San Salvador Historic Downtown.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Seeking to attract greater foreign investment and participation, El Salvador’s government has proposed changes to its immigration law that would significantly simplify obtaining permanent residency.
The Bukele administration submitted a reform initiative to the Legislative Assembly that would amend Article 152 of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners, allowing foreigners to acquire permanent residency without first fulfilling a temporary residency requirement.
Under the proposed changes, applicants would need only to enroll in a government-backed program and pay a $690 fee.
Currently, foreigners with definitive residence in the country pay $135 if they are Central American and $345 if they are not, but they must have lived in the country for at least three years before requesting a final stay.
In both cases, the residence lasts one year and can be renewed for fees ranging from $30 (one year) to $95 (four years) for Central Americans and between $65 (one year) and $205 (four years) for non-Central Americans.
The government said the measure aims to create a “streamlined and efficient way” for “foreigners interested in supporting the economic, social, and cultural development of El Salvador” to establish legal status more quickly.
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The proposed reform also relaxes travel restrictions for these new permanent residents.
Unlike current residents governed by Article 154 of the Special Law, they would not lose their residency if they remained outside El Salvador for extended periods.
Existing law requires permanent residents to seek permission if they plan to be absent for more than two years; failure to comply risks forfeiture of residency status.
Under the new process, however, foreign residents could live abroad indefinitely, provided they continue paying renewal fees outlined in the updated regulations.
The legislative proposal underscores El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to open its doors to foreign talent, investment, and initiatives aligned with its development goals.
