El Salvador Tourist Visa on Arrival — 90 days (CA-4 agreement: shared with Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua)for 🇺🇸 US citizens travelling to 🇸🇻 El Salvador

📋Required Documents1

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  Valid passport (valid 6+ months)

  Entry under the CA-4 agreement; a USD 12 tourist card covers up to 90 days for most nationals.

ℹ️What to Expect

As a US passport holder, you can enter El Salvador without applying for a visa in advance. Present your valid passport at the port of entry and confirm your intended stay is within up to 90 days. Border officers may ask for proof of onward travel, sufficient funds, and accommodation details. Always verify current requirements with the El Salvador embassy or official government website before booking travel.

📎Supporting Documents (may strengthen your application)

• ○
  Tourist card purchased on arrival where applicable
• ○
  Proof of onward or return travel (if applicable)
• ○
  Proof of sufficient funds for the stay (if applicable)

🌐Why US passport holders do not need a visa for El Salvador

US passport holders can enter El Salvador without a visa because of an existing bilateral visa-waiver agreement or diplomatic arrangement between the two countries. This means US citizens benefit from streamlined entry and do not need to apply in advance — a valid passport is sufficient at the border.

⚠️Common Reasons El Salvador Tourist Visa on Arrival — 90 days (CA-4 agreement: shared with Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua) Applications Are Refused6

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  Belonging to a nationality that requires a consular visa in advance rather than visa-free / tourist-card entry, and arriving without one.
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  Having already used the 90-day CA-4 allowance within the current period across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua combined.
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  No proof of onward or return travel, or insufficient evidence of funds for the stay.
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  A passport with less than six months’ validity, or an itinerary suggesting the real purpose is paid work or de-facto residence rather than tourism.
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  A prior overstay or immigration violation in El Salvador or another CA-4 country.
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  Inability to pay the USD 12 tourist card on arrival, or incomplete entry documentation.

Refusal grounds are at the discretion of the deciding officer and can change. This list is informational — always verify current requirements at the official government portal.

🔗More El Salvador Visa Options

• El Salvador Freedom Visa — Bitcoin / Cryptocurrency Investor Residency (USD 1 million, path to citizenship) →
• El Salvador Work Permit — Employer-Sponsored, Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MTPS) Approval Required →