El Salvador Tourist Visa

El Salvador Visa Application Process

Visa-Free Nationalities

If you are exempt from getting a travel authorisation, you can fly to El Salvador and obtain a Tourist Card upon arrival that will grant you 90 days in the country. Simply present your passport and any necessary documents at the immigration desk at the port of entry.

Nationalities that Need an Embassy Visa

On the other hand, if you need a visa, you can follow these steps to get one:

1. Locate your nearest El Salvador diplomatic mission.
2. Make an appointment or verify whether they accept drop-in visits.
3. Gather all the necessary forms and documents, and check the validity of your passport.
4. Go to your appointment, submit the application, and pay the service fee.
5. Once you receive a notification from the embassy or consulate, go to collect your passport.
6. Make your way to El Salvador with your shiny new travel permit stamped into your passport.

El Salvador Application Form and Documents

Regardless of which entry policies apply to your nationality, all visitors to El Salvador must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.

Visa-Free Visitors

Moreover, visa-free visitors must have proof of possessing sufficient funds to cover your stay in El Salvador.

However, this condition doesn’t apply to citizens of the following countries:

• Belize
• Costa Rica
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama

In addition, you may be asked to provide the following information, so you should have it with you when you arrive, just in case:

• Details of your travel insurance.
• Hotel bookings or an invitation letter from your host.
• Return flights or onward travel bookings.

Embassy Visa

When you apply for a visa from an embassy or consulate, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A completed and signed application form (more details below).
• A bank statement proving you have sufficient funds to cover your trip.
• Travel insurance.
• Accommodation bookings for your entire stay.
• 2 passport-size photographs.
• Return or onward travel tickets

Some nationalities may be asked to provide additional information, such as proof of employment. As such, you should always confirm with the embassy or consulate which documents you need to bring to your appointment.

The Application Form

The application form is an essential part of your application. In this form, you will be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and your stay in the country, namely the following:

• Name and surname
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Passport date of issue
• Passport expiration date
• Passport place of issue
• Permanent address
• Phone number
• Name of spouse
• Nationality of spouse
• Current employer
• Occupation
• Work address
• Work phone number
• Date of arrival in the country
• Means of transport of arrival (e.g., air, land, sea)
• Purpose of your trip (e.g., tourism, visiting relatives)
• Length of stay
• Address in the country (this can be the address of your hotel)
• Name, address, and phone number of a contact in the country (if applicable)
• Details of any previous visits to the country
• Name, relationship, and passport number of anybody travelling with you

Finally, write the date, sign the form, and attach your passport-size photo in the designated space in the top-right corner of the form.

El Salvador Visa Status Check

So, you have submitted your application at your nearest embassy or consulate – what next? You will need to wait some time while all your paperwork is being processed. Don’t forget to ask how long it will take when you apply, but generally speaking, you can expect to wait around 2 weeks.

Once your application has been processed, you will be notified that your passport is ready for collection.

If it’s taking longer than expected, or you are concerned about receiving your travel authorisation document before your scheduled departure, you may wish to contact the diplomatic mission directly to request an update on the application.

They should be able to tell you whether your documents have been approved, rejected, or is still being processed.

How Much Does an El Salvador Visa Cost?

The cost of a travel permit to this country will depend on the type of document and the length of stay it grants the visitor.

As we mentioned, there are both Single and Multiple Entry permits for El Salvador. A 30-day Single Entry permit will be cheaper compared to a 90-day Single Entry permit or a 1-year Multiple Entry permit.

The costs can also vary depending on where you are applying from, so you should contact your nearest diplomatic mission to find out more about the fees.

On the other hand, visa-free nationalities who need to get a Tourist Card can expect to pay 12 USD for this permit upon arrival.

More El Salvador Visa Questions and Information

We hope you’ve found this page useful for planning your trip to El Salvador. Please find our FAQ section below, where you can find quick answers to your questions.