El Salvador tourist visa and visa-free entry rules

The classification published by the DGME, dated 23 January 2019 and shared by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, sorts countries into Category A (exempt from visa), Category B (consular visa without consultation) and Category C (consulted visa). It has separate columns for ordinary passports and for diplomatic, official or service passports, and some countries carry remarks, so look up your own nationality on the list before travelling.

Citizens of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua may enter with their national identity card; everyone else uses a valid passport in good condition.

A foreign tourist already inside the CA-4 region who wants to enter El Salvador must carry the passport and still have time left in the region, meaning the days of stay granted by the first CA-4 country entered. Plan an itinerary through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua with that single allowance in mind.

Land border registration is personal, needs no intermediary and has no cost, according to the DGME.

Paid work without the corresponding permit is a serious infringement under article 225 of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law, and studying without permission is a minor infringement under article 224. Visitors who plan to work, study or settle apply for temporary residence at the DGME Foreigners' Office.

An extension can be granted only once after entry to El Salvador or the CA-4 region, and it must be requested at least five working days before the granted time expires (article 85 of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law); otherwise the fine in article 231 applies. Download form F-44, complete it and email it with the requested documents to visas@migracion.gob.sv. If everything is in order you receive a link to pay online and an appointment to have the extension stamped; bring your passport.

The general requirements are the extension application, the original passport and a photocopy of all used pages, and documents proving the purpose of your stay. The fee is USD 25. Filing them does not guarantee approval, and the extension does not give the right to work.