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El Salvador

Visa & Migration

Entry rules, how long you can stay, and your options if you want to stay longer.

Not legal advice — verify all information with official sources before travel.
Entry requirements

Select your passport region

Entry requirements
North America & EU
USA, Canada, UK, EU/Schengen, Australia, New Zealand
Visa-free
Tourist stay
90 days
Passport validity
6 months beyond entry date
Entry at
SAL airport or land border

No visa required on arrival. Part of the CA-4 agreement — your 90 days is shared across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. A return or onward ticket may be requested at the border.

Stay length

How Long Can You Stay?

The CA-4 shared 90-day window explained

Day 42 ←
Arrive
30 days
60 days
CA-4 warning zone
Day 90
The CA-4 Agreement

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua share a single 90-day tourist window under the CA-4 agreement. Your 90 days is counted across all four countries, not per country.

If you spend 45 days in Guatemala and then enter El Salvador, you have 45 days remaining — not a fresh 90. To reset, you must exit the entire CA-4 zone (e.g., travel to Belize, Mexico, or Costa Rica) and stay out for at least 72 hours.

Beyond 90 days

Extending Your Stay

Four routes — from the simple to the serious

The most common approach for long-term travelers. Leave the CA-4 zone entirely — Belize or Costa Rica are popular choices — for at least 72 hours, then re-enter. You'll get a fresh 90 days.

Note: immigration officers have discretion. If you've done multiple consecutive border runs, you may be questioned or denied entry. Having proof of accommodation and finances helps. This is not a long-term solution.

Common questions

FAQ

Technically, tourist visas prohibit "working" in El Salvador — but remote work for foreign clients exists in a legal grey area that is widely practiced and not actively enforced. You are not taking a local job or competing in the local economy. That said, this is not legal advice — if you're planning to stay long-term, residency is cleaner. Many digital nomads have lived here for years on tourist entry without issue.

Official sources

Useful links

Disclaimer:The information on this page is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change — always verify current requirements with the El Salvador DGME, your country's embassy, or a qualified local immigration attorney before making travel or residency decisions.