Immigration
The 2019 Special Migration Act and CA-4 movement
The Ley Especial de Migración y Extranjería consolidated a fragmented regime into one statute administered by the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. El Salvador is part of the CA-4 area, so movement to Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua is visa-free.
Key rules
- Residence is temporary (one or two years, renewable) or permanent, with definitive residence after three years of temporary status.
- CA-4 nationals may enter and remain for 90 days without a visa.
- Investors and pensioners have dedicated categories, the latter requiring proof of stable foreign income.
- Refugee status is determined by CONARE under the same statute, with non-refoulement expressly protected.
- Naturalisation requires five years of residence, or one year for Central Americans by birth and Spaniards.
Governing law
- Ley Especial de Migración y Extranjería (Decreto 286 de 2019)Consolidated migration statute.
- Reglamento de la Ley Especial de Migración y ExtranjeríaCategories, fees and evidence.
- Convenio CA-4Regional free movement.
In practice
Applications are filed in San Salvador and require a solvencia from the PNC plus an Interpol certificate. Residence card processing has improved but appointment availability is the practical constraint.