is particularly surprising given that New Zealand passport holders typically enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most countries.Travel industry experts note this is part of a broader trend of countries tightening visa requirements with little notice, creating challenges for independent travelers who book trips months in advance. Unlike major policy changes that are announced with transition periods, Nicaragua's withdrawal from CA-4 took effect immediately.Travelers planning Central American itineraries should verify visa requirements immediately, even if they booked before the February 16 change. Do not assume CA-4 still covers you. Airlines have shown inconsistent awareness of the policy change, meaning travelers may only discover the issue at check-in—potentially losing entire bookings.