Home Travel to El Salvador
Tourist & work visas
Travel to El Salvador: visas made simple.
Most visitors enter visa-free. Here's exactly what to expect at the airport — and what your passport category means.
For U.S. citizens
Visa-free entry for 90–180 days
U.S. citizens enter visa-free with a $12 tourist card on arrival. No attorney needed. At customs, request a tourist visa and show two things:
Your return ticket
Proof you already plan — and have paid — to return home.
Your accommodation address
Hotel or Airbnb booking — a screenshot of the receipt is fine.
Staying longer? For longer stays or full relocation, apply for temporary residency — valid 1 year and renewable, leading to permanent residency after 3 years and citizenship after 5. See the residency guide →
Not a U.S. citizen?
Find your country's visa category
El Salvador classifies every passport into one of three categories.
Category A
Visa exempt
Enter visa-free under the same simple rules as U.S. citizens — tourist card on arrival, return ticket, accommodation address.
See all Category A countries
A — Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria
B — Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia (90d), Brazil, Brunei
C — Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D–E — Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia
F–G — Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala*, Honduras*
H–I — Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J–K — Japan, Kuwait
L — Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M — Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco
N — Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua*, North Macedonia, Norway
P–Q — Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar
R — Romania, Russia
S — Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé & Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
T–U — Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay
V — Vanuatu, Vatican City
*ID card entry possible
B — Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia (90d), Brazil, Brunei
C — Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D–E — Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia
F–G — Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala*, Honduras*
H–I — Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J–K — Japan, Kuwait
L — Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M — Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco
N — Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua*, North Macedonia, Norway
P–Q — Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar
R — Romania, Russia
S — Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé & Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
T–U — Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay
V — Vanuatu, Vatican City
*ID card entry possible
Category B
Consular visa
A visa from a Salvadoran consulate is required before travel — no prior consultation needed.
Example Category B countries
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (some passport types), Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Comoros — and others across Africa, Asia and select regions not listed in A or C.
Category C
Consulted visa
Requires prior authorization from El Salvador before a visa can be issued.
Check the official list: If your country isn't in Category A or B — or you want to confirm your category is current — visit the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs page. Categories can change. rree.gob.sv/visas-para-extranjeros →
Skip the paperwork
Hire an attorney — 1-year residency within 14 days.
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