Residence in El Salvador: permits and requirements
Living legally in El Salvador is possible through 4 permit types: permanent, family, investment. Each program has its own requirements; below are the duration, renewal, costs and documentation according to the country's official sources.
Temporary Resident
Residence type #1 of 4
Temporary residence covers 16 official modalities: transitory, temporary, with work authorisation, investor, business, commercial representative, pensioners, rentier, accompanying, studies, shareholder, individual traders, cooperants, trafficking victims, humanitarian and religious (forms F1-F16, migracion.gob.sv)
Requirements
- File the application before the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
- Show lawful means of subsistence
- No serious criminal record
- Enter the country through an authorized checkpoint
Documentation
- Valid passport
- Formal temporary residence application
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin
- Health certificate issued by the Salvadoran public-health authority
- Proof of income or job offer
- Photos
Frequently asked questions about residence in El Salvador
How many types of residence permits are there in El Salvador?
El Salvador offers 4 residence permit types, grouped into the categories permanent, family, investment. Each permit has its own requirements, duration and documentation, detailed in this fact sheet according to the country's official sources.
How long do residence permits in El Salvador last?
Durations vary by permit type: 1 to 2 years; Permanent (the card is renewed every 5 years); Permanent. The exact details of each type appear in the corresponding fact sheet.
Can residence permits in El Salvador be renewed?
It depends on the type: 1 of 4 permits are renewable. Each fact sheet on this page indicates whether the permit in question allows renewal.
What documentation is usually required to reside in El Salvador?
Although each permit requires its own file, the most recurrent documents are: Valid passport; Certificado de antecedentes penales; Health certificate. The complete list by residence type appears in each fact sheet, together with the corresponding official link.
Does residence in El Salvador lead to nationality?
Yes, through the Naturalization pathway, which requires 1 year of residence in the country for Spaniards and Hispanic Americans of origin (including Central Americans) (1983 Constitution, art. 92.1). The complete requirements are in the nationality fact sheet of El Salvador.
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Anything to correct or add about El Salvador?
If you have spotted incorrect or outdated information, or want to suggest additional details about residence pathways in El Salvador, leave us your comment. We review every one personally.