Citizenship by investment in El SalvadorOverview
El Salvador announced the Freedom Visa on 8 December 2023, with Tether as its technology and payment partner. Applicants contribute USD 1 million in bitcoin or the USDT stablecoin to support the country's economic, social and cultural development. In return they and their immediate family receive Salvadoran nationality by naturalisation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that 1,000 places a year could raise up to USD 1 billion annually. The contribution is presented as a donation, not a refundable investment.
The legal footing is a reform approved by the Legislative Assembly on 20 December 2023 by 63 votes to 11. It amended Article 156 of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners so that foreigners who meet government criteria for attracting investors or donors may apply for naturalisation. Ordinary naturalisation normally requires several years of residence, typically five as a permanent resident. Opposition deputies argued that the reform conflicts with the constitutional rules on naturalisation. No court ruling on that challenge has been published.
Performance is hard to judge. In October 2024 the DGME said it had issued no freedom passports in response to requests covering December 2023 to August 2024. The programme's own channels, by contrast, reported several families receiving passports in early 2024. Private processors still market the route, including one announced in May 2025, but the government has not published approval figures. In early 2025, as part of an IMF arrangement, El Salvador also amended its Bitcoin Law so that businesses are no longer required to accept bitcoin. The Freedom Visa still lists bitcoin and USDT as accepted payment.
The Salvadoran passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 130 destinations, including the Schengen Area, but a visa is still needed for the United States and Canada. Because the programme is new, discretionary and lightly regulated, we treat it as a specialist option. It is best suited to digital-asset holders with fully documented wealth who value a Central American base, not to families that need predictable timelines or established mobility.
Key benefits
- Citizenship by naturalisation without a prior residence period under the investor and donor category
- Contribution can be settled in bitcoin or USDT, which suits holders of digital assets
- Spouse and children under 18 covered by the single USD 1 million contribution
- No stated residence, visit, language or interview requirement
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 130 destinations, including the Schengen Area
- Access to a dollarised economy with a developing digital-asset framework
Requirements
- Adult principal applicant with a valid passport
- Non-refundable contribution of USD 1,000,000 in bitcoin or USDT, paid after approval
- USD 999 application fee paid at the start of the process
- Clean criminal record, supported by police clearance certificates
- Satisfactory due diligence on the applicant and adult family members
- Documented lawful source of funds, including the full on-chain and fiat history of the digital assets used
- Proof of residential address and civil-status documents
- Approval within the annual quota of 1,000 participants, at the government's discretion
Investment options
Freedom Visa contribution
USD 1,000,000
Non-refundable contribution in bitcoin or USDT. USD 999 is paid on application and the balance only after approval. Covers the principal applicant, spouse and children under 18.
Ordinary naturalisation
The standard route under the Constitution and migration law, normally after several years of lawful residence. Shorter periods apply to some nationalities and to spouses of Salvadoran citizens. It requires actual residence and has no investment threshold.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Suitability and risk review
We assess whether Salvadoran nationality fits the family's goals. This includes the programme's uncertain track record, the mobility it offers and how it interacts with existing nationalities.
- 2
Source-of-wealth file
We document the origin of the digital assets, including exchange records, wallet histories and the underlying fiat wealth, so they can withstand enhanced scrutiny.
- 3
Online application and fee
The application and supporting documents are submitted through the official platform or an authorised processor, together with the USD 999 fee.
- 4
Due diligence and decision
The authorities carry out background and source-of-funds checks and decide at their discretion. Promoted timelines of about six weeks are indicative only.
- 5
Contribution
After approval, the balance of the USD 1 million is paid in bitcoin or USDT according to official payment instructions.
- 6
Nationality and passport
Naturalisation is formalised and passports and identity documents are issued by the DGME. Collection may be possible at a Salvadoran consulate.
Typical documents
- Valid passport, with a secondary photo identity document
- Birth certificates for all applicants
- Marriage certificate, where a spouse is included
- Police clearance certificates from the country of nationality and residence
- Proof of residential address
- Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence, including wallet and exchange statements
- Apostilled or legalised and translated civil documents where required
- Completed application forms and passport photographs
How Legal Wealth helps
Legal Wealth gives families a candid assessment of El Salvador's Freedom Visa before any funds move. We explain the legal basis, the open questions about issuance and the mobility limits. We also prepare a rigorous source-of-wealth file for digital assets and check that payment instructions come only through verified official channels. Each case is handled discreetly and alongside the family's wider residence, tax and succession planning. Where a more established programme serves the family better, we say so.
Enquire with Legal WealthFrequently asked questions
Is the Freedom Visa a residence permit or citizenship?
Despite its name, it is promoted as a route to Salvadoran nationality by naturalisation under the December 2023 reform of Article 156 of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners. Passports are issued by the DGME.
Can I pay in US dollars?
The programme specifies bitcoin or USDT. The legislative reform refers to contributions in legal tender, but in practice payment instructions should be confirmed with official channels before any transfer.
Is the contribution refundable?
No. The USD 1 million is a non-refundable contribution and the USD 999 application fee is also non-refundable. The balance is paid only after approval.
Who is covered by the USD 1 million?
The programme states that the contribution covers the principal applicant, a spouse and children under 18.
How many people have obtained citizenship this way?
No official figures have been published. In October 2024 the DGME said no freedom passports had been issued in the period it reviewed, which contradicted reports from the programme itself.
Does Salvadoran citizenship affect my tax position?
Not by itself. Tax residence depends on where you actually live and on the rules of your other countries, so separate tax advice is essential.
Last reviewed: 2026-10. Requirements, fees and timelines change. Information is general, reviewed on the date shown, and is not legal or tax advice.
Sources
- Diario El Mundo: Assembly approves decree on naturalisation of bitcoin investors and donors (21 December 2023)
- Diario El Mundo: How many passports have been issued under Adopting El Salvador? (October 2024)
- The Block: El Salvador launches USD 1 million Freedom Visa with Tether (December 2023)
- CriptoNoticias: Foreign investors and bitcoin donors may obtain Salvadoran nationality
- Adopting El Salvador (official programme portal)
