About El Salvador Citizenship and Residency
As of this writing (April 5th, 2022), the law that outlines the specifics of the El Salvador Citizenship By Investment Program has not yet been passed. This program will be outlined in the legislation known as The Volcano Bond legislation.
El Salvador offers many different types of residencies. The list below is a shortlist of the most common Residency Programs or Residency Visas El Salvador has to offer.
Anyone intending to stay in El Salvador for some time longer than 90 days must obtain a visa. To obtain a long-term stay or permanent residency visa, foreigners must present the El Salvadorian embassy with a passport that has a minimum of six months validity left on it. In addition to this, potential ex-pats will need to present the embassy with an officially certified yellow fever vaccination document and evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of the stay, or a letter of business inviting the ex-pat to work in the country.
Types of Residency/Visa Program:
Investor Residency / Visa
- Presidents, members of the board of directors, legal reps. shareholders of a commercial company legally established in El Salvador, owners and managers of a company with active investment in El Salvador
- $4,000.00 minimum sales are required.
Rentista Residency / Visa
- Non-working visa, people with greater than $1460 / mo. of income. Also known as Nomad Visa.
Work Residency / Visa
- Persons who provide services to a public institution for projects of public interest, such as but are not limited to: Academics and teachers, scientists, specialized personnel engaged in academic activities, athletes and professional sports workers, research, technical or advisory, technicians or admin staff from abroad.
Business Residency / Visa
- President, members of the board of directors, legal representatives, shareholders of a commercial company, owner or general manager of a company that enters the country to carry out activities to promote or identify investment opportunities in the areas of industry, commerce, tourism, suppliers of goods or services or any lawful economic activity.
Retired Residency / Visa
- Non-working people with greater than $1095 / mo. of pension or income.
After residing in El Salvador for three years as a temporary resident, you can apply for permanent residency. The application process for permanent residency is similar to that of temporary residency.
Visa Requirements:
You need to submit the documents listed below at the nearest embassy/consulate of El Salvador in your home country:
- A passport that is valid for at least another six months. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return from El Salvador. Include copies of previous El Salvador visas (if any).
- Application form. Download the application form online and fully complete it. Do not leave any blank spaces.
- Two photos. Make sure your photos were recently taken – at least within the last six months.
- A health insurance policy is valid in El Salvador. Make sure your insurance policy covers the entire duration of your trip.
- A hotel reservation or other accommodation proof. Your accommodation proof document must prove that you have a place to stay while in El Salvador. The accommodation proof could be a rental agreement, a hotel reservation, a letter of invitation, etc.
- Criminal record. A criminal record is a document issued by the police authorities of your home country. This document needs to prove that you are not a threat to the Republic of El Salvador and that you do not have a criminal record.
- Bank statement document issued from your bank. This document needs to prove that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while in El Salvador.
- Flight reservation or itinerary. Your flight itinerary is a document issued by the airline company. This document must contain your flight date and time, your return flight ticket, etc.
- Civil status document depending on your current status. If you are married, you have to submit a marriage certificate, if you have a child, their birth certificate, if you live together with your partner, a joint bank account, a rental agreement, etc.
Residency through investment:
Bitcoin investors can gain permanent residency in the country by investing 3 BTC. Those who can invest in fiat currency can apply for a temporary residency permit under the investor permit.
Requirements:
- a minimum investment of 3 bitcoins, which is equal to around $100,000.
- An appropriate visa for foreigners that want to invest in a local company. Foreigners must invest at least USD$1,200,000 to be granted this visa.
- Current passport – must be valid for at least six months from the date of the application.
- A criminal record checks from the national law enforcement agency.
- A copy of the individual’s most recent tax declaration.
Citizenship:
After five years of residency in El Salvador, one can apply for citizenship and a secondary passport.
requirements:
- 18 years of age,
- must swear a loyalty oath,
- you cannot have any criminal history or be involved in any criminal proceedings,
- you must not be a citizen of a nation that El Salvador is at war with.
A Salvadoran passport through naturalization can be obtained by:
1 — Native Spaniards and Hispano-Americans with one year’s residence in the country;
2 — Foreigners of any origin, with five years of residence in the country;
3 — Those who obtain this status from the Legislative Organ for noteworthy services rendered to the Republic;
4 — A foreign man married to a Salvadoran woman or a foreign woman married to a Salvadoran man with two years’ residence in the country, before or after the time of marriage.
Benefits Of The El Salvador Residency by Investment
Below are some of the important benefits of investing in El Salvador
- Great weather, world-class surfing beaches, and beachfront properties for sale.
- One of the few countries in the world with no property tax.
- Bitcoin is a legal tender. No capital gains tax for Bitcoin, since it will be a legal currency.
- Immediate permanent residence for crypto entrepreneurs.
- Permanent residency leads to citizenship after 5 years.
- Permanent residents can be absent from the country for up to two years without losing their status.
El Salvador Residency Requirements and Qualifications
The requirements and qualifications required to obtain El Salvador residency or citizenship are listed above in the “About El Salvador Citizenship and Residency” section.
Steps And Timeline
Here are all the steps you need to follow to apply for an El Salvador visa:
- Book an Appointment With the Embassy or Consulate of El Salvador. The first step when applying for an El Salvador visa is to contact the nearest embassy/consulate and book an appointment. Make sure you arrive on time for your visa appointment. The embassy/consulate of El Salvador can reject your visa if you don’t attend your visa appointment on time.
- Fill Out the El Salvador Visa Application Form. You can find the El Salvador visa application form online. After you download the application form, make sure you fully complete the application and sign it at the end.
- Gather and Submit All the Requested Documents at the Nearest Embassy or Consulate of El Salvador in Your Home Country. You must gather all the documents that the embassy/consulate of El Salvador requested. For further information regarding the required documents, see ‘El Salvador Visa Requirements. Keep in mind that you may be requested to apply for an El Salvador visa online or by post if there is no consulate or embassy of El Salvador in your home country.
- Wait For an Answer. The embassy/consulate of El Salvador responsible for your visa application will inform you of your visa application result within eight weeks by email or text message.
Here are all the steps you need to follow to apply for an El Salvador Temporary Residence:
STEP 1: INITIATION
The client initiates the case with the appropriate lawyer and begins collating the personal and corporate documents.
STEP 2: VISA APPLICATION
Depending on the nationality, the applicant may be required to obtain an entry visa.
STEP 3: ENTRY TO EL SALVADOR
The applicant and family may enter El Salvador as anytime as visitors.
STEP 4: TEMPORARY RESIDENCE APPLICATION
The application is made at the Immigration Office and Social Affairs. Dependent family members may be made at the same time.
Processing time is 2-3 months.
STEP 5: RESIDENCE CARD APPOINTMENT BOOKING
An appointment must be booked for the applicant and his family to be registered with the immigration authorities at the Direccion General de Migracion y Extranjeria.
STEP 6: RESIDENCE CARD APPOINTMENT
Attend an appointment to give their fingerprints and have a photograph taken. A provisional temporary residence card valid for 90 days will be issued on the same day.
STEP 7: RESIDENCE CARD COLLECTION
The applicant and his family collect their residence card at the immigration office.
The average processing time for an El Salvador Consulted Visa for Investors, Businesses and Commercial Representatives is 20-30 working days. It depends on your visa application country.
You will apply for an El Salvador Consulted Visa for Investors, Businesses, and Commercial Representatives in El Salvador visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
After residing in El Salvador for three years as a temporary resident, you can apply for permanent residency. The application process for permanent residency is similar to that of temporary residency.
Processing time for permanent residency is between 3-6months.
Our Services
Privacy World offers its services to anyone, not only looking to obtain residency and/or citizenship processes but our experts figure out legal ways to:
- Find the best solution for your needs.
- Identify and deploy a strategy to help you accomplish your goals.
- Activate our network of people in the country where you need help without having you search for the best solution or lawyer. We only work with licensed people in every country whom we carefully vet and pass the guidelines and principles of privacy we stand for.
- Focus on cutting through the red tape and expediting your process.
- Provide proper communication with you about your case.
…. and above all: Offer you legal strategies to provide additional layers of privacy for your identity, while obtaining your residency or citizenship!
Privacy World can also help you with incorporating your company in El Salvador, assisting in getting you settled in the country, and coordinating with you so that this experience will be less of a hassle.
Want Privacy World to handle your case? Have any questions? Contact us!
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