El Salvador has been part of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1996, so a U.S. public document used there needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state and nothing more — no consular legalisation, and no certification by the U.S. Department of State for a state-issued record.
Quick facts
In the other direction the picture is unusually favourable: the Salvadoran foreign ministry is the sole authority for apostilles on Salvadoran documents, and it issues them free of charge, with an electronic system for people living abroad.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille on a U.S. state document | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of that state |
| Apostille on a U.S. federal document | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Apostille on a Salvadoran document | Free | Salvadoran foreign ministry |
| Notarisation before apostille | $5–$25 per signature | U.S. notary public |
| Certified translation into Spanish | $25–$75 per page | Translator |
One limit is worth knowing in advance: under the Convention itself, documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents cannot be apostilled. A deed signed before a consul follows a different route and does not need one.
How to get a document apostilled
- Identify the issuing authority, which decides who apostilles the document.
- Order a certified long-form copy. Photocopies and abstracts are rejected.
- Notarise private documents first, since the apostille certifies the notary’s signature.
- File with the Secretary of State of the issuing state, by mail or in person.
- Arrange a Spanish translation when the Salvadoran office receiving the document asks for one.
Required documents
- Original certified copy with signature and seal, unaltered.
- Completed state authentication request and payment.
- Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.
- Photo ID for in-person service.
Where the consulate fits in
Consulates handle apostilles on Salvadoran documents for people living abroad, issue certifications, and carry out notarial acts. They do not apostille U.S. records, which always go to the state that issued them.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
What can be apostilled
Public documents cover records issued by government authorities, administrative records such as civil status certificates and educational documents, police certificates, and notarial instruments.
Commercial documents
The Convention excludes administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations, and Salvadoran rules on verifying commercial records electronically have been relaxed. Family and property matters still follow the traditional route.
Free does not mean instant
No fee is charged for Salvadoran apostilles, but the request still has to be made properly and the document must be a current certified copy.
Order spare copies
Salvadoran offices keep what you file. Two or three certified copies at the outset save repeating the whole chain from abroad.