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El Salvador visas

El Salvador transit visa

Travellers who would normally need a visa can transit without one for up to 96 hours if they hold an onward ticket.

Ways to get a El Salvador transit visa

  1. Transit without a visa for up to 96 hours

    Transit without a visa

    Travellers who would normally need a visa qualify if they transit within 96 hours and hold an onward ticket.

    Stay
    Up to 96 hours.
    Fee
    Citizens of the countries listed in the transit notes must pay an airport improvement tax of USD 1,130 when transiting through San Oscar Arnulfo Romero and Galdámez Airport.

Who doesn't

Travellers who normally need a visa can transit without one if they meet the 96-hour limit and hold an onward ticket.

Changing planes

Longest transit
96 hours
Transit without a visa
Transit must be within 96 hours, and you must hold an onward ticket.

What to bring

  • An onward ticket.

Good to know

  • Keep your transit within 96 hours.
  • Hold an onward ticket.
  • Rules for leaving the airport during transit are not specified.
  • The airport improvement tax is USD 1,000 plus 13% value-added tax, for a total of USD 1,130.
  • The tax applies to citizens of Angola, Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Questions

Do I need a transit visa for El Salvador?

Travellers who normally need a visa can transit without one if they meet the 96-hour limit and hold an onward ticket.

How long can I stay on a El Salvador transit visa?

Up to 96 hours.

How much does a El Salvador transit visa cost?

An airport improvement tax of USD 1,130 applies to citizens of the listed countries transiting through San Oscar Arnulfo Romero and Galdámez Airport.

What documents do I need for a El Salvador transit visa?

An onward ticket..

How long can I stay in transit in El Salvador?

Up to 96 hours, if you meet the conditions. Transit must be within 96 hours, and you must hold an onward ticket.

What rules do I have to follow on a El Salvador transit visa?

Keep your transit within 96 hours. Hold an onward ticket.

Does my passport change whether I need a transit visa for El Salvador?

Yes. Rules depend on the country that issued your passport. Open the El Salvador visa page and choose your passport for a plain answer.

Can a transit visa for El Salvador be refused?

Yes. Officials can refuse a visa or entry, even after you apply. Give true answers, bring the documents asked for, and keep proof of your onward trip and money.

Where do I check the latest El Salvador transit visa rules?

On El Salvador's official immigration or foreign ministry website, or at its embassy. Rules change, so check close to your trip.

Can I change my transit visa once I am in El Salvador?

Often you cannot switch visa type inside the country. Ask the immigration office before you travel if you might need to.

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