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El Salvador citizenship: a second passport in 3–6 months
El Salvador offers one of the fastest lawful routes to a second passport: 3–6 months in the standard format. The passport gives visa-free access to more than 130 countries, including the Schengen Area (90 days), the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Israel, the UAE and Singapore.
The country applies territorial taxation: income earned outside El Salvador is not subject to local tax. Multiple citizenship is officially permitted – you do not have to renounce your first passport.
Who it suits
- Entrepreneurs who need visa-free access to markets and easier account opening abroad.
- Investors building a transparent international tax structure.
- IT professionals and freelancers with substantial remote income who value mobility.
- Families considering later naturalisation in Spain – a reduced qualifying period applies to nationals of Ibero-American countries.
- Anyone who wants a second citizenship without giving up the first.
- Anyone for whom speed matters: 3 to 6 months to passport.
Why it works
- Visa-free entry to Schengen (90 days), the UK, Japan, South Korea, Israel, the UAE, Singapore and more.
- Territorial tax system: only income arising inside El Salvador is taxed.
- Multiple citizenship is officially permitted and no notification to other states is required.
- Eligibility to apply for a ten-year US visa with proof of stable income (the decision rests with the consulate).
- A path to naturalisation in Spain on the reduced qualifying period – two years of lawful residence instead of ten.
Two lawful routes
Route 1 – Investment programme (D. 286)
Citizenship is granted under investment legislation: the contribution is made through an authorised legal fund and the applicant receives a certificate of contribution. Processing takes around 6 months.
Route 2 – Decision of the Legislative Assembly (Article 72 of the Constitution)
Citizenship is granted by decision of the Salvadoran parliament. The case is built on grounds expressly provided by law and filed with full legal reasoning. Processing takes around 6 months.
Both routes conclude with a full biometric passport – valid for 5 or 10 years – and a set of national documents.
A preliminary check before any payment
Before any agreement is signed we run a free preliminary compliance check of the applicant against international databases and sanctions lists. The point is to see the risks in advance rather than face a refusal at the final stage. You pay nothing and sign nothing until the check has been cleared, and if it reveals an obstacle we tell you straight away.
With or without travel
- Standard (in-person) format: 3–6 months, with one trip to El Salvador for 5 working days – oath and biometrics.
- Remote format: no travel to the country; the timeline extends by roughly 3 months (6–9 months in total). Biometrics are submitted at a consulate, and appointment waiting times vary by city (for example, around a week in Ankara and around three weeks in Moscow).
What you provide
Main applicant: notarised copies of the national and international passport, an apostilled criminal record certificate, an apostilled birth certificate, a notarised copy of the higher education diploma, and proof of financial standing (account statement, tax return, employment contract or company ownership documents).
Accompanying family members: an apostilled criminal record certificate for adults, an apostilled birth certificate, and an apostilled marriage certificate, cohabitation declaration or prenuptial agreement.
How the process runs
- You send a scan of your passport and we run the free preliminary check.
- Once cleared, we sign the agreement and fix the format – in person or remote.
- You provide the full document package with apostilles and translations.
- We file and manage the case in El Salvador and keep you updated at each stage.
- Oath and biometrics – in the country or at a consulate.
- You receive the passport and national documents; we assist with bank accounts and visa matters.
Timelines
| Stage | Timeline | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary check | 1–3 working days | A free answer on eligibility |
| In-person format | 3–6 months | Passport plus national documents |
| Remote format | 6–9 months | Passport without travelling to the country |
| Oath and biometrics | 5 working days in country | Completion of the procedure |
Frequently asked questions
No. El Salvador permits multiple citizenship and does not require you to give up your first passport. Whether you must notify your own country is a matter of its law, and we review that individually.
Spain applies a reduced naturalisation period of two years instead of ten to nationals of Ibero-American countries. However, those two years must be spent lawfully residing in Spain with a Spanish residence permit – the Salvadoran passport by itself does not grant the right to live in Spain. We help build the full chain: citizenship, Spanish residence, naturalisation.
No. There is no residence requirement either during the process or after citizenship is granted.
No. The programme does not include a language exam.
Yes: a spouse and minor children. Each person needs a separate document package, and support fees for family members are lower than for the main applicant.
In the standard format there is one trip of 5 working days for the oath and biometrics. A remote format is available, with biometrics submitted at a consulate and a longer overall timeline.
El Salvador taxes only locally sourced income. Your tax residence, however, is determined by where you actually live and by the rules of that country, not by which passport you hold. Any tax expectations need individual analysis first.
We tell you before any agreement is signed, and you bear no costs.
Ready to take the step towards a second passport? We’ll answer your questions in an online consultation: [email protected] · Telegram / WhatsApp +351 910 066 171
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