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.
