El Salvador work visa (temporary residence to work)

Employees of individuals or companies present an original commitment letter from the employer requesting the work opportunity, with legalised signatures and, for a company, reference to its legal personality, plus authorisation from the competent body if they will practise a regulated profession. Self-employed workers present a sworn declaration before a Salvadoran notary detailing their activities, address, business location, start date and projected monthly income, together with any municipal or state permits the activity needs. Migrant workers can receive up to two years.

Scientists and specialised staff in research, technical or advisory work, and directors, technicians and administrative staff transferred from abroad, also present an employer commitment letter (or the relevant agreement), with a certified copy of the transfer letter for transferees; both can receive up to two years. Academics present the agreement between educational institutions where applicable, and professional athletes and people serving public institutions on public-interest projects receive up to one year.

Every applicant files an application signed by the foreigner, a legal representative, an attorney or the employer (with a legalised signature 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 during the two years before entering El Salvador; and a valid clearance from El Salvador's National Civil Police if you have stayed more than three months in the country or entered more than twice in the last year.

Documents issued abroad must be authenticated or apostilled and translated into Spanish (article 162 of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law), and names must match the passport exactly.

Payment orders are issued by the Foreigners' Office and are 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 pay USD 70 and USD 130. The DGME's maximum response time is 45 working days once all requirements are met.

Employers must notify the DGME within eight working days after a foreign employee stops working for them. Residents report changes of nationality, family status or address within five working days. Temporary residents lose the status if they are away more than three consecutive months or four months in total in a year. Request the extension within the 30 calendar days before expiry.