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El Salvador

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
35,653
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
64,868
UK visas issued, 2025
1,074
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
NationalitySVISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<SVEL<SALVADOR<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SV9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of El Salvador need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from El Salvador move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States27,280
  2. Mexico4,697
  3. Italy2,014
  4. Canada555
  5. Germany444
  6. Belgium142
  7. Japan94
  8. Netherlands85
  9. Chile73
  10. Sweden63
  11. France54
  12. Switzerland42
  13. Australia26
  14. Austria15
  15. South Korea12

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

20k40k200020032006200920122015201820212023
20k40k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200023,796
200131,988
200232,232
200329,744
200431,833
200523,145
200634,058
200724,332
200822,896
200923,251
201022,995
201122,950
201219,779
201322,831
201423,523
201524,001
201629,106
201732,875
201838,244
201939,933
202024,474
202126,258
202239,162
202335,653
Share going to the top destination
76.5%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in El Salvador who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United States1,569,946
  2. Mexico55,410
  3. Canada49,004
  4. Spain42,228
  5. Italy24,538
  6. Guatemala22,750
  7. Costa Rica20,131
  8. Belize11,092
  9. Australia10,898
  10. Honduras9,234
  11. Panama6,326
  12. Belgium2,981

Living abroad by year

917k1.83M19901995200020052010201520202024
917k1.83M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990955,569
19951,005,420
2000906,731
20051,108,043
20101,359,464
20151,541,873
20201,679,667
20241,834,670
Living abroad, 2024
1,834,670
Change since 2000
+102.3%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
85.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of El Salvador by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B254,185
  2. H2B7,725
  3. A2513
  4. H2A486
  5. K1259
  6. C1/D239
  7. F1231
  8. J1169
  9. H1B97
  10. U390

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

32k65k201720182019202020212022202320242025
32k65k20172019202120232025
Data table
201724,572
201843,429
201940,168
202017,978
202120,472
202240,698
202359,955
202463,870
202564,868
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR13,999
  2. FX1,664
  3. IR51,446
  4. F2B1,121
  5. F11,036
  6. IR21,035
  7. F4932
  8. F2A543
Immigrant visas, FY2025
12,612
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
167
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in El Salvador who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of El Salvador with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

16k31k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
16k31k201520172019202120232024
Data table
201519,490
201623,450
201725,110
201828,330
201927,660
202017,910
202118,670
202230,880
202326,210
202431,110
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens19,130
  2. Employment-based preferences3,930
  3. Family-sponsored preferences3,800
  4. Refugees and asylees2,910
  5. Other classes1,340
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)8,320
  2. Specialty occupations (H-1B)630
  3. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)510
  4. Intracompany transferees (L-1)430
  5. Spouses and children390
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)310
  7. Other temporary workers240
  8. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)80
Green cards, FY2024 (born in El Salvador)
31,110
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in El Salvador)
21,940
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
312,130
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of El Salvador (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in El Salvador (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor960
  2. Other50
  3. Family27
  4. Study22
  5. Work15

Visas issued by year

5371,074201020122014201620182020202220242025
5371,074201020132016201920222025
Data table
201038
201142
201224
201336
201435
201556
201658
201755
201848
201945
202036
202151
2022722
2023986
20241,055
20251,074
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
10
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of El Salvador, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202548532026555035
202441536028554540
202339034540555540
202218520040564520
20219023027085085
20201017519546535
20193018027574035
20181516029068035
20173516528072030
20165012523063010
20150901706605
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of El Salvador, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

6112005–062007–082010–112012–132014–152016–172018–192020–212022–232024–252025–26
6112005–062010–112014–152018–192022–232025–26
Data table
2005–062
2006–075
2007–083
2008–093
2010–113
2011–122
2012–132
2013–142
2014–154
2015–161
2016–172
2017–182
2018–193
2019–201
2020–211
2021–222
2022–235
2023–243
2024–253
2025–2611
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills5
  2. Specialist Skills2
  3. Labour Agreement2
  4. Short-term1
  5. Medium-term1
Granted, 2025–26
11
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of El Salvador living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

1012022012201420162018202220242025
1012022012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012106
2013112
2014118
2015119
2016122
2017131
2018142
2019147
2022170
2023186
2024193
2025202
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident64
  2. Student51
  3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services28
  4. Spouse or Child of Japanese National23
  5. Long-Term Resident8
  6. Dependent7
  7. Designated Activities5
  8. Professor4
  9. Highly Skilled Professional3
  10. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident2
Residents, December 2025
202
In work-related statuses
40
Share in work-related statuses
19.8%
Students
51
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in El Salvador

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in El Salvador, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Spain383500.0%
Italy8800.0%
Germany5500.0%

Applications by year

631252009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
63125200920122015201820212024
Data table
200956
2010118
2011118
201286
2013101
201479
2015125
201660
201748
201875
201996
202031
202158
202269
202356
202451
Refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
Refusal rate, 2019
0.0%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of El Salvador in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family2,509
  2. Other reasons2,142
  3. Work1,670
  4. Education1,230
First permits by country
  1. Spain4,108
  2. Italy2,238
  3. Germany299
  4. Ireland250
  5. Belgium170
  6. France165
  7. Portugal135
  8. Sweden36
  9. Netherlands36
  10. Switzerland25
  11. Hungary14
  12. Norway12
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card26
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)65
  3. Researchers8
  4. Other paid activities1,571
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
90
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
3,197
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,354
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
180
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
48,118
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,949
Changed status into work, 2025
829
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
25
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of El Salvador in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025844000
Sweden202521001803
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025303
Austria20251055
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in El Salvador

Countries with an embassy or consulate in El Salvador, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Argentina1——
Australia——1
Brazil1——
Canada1——
Chile1——
China1——
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Ecuador1—1
France1——
Germany1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1—1
Mexico1——
Palestine1——
Panama1——
Peru1——
Spain1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
Uruguay1——
Countries
22
Missions
24
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by El Salvador, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

5,05010k2000200320062009201220152018202120242025
5,05010k200020052010201520202025
Data table
20001,764
20011,924
20021,953
20032,121
20042,563
20053,029
20063,483
20073,709
20083,755
20093,402
20103,472
20113,644
20123,914
20133,966
20144,160
20154,275
20164,562
20174,996
20185,392
20195,657
20205,931
20217,622
20227,851
20238,287
20248,488
202510,099
Remittances received, 2025
US$10,099 million
Share of GDP, 2025
27.5%
Average cost of sending US$200 to El Salvador, 2023
2.0%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from El Salvador

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • El Salvador → United States
  • El Salvador → Mexico
  • El Salvador → Italy
  • El Salvador → Canada
  • El Salvador → Belgium
  • El Salvador → Spain
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more