El Salvador permanent residence (definitive residence)

Sheet F-32 lists the cases: Central Americans by birth who enter regularly, even without prior temporary residence; temporary residents of Central American origin; temporary residents of Spanish or Spanish-American origin with one uninterrupted year; temporary residents with three years of that status; people who did not extend their temporary residence for no more than twelve months and have more than seven years of regular stay; representatives of governments or international organisations who have lived in El Salvador for more than five consecutive years and renounce their special status; and Catholic and other religious workers whose church has legal personality.

Most other foreigners therefore qualify after three years of temporary residence. Spouses of Salvadorans, rentistas and pensioners, and refugees or stateless people have their own sheets (F-34, F-33 and F-35).

Every file starts with an application signed by the foreigner, a legal representative or an attorney (with a signature legalised by a Salvadoran notary if not filed in person); a photocopy of all used pages of the valid passport with the original for comparison; an original certificate of no police or criminal record from the country of origin or where you lived in the two years before entering El Salvador; and a valid clearance from the National Civil Police if you have been in the country more than three months or entered more than twice in the last year.

Documents issued abroad must be authenticated or apostilled and translated into Spanish under article 162 of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law, and every document must show your names exactly as in your passport. The DGME may ask for additional information.

For the routes in article 152(1) to (5), add a sworn declaration in a notarial deed by the person who will support you, or by yourself, stating how you will pay your living costs, your work activities, place of residence and income. A criminal record certificate from abroad is required only if you apply without a previous residence. Accompanied children apply with an application signed by both parents, the authenticated or apostilled birth certificate (or a consular certificate of nationality), passport copies of all family members and a notarial declaration of support.

Definitive residence costs USD 345 for non-Central Americans and USD 135 for Central Americans for up to one year; the payment is not refundable and the DGME answers within 45 working days. Renewal (refrenda, form F-37) is requested by email to precalificacion@migracion.gob.sv within the 30 calendar days before expiry and can cover one to four years. Definitive residents may be abroad up to two years without losing the status, and residents who turn 18 must register separately within six months.