Salvadoran citizenship after 5 years — or faster.
The standard path is 5 years of legal residency (typically 3 temporary + 2 permanent). Dual U.S.–Salvadoran citizenship is fully allowed — you keep your passport.
Do you qualify?
Documents to prepare
Gather these after your 5th year and work with a Salvadoran immigration attorney.
Valid U.S. passport
Original plus copies of all pages.
Birth certificate Apostilled
Recent (within ~60 days), apostilled by your state Secretary of State, then officially translated into Spanish in El Salvador.
Proof of residency
Your current Salvadoran cédula (residency card), plus records showing 5 years of continuous legal status.
Salvadoran police solvency
A current criminal-record certificate from the Policía Nacional Civil (PNC).
Home-country criminal record Apostilled
FBI Identity History Summary (or equivalent), apostilled and translated if needed.
Health certificate
From a licensed Salvadoran physician confirming no contagious diseases — valid for ~3 months.
Passport-style photos
Usually 2–4 — check current DGME specs.
Proof of Spanish proficiency
Interview, certificate or test.
Application form
Completed naturalization request, via the Ministry of Interior or your attorney.
Supporting documents If requested
Marriage certificate (apostilled/translated), proof of economic ties — bank statements, property, employment or a business in El Salvador — and prior residency approvals.
From packet to passport
Processing usually takes several months. Fees are typically a few hundred USD plus attorney costs.
Submit your packet
Full application to the Ministry of Interior in San Salvador, and pay the fees.
Interview & basic test
Possible questions on El Salvador's history, Constitution and culture.
Swear the loyalty oath
Dual citizenship is permitted — your existing passport stays valid.
Receive your decree
Then apply for your Salvadoran DNI (national ID) and passport.
Three ways to accelerate the 5-year process
Marriage to a Salvadoran citizen
Apply for residency based on marriage (marriage certificate registered in El Salvador + spouse's DUI). After 2 years of legal residency — before or after the marriage — you qualify for naturalization. The fastest standard path for most foreigners.
Freedom Passport program
A non-refundable $1,000,000 contribution in BTC or USDT to a government development fund. No prior residency, no language test. Includes spouse + children under 18. One visit for biometrics; return at least once every 5 years.
Children born in El Salvador
Your child automatically receives Salvadoran citizenship by birth (jus soli), regardless of your nationality. It strengthens family-based residency applications — though it doesn't shorten your own naturalization clock.
All paths require a clean criminal record and good character. Rules are applied case-by-case — always verify current requirements with the DGME or Ministry of Interior, and work with a qualified Salvadoran immigration lawyer.