Most visitors do not need a Salvadoran visa. U.S. citizens and nationals of many other countries enter for tourism on a tourist card bought on arrival, and El Salvador forms part of the CA-4 area with Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, where a single 90-day allowance is shared across the four countries.
Quick facts
Consular visa work in the United States therefore concerns mainly third-country nationals whose passports require prior authorisation, and people planning to stay beyond the tourist allowance or to work or study.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist card on arrival | $12 USD | Single entry, for eligible nationalities |
| Consular visa | Set by the consulate | Depends on category and nationality |
| Apostille of supporting documents | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of the issuing state |
| Residency applications | Filed with immigration in El Salvador | Separate fee schedule |
Nationalities are grouped into categories that determine whether a traveller enters freely, buys a tourist card or needs a visa granted in advance. The grouping changes, so check it close to the travel date rather than relying on an older list.
How to apply
- Check which category your nationality falls into. The passport you hold decides this, not where you live.
- If a visa is required, contact the consulate covering your U.S. address for the current document list and fee.
- Complete the application form and gather supporting documents, apostilled and translated where they were issued outside El Salvador.
- Attend the appointment in person. Some categories are referred to the immigration authority in San Salvador before a decision.
- Collect the passport with the visa and enter within its validity.
- For stays beyond the authorised period, file for an extension or residency with immigration inside the country.
Required documents
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay.
- Completed application form with recent photographs.
- Proof of lawful residence in the United States for third-country nationals.
- Evidence of funds and a return or onward ticket.
- Hotel booking or an invitation letter from a host in El Salvador.
- Police certificate and, for some categories, a medical certificate.
Where to apply
Files go to the consulate whose district covers your U.S. address. Honorary consulates provide guidance but do not issue visas.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
The CA-4 allowance
Time spent in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua counts towards the same 90-day period. Hopping between those countries does not reset the clock.
Keep the tourist card
The card is proof of lawful entry and is checked on departure. Losing it means dealing with immigration before you can leave.
Working or studying
A tourist card never authorises paid work or a long course. Those require the corresponding category, and regularising the position from inside the country is slower than arriving with the right permission.
Children
Minors travelling without both parents should carry an apostilled birth certificate and notarised parental authorisation, which border officers do ask for.