El Salvador

ISO2: SV

Salvadoran citizenship by naturalisation through residence (standard 5 years), reduced timelines for Spaniards/Hispano-Americans (1 year) and spouses of Salvadorans (2 years), qualifying residence status (temporary + definitive), required documents, submission workflow via Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), official sources, and dual citizenship/reciprocity notes (as of 2026).

Passport

Citizenship by residence

Minimum years of residence: 5.0
Requires permanent residence: No
Last updated: Feb. 28, 2026
Notes: Constitution of El Salvador (Nationality): standard naturalisation is available to foreigners of any origin with five (5) years of residence in El Salvador. The Constitution also provides reduced timelines: one (1) year for native Spaniards and Hispano-Americans; two (2) years for a foreign spouse of a Salvadoran (before or after marriage); and naturalisation by legislative grant for noteworthy services. In practice, residence is typically described as legal residence and may count time under temporary and definitive (permanent) residence permits. Naturalised Salvadoran status may be lost by residing more than two consecutive years in the country of origin or by absence from El Salvador for more than five consecutive years (unless permission granted), among other law-defined cases.
Dual citizenship: Dual citizenship: Conditional
Renunciation required: No

Special cases: Constitutional reciprocity/treaty framework: for naturalised Salvadorans from countries outside the former Federal Republic of Central America, retention of the other nationality depends on treaties and reciprocity (Art. 93). Salvadorans by birth have an explicit right to double/multiple nationality (Art. 91).
Notes for dual citizenship: El Salvador does not impose a blanket constitutional requirement to renounce prior citizenship as a condition of Salvadoran nationality. However, for naturalised citizens, retaining the other nationality is constitutionally tied to treaties/reciprocity with the country of origin; the applicant should confirm how their original country treats dual citizenship.

Qualifying residence permits

Estancia de turista / visitante (Tourist/visitor status)

Visitor status is not a residence permit and is not treated as qualifying residence for the naturalisation residence clock.

Doesn’t count

Residencia definitiva / permanente (Definitive/Permanent residence / residencia definitiva)

Counts toward the residence clock; some summaries state the reduced 1-year timeline for Spaniards/Hispano-Americans is tied to definitive residence.

Counts

Residencia temporal (Temporary residence / residencia temporal)

Commonly described as counting toward the naturalisation residence clock when held as legal residence; humanitarian/worker/rentista categories may fall under temporary residence depending on DGME classification.

Counts

Required documents

Document	Mandatory	Notes
Application form / request letter (DGME naturalisation request) DGME application/request for naturalisation; DGME lists a dedicated form for “Salvadoreño por Naturalización”.	Mandatory	Submit the DGME naturalisation request/application (DGME lists a dedicated form for “Salvadoreño por Naturalización”).
Birth certificate + apostille/legalisation + Spanish translation (if applicable) Civil status identity document; foreign-issued documents typically require apostille/legalisation and translation to Spanish when applicable.	Mandatory	Foreign-issued documents typically require apostille/legalisation and Spanish translation where applicable.
El Salvador citizenship by naturalisation (Salvadoreño por Naturalización - DGME) Naturalisation procedure handled through Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).	Mandatory	Naturalisation path based on Constitution Articles 92–94; standard 5 years residence (reduced cases exist).
Proof of legal residence (temporary/definitive) and residence time Residence card(s), DGME records/expediente migratorio evidence, and proof that required residence period is met (standard 5 years; reduced cases 1 year/2 years).	Mandatory	Provide evidence of legal residence and that the required residence period is met (standard 5 years; or reduced 1 year / 2 years where applicable).
Valid passport (copy + original for verification) Passport identification (copies of used pages; original shown for verification where requested).	Mandatory	Provide passport copies and present original for verification if requested by DGME.
Criminal record certificate (El Salvador) - current Current criminal record/antecedents certificate, commonly requested in practice for naturalisation filings.	Optional	Commonly requested in practice; confirm current DGME checklist for your category.
Dual nationality / reciprocity support (if requested) Because the Constitution ties retention of original nationality for certain naturalised citizens to treaties/reciprocity, supporting evidence may be requested depending on case handling.	Optional	May be requested depending on the applicant’s original nationality and reciprocity/treaty considerations.
Marriage certificate + spouse ID/residence proof (if applying via spouse route) If applying based on marriage to a Salvadoran: marriage certificate and spouse identification/residence evidence.	Optional	Mandatory if applying under the 2-year spouse route; otherwise not applicable.
Police clearance / “solvencia” (Policía Nacional Civil) - current Current police solvency certificate, commonly requested in practice for naturalisation filings.	Optional	Commonly requested in practice; confirm current DGME checklist for your category.
Spanish language proficiency (functional Spanish; no CEFR level specified) Language ability sufficient to communicate in Spanish; the Constitution does not specify a CEFR level (A2/B1/etc.).	Optional	Functional Spanish is generally expected; no official CEFR level is stated in the constitutional text.

Submission offices

DGME – Atención en sucursales (según trámite)

NATIONAL

https://www.migracion.gob.sv/servicios/constancias-para-extranjeros/

DGME indicates certain services/constancias are attended in all branches (“en todas nuestras sucursales”); confirm your naturalisation filing location with DGME.

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) – Nacionalizaciones y naturalizaciones

NATIONAL · San Salvador Centro

https://www.migracion.gob.sv/servicios/nacionalizaciones-y-naturalizaciones/

DGME service page for naturalisations/nationalisations; DGME contact block lists HQ address and contact numbers/email.

Official sources

Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME) – Nacionalizaciones y naturalizaciones (forms listing + DGME contact)

Government

https://www.migracion.gob.sv/servicios/nacionalizaciones-y-naturalizaciones/

DGME services page listing nationalisation/naturalisation forms and displaying DGME contact information.

es

Library of Congress – El Salvador: Dual Nationality Law (constitutional framework summary)

Government

https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llglrd/2019669617/2019669617.pdf

Authoritative secondary summary of the constitutional framework on dual/multiple nationality and reciprocity for naturalised citizens.

en

UNHCR Help – El Salvador: Nacionalizaciones y naturalizaciones (residence counted: temporary + definitive)

INTL_ORG

https://help.unhcr.org/elsalvador/soluciones-duraderas/nacionalizaciones-y-naturalizaciones/

Explainer noting standard 5-year requirement and that time may be counted using temporary and definitive residencies (helpful for program notes).

es

Constitution of El Salvador – Nationality (Articles 90–94 extracts: residence years, spouse/Spain reductions, reciprocity/dual nationality, loss rules)

Law / Regulation

https://data.globalcit.eu/NationalDB/docs/SAL_Constitution%201983_EXTRACTS_consolidated%20version%202003_ENGLISH.pdf

Primary legal basis for naturalisation timelines (5 years standard; 1 year Spaniards/Hispano-Americans; 2 years spouses), reciprocity rule for retention of original nationality, and loss provisions for naturalised status.

en