Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Angola, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, China (PR), Colombia, Congo, Congo (Rep), Cuba, East Timor, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Peru, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen need authorisation from the immigration authorities in El Salvador and their visa processing time can therefore take up to three weeks. Applicants should apply in plenty of time.

Passport valid for at least six months after day of departure required by all.

Required by all except the following for stays of up to 90 days:
(a) nationals of countries mentioned in the table above;
(b) nationals of all British, French and Dutch overseas territories, and nationals of Hong Kong (when the passport is marked 'Nationality: British Citizen' only);
(c) nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tomé e Príncipe, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Vatican City;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey within 12 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Tourist and Business: US$30 (single entry); US$45 (multiple-entry, valid six months); US$60 (multiple-entry, valid 12 months).

Tourist and Business: single entry, valid up to 30 days; multiple-entry, valid either six or 12 months. Visas can be renewed at the Immigration Office in El Salvador.

Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Passport/Visa Information.

(a) Completed application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport. (d) For tourist visas, a photocopy of the return ticket is necessary or, if the tickets have not yet been purchased, an original letter from the travel agency stating that the tickets are being purchased, or a travel itinerary. (e) Fee, payable in cash (US$ only) or by cheque (in US dollars, made payable to 'Direccion General de Tesoreria'). Visa fees are non-refundable. Business: (a)-(e) and, if from a country listed above as requiring authorisation from El Salvador, (f) Letter of invitation from the company being visited in El Salvador and a letter from the company the applicant is representing, both translated into Spanish.

Apply to Ministry of Interior in San Salvador.

Tourist and business visas are normally issued within 24 hours. If authorisation from the Immigration Department in El Salvador is needed, processing time is approximately 21 days.

Embassy of El Salvador in the UK
Mayfair House, 39 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7JZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7436 8282.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600.

Embassy of El Salvador in the USA