El Salvador operates visa-free entry for citizens of the United States, Canada, European Union member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Singapore, and most Latin American countries for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of these countries receive a tourist entry stamp at no charge upon arrival. The CA-4 Border Control Agreement between El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua means travelers can move freely within these four countries for 90 days from first entry into any of them, with the clock starting from whichever country you enter first. Citizens of China, India, and most African nations require visas obtained prior to arrival from Salvadoran embassies or consulates. Official information appears at the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería website at www.migracion.gob.sv.
Passports must have six months validity remaining beyond your intended departure date. Immigration officials at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport and land borders routinely check return tickets or proof of onward travel. Overland arrivals from Guatemala or Honduras sometimes face longer processing times than airport arrivals, particularly at smaller border crossings. Extensions beyond 90 days require application at migration offices in San Salvador, with fees starting around 50 USD and proof of financial means. Overstay fines reach approximately 10 USD per week, collected upon departure.
Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, formerly known as Comalapa International Airport, serves as El Salvador's sole international airport. The facility sits 44 kilometers southeast of San Salvador near the coastal town of La Libertad. Copa Airlines operates the most frequent international connections through Panama City, with multiple daily flights. Avianca connects through San Salvador to destinations throughout the Americas. American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Spirit Airlines maintain routes from Houston, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale. Iberia operates the only direct European route from Madrid. Volaris, Interjet, and Viva Aerobus connect to Mexican cities including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Cancún.
The airport terminal opened in 1980 and underwent renovations in 2010 and 2018. Arrival procedures include immigration, baggage claim, customs inspection, and exit to ground transportation. Immigration processing typically takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on flight volume. Customs officers randomly select bags for inspection, with agricultural products and undeclared amounts over 10,000 USD subject to confiscation or fines. The arrivals hall contains ATMs from Banco Agrícola, Banco Cuscatlán, and Scotiabank, plus currency exchange counters charging spreads between three and eight percent above interbank rates. Free wireless internet functions throughout the terminal. Land borders operate at San Cristóbal and La Hachadura with Guatemala, El Amatillo and El Poy with Honduras. These crossings open between 6 AM and 10 PM, with El Amatillo and San Cristóbal maintaining 24-hour operations.
El Salvador abandoned the colón and adopted the United States dollar as official currency on January 1, 2001. The government fixed the exchange rate at 8.75 colones per dollar before full dollarization. All transactions occur in USD. Prices appear in dollars, wages pay in dollars, ATMs dispense dollars. The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador no longer issues currency. Some older colón coins remain in theoretical circulation but rarely appear in practical use.
In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the dollar through the Bitcoin Law passed by the Legislative Assembly. The law requires businesses to accept Bitcoin if they possess the technological capacity to do so. The government launched the Chivo digital wallet and installed approximately 200 Chivo ATMs throughout the country where users can convert between Bitcoin and dollars with no commission. Public adoption remains uneven. Urban businesses increasingly display Chivo acceptance stickers, but cash dollars dominate transactions outside San Salvador and Santa Ana. International businesses including McDonald's locations accept Bitcoin through the government system. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank opposed the Bitcoin adoption, citing volatility risks and money laundering concerns. The government purchased approximately 2,300 Bitcoins between September 2021 and late 2022, with President Nayib Bukele announcing purchases via Twitter at various price points.