El Salvador Citizenship by Investment

The Freedom Passport program allows you to obtain direct citizenship and a passport in around 6 weeks. No residency requirement, no language test, no in-person interviews. You apply online, pass due diligence, make your contribution in Bitcoin or USDT, and collect your passport at a biometrics appointment. It is, by a wide margin, the fastest citizenship by investment program available anywhere in the world.

Here is exactly how the process works, step by step.

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Before you begin, make sure you qualify. The program is open to nationals of most countries, with a few exceptions (covered in the FAQ below). You must be at least 18 years old and have no serious criminal convictions. You also need at least $1,000,000 USD in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) for the contribution, plus $999 in BTC or USDT per applicant for the government fee.

If you are applying with family members, your spouse and children under 18 can be included on the same application. Each dependent pays an additional application fee of $999 in BTC or USDT.

There is no minimum net worth requirement beyond the contribution itself, and no requirement to have prior ties to El Salvador. The program was specifically designed for international investors, entrepreneurs, and crypto holders who want a second citizenship without uprooting their lives.

Step 2: Gather the required documentation

The entire application is handled through the official government platform at adoptingelsalvador.gob.sv as well as through citizenx.com as an official partner. You will need to provide your personal details and upload the required documentation.

The requirements are straightforward. You will need to provide:

• A valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining validity)
• A police clearance certificate from your country of residence or citizenship
• Proof of source of funds: bank statements, tax returns, business ownership documents, or investment records showing that your $1,000,000 contribution comes from legitimate sources

If you are including family members, you will also need their passports, birth certificates (for children), and a marriage certificate (for your spouse).

All documents must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator and legalized. CitizenX handles all of this so your application doesn't get rejected for technicalities.

Step 3: Submit your application

Once your documentation is ready, you will pay the $999 non-refundable application fee. If you are including dependents, you pay $999 per person at this stage.

This deposit is credited toward your total contribution if your application is approved. If your application is denied, the deposit is not returned.

Step 4: Government due diligence and background checks

This is where the Salvadoran government does its homework on you. The General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) runs a full background check, including:

• KYC (Know Your Customer) screening on all applicants and dependents over the age of 16
• AML (Anti-Money Laundering) verification of your source of funds
• International sanctions list screening (OFAC, UN, EU, and others)
• Criminal background checks across all jurisdictions where you have lived
• Verification of employment history, business registrations, and professional background

The due diligence phase typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the government may have follow-up questions or requests for additional documentation.

This is the most thorough part of the process, and for good reason. El Salvador limits the Freedom Passport program to 1,000 applicants per year, and the government is serious about maintaining the program's integrity. Applicants with involvement in financial crimes, terrorism, money laundering, or who appear on any international sanctions list are automatically rejected.

Step 5: Receive approval and make the $1,000,000 contribution

Once you've passed due diligence, you will receive a formal approval notification. At this point, you complete the $1,000,000 contribution in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT).

This is a non-refundable donation to El Salvador's economic development programs. It is not an investment that you get back. Think of it as the price of citizenship, similar to the donation routes offered by Caribbean programs, but with the added distinction that El Salvador is the only country in the world that accepts this contribution in cryptocurrency.

The contribution is processed on-chain, and you will receive confirmation once the government wallet has received the funds.

Step 6: Schedule your biometrics appointment

After your contribution is confirmed, you can schedule an appointment to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) and collect your passport. You can do this at any of the following locations:

• El Salvador — at the immigration office in San Salvador
• Los Angeles, California — at the El Salvador consulate
• Barcelona, Spain — at the El Salvador consulate
• Doha, Qatar — at the El Salvador embassy

You walk into the appointment, provide your biometrics, and walk out with your El Salvador passport. The appointment itself typically takes less than an hour.

Step 7: Receive your citizenship certificate and passport

At the biometrics appointment, you receive both your Salvadoran citizenship certificate and your passport. You are now a citizen of El Salvador, with all the rights that entails.

Your citizenship is permanent, not conditional on maintaining an investment or meeting any ongoing financial requirements. There is, however, one obligation: you must visit El Salvador at least once every five years to maintain your citizenship. Although not enforced in the practice, this is a standard requirement under Salvadoran nationality law and applies to all citizens, not just those who obtained citizenship through the investment program.

El Salvador Citizenship by Investment Program Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to visit El Salvador to apply?

No. The entire application process is handled online through the Adopting El Salvador portal. You do not need to visit the country, attend any interviews in person, or be physically present at any point during the application and approval process.

The one thing you cannot do remotely is collect your passport. To receive your physical passport, you need to attend a biometrics appointment in person at one of four locations:

• El Salvador (San Salvador)
• Los Angeles, California (El Salvador Consulate)
• Barcelona, Spain (El Salvador Consulate)
• Abu Dhabi, UAE (El Salvador Embassy) – Coming soon

The appointment is quick — typically under an hour. You provide your fingerprints and photograph, and you walk out with your passport the same day.

How long does the entire process take?

From submitting your application to holding your passport, the process typically takes 10 to 12 weeks. The bulk of that time is spent on government due diligence and background checks (6 to 8 weeks). The actual application submission and biometrics appointment are fast (around 1 week).

If you respond promptly to any government requests for additional documentation, the process stays on track. Delays usually happen when applicants are slow to provide follow-up information.

What is the total cost?

The total cost breaks down as follows:

• $1,000,000 — non-refundable contribution in Bitcoin (BTC) or USDT
• $999 — application fee per applicant (main applicant and each dependent), payable in BTC or USDT
• Document preparation costs — translation, apostille, and legalization fees vary depending on your country of origin, but typically run a few thousand dollars
• CitizenX fees — only if you work with CitizenX for enhanced privacy and 24/7 Concierge service and complimentary document preparation costs

All government payments are made on-chain in cryptocurrency. There is no option to pay in fiat currency unless applying via CitizenX.

Can I include my family?

Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 can be included in your application. Each family member pays the $999 administrative fee but does not need to make a separate $1,000,000 contribution. Your entire family receives citizenship through a single application.

How often do I need to renew my El Salvador passport?

The Salvadoran passport is valid for 6 years for adults. When it expires, you can renew it from abroad at any Salvadoran embassy or consulate worldwide. You do not need to return to El Salvador to renew your passport. You can find your closest embassy or consulate through the Salvadoran government's consular directory.

Do I need to live in El Salvador?

No. There is no residency requirement before, during, or after the application process. You can obtain and maintain El Salvador citizenship while living anywhere in the world.

The only ongoing requirement is that you visit El Salvador at least once every five years to maintain your citizenship. Although this is not enforced in practice, this requirement applies to all Salvadoran citizens, not just those who obtained citizenship through investment.

Will Salvadoran citizenship get passed down to future generations?

Yes. Under El Salvador's nationality law, children born to a Salvadoran citizen are Salvadoran by birth, regardless of where in the world they are born. This means your citizenship passes to your children, their children, and all future descendants automatically. There is no additional application or fee required for children born after you obtain citizenship.

Does El Salvador allow dual citizenship?

Yes, without restrictions. El Salvador does not require you to renounce any existing nationality when you become a citizen, and it does not limit the number of citizenships you can hold simultaneously. Whether your home country allows dual citizenship is governed by your home country's laws, not El Salvador's.

Which countries' nationals are restricted from applying?

Nationals of the following countries and regions are not eligible for the El Salvador citizenship by investment program:

• Cuba
• North Korea
• Iran
• Syria
• Crimea (the region of Ukraine annexed by the Russian Federation)
• Donetsk People's Republic
• Luhansk People's Republic
• Kherson People's Republic
• Zaporizhzhia People's Republic

These restrictions align with international sanctions frameworks. There are limited exceptions available — contact CitizenX for details on whether an exception may apply to your situation.

Is the $1,000,000 contribution refundable?

No. The contribution is a non-refundable donation to El Salvador's economic development programs. It is not an investment that generates returns, and it is not returned to you under any circumstances, including if your application is denied after the contribution is made. (In practice, the contribution is only requested after you have already passed due diligence and been approved, so denial at that stage is extremely unlikely.)

What happens if my application is denied?

If your application is denied during the due diligence phase, you lose the $999 application fee (per applicant), but you will not have made the $1,000,000 contribution yet. The contribution is only requested after approval.

Common reasons for denial include: criminal convictions, presence on international sanctions lists, inability to demonstrate a legitimate source of funds, or providing false information on the application.

Can I work or start a business in El Salvador?

Yes. As a citizen, you have the full right to live, work, and operate businesses in El Salvador. There are no restrictions on the type of work or business activity you can engage in. Many Freedom Passport holders are entrepreneurs, particularly in the tech and crypto sectors, who use their Salvadoran citizenship as a base for regional business operations.

How does the El Salvador passport rank globally?

The Salvadoran passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 130+ countries and territories. This puts it ahead of many Caribbean citizenship by investment passports and roughly on par with passports from countries like Paraguay, while offering significantly better Schengen Area access than many comparable programs.

Is there a limit to how many people can get citizenship through this program?

Yes. The Adopting El Salvador program is limited to 1,000 applicants per year. Once the annual quota is filled, new applications are queued for the following year. If the quota fills before you apply, you will have to wait until the following year opens up.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

No. There is no language requirement for the citizenship by investment program. The application process is conducted in English through the online portal, and biometrics appointments can be handled without Spanish language skills. Of course, if you plan to spend significant time in El Salvador, learning some Spanish will make your experience much better.

What is the difference between the Freedom Passport and the Freedom Visa?

Currently, there's no difference between the Freedom Passport or the Freedom Visa. The official name is Adopting El Salvador program and it grants direct citizenship and a passport.