El Salvador student visa (temporary study residence)

The F-10 sheet is for foreigners entering El Salvador to take technical, university or specialised studies, to carry out research or to do unpaid internships, under article 109(11) and article 125 of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law. It also covers students admitted for study who carry out part-time paid activities, or activities for the term of a contract, that do not limit their student status.

Studying without the corresponding permit is a minor infringement under article 224 of the law, so register for the residence before classes start or as soon as you arrive.

Besides the common requirements, provide an original certificate of enrolment at the educational centre stating the date classes start, or a certificate showing that enrolment is in process. Interns, graduates in final procedures, scholarship holders and exchange students add an original certificate from the institution that assigns them to the activity.

Whoever will support you in El Salvador signs a sworn declaration before a Salvadoran notary stating the commitment, how long it will last and how the income is obtained; if support comes from abroad, the declaration must be authenticated or apostilled. A student who will work adds an original commitment letter from the employer with legalised signatures. For students under 18, both parents sign the application (or one with a special power from the other) and add the birth certificate.

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.

The Foreigners' Office issues a payment order, which is not refundable. Non-Central American temporary residents pay USD 140 for up to one year and USD 260 for up to two years (Central Americans USD 70 and USD 130). The DGME answers within a maximum of 45 working days once all requirements are met. For studies the payment order lists the one-year amount.

Request the extension of temporary residence within the 30 calendar days before it expires. Temporary residents lose their status if they are absent more than three consecutive months or four months in total within one year, and every resident must report changes of nationality, family status or address within five working days. After three years of temporary residence you can apply for definitive (permanent) residence.