The legal pathway
The official “Adopting El Salvador” portal describes the Freedom Passport (Freedom Visa) as an accelerated route to Salvadoran citizenship against a contribution of US$1,000,000, payable in its equivalent in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT), covering the applicant, a spouse and children under 18. The published structure is US$999 up front for the assessment and a balance of US$999,001 after approval, plus administrative charges for each family member. Payment does not grant citizenship automatically: naturalisation requires a subsequent authorisation.
The portal’s terms and conditions identify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legislative Assembly as responsible for the program, which they call the “Freedom Citizenship & Passport Program (Freedom Visa)”. As grounds for the information and documents requested, they cite the Constitution, the Law on Honorary Distinctions, Gratuities and Titles and its regulations, article 2 of the Law against Money and Asset Laundering, the instructions of the Financial Investigation Unit of the Attorney General’s Office (Official Gazette No. 205, Volume 433, 27 October 2021) and article 37 of the Special Law against Acts of Terrorism. The program was launched on 7 December 2023 with technology support from Tether, whose announcement confirms the amount and both cryptoassets. Intermediaries also cite Legislative Decree No. 918 (amending article 156(5)) and report in-person biometrics in San Salvador or at designated consulates.
Points to assess: the assessment fee is non-refundable even if the application is rejected, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legislative Assembly may decline to grant the passport at their absolute discretion; the donation is sent through a third-party payment gateway, is not refundable and is allocated to social and development programs; paying in cryptoassets requires documenting the origin of the wallet and the full transfer chain; and some benefits advertised by intermediaries — such as the two-year route to Spanish nationality, which article 22 of the Spanish Civil Code reserves for nationals of origin of Ibero-American countries — do not extend to naturalised citizens.
Amounts shown are selected-route base requirements, not an all-inclusive quote. Government charges, due diligence, dependants and professional fees may add to the total. Source publication dates vary; reconfirm current rules before acting.
EL SALVADOR · KEY QUESTIONS
What should investors establish first?
Can the contribution be paid in dollars?
The amount is denominated in US dollars, but it is paid in its equivalent in Bitcoin or USDT — both the US$999 initial payment and the US$999,001 balance. The number of units therefore depends on the exchange rate at the time of each payment, and conversion and network costs are borne by the applicant.
Does the contribution cover my family?
Yes. According to the official portal, the US$1,000,000 contribution covers the applicant, a spouse and children under 18; administrative charges apply for each family member.
Does payment guarantee citizenship?
No. The portal states that naturalisation requires a subsequent authorisation: the US$999 initial payment opens the assessment, the balance is paid after approval, and the citizenship decision rests with the Salvadoran authorities.
What happens if my application is rejected?
Under the portal’s terms, the assessment fee is not refunded if the applicant does not qualify or if the authorities, at their absolute discretion, decide not to grant the passport. The donation, once sent, is not refundable either; that is why the balance is paid only after approval.
What documents are requested and how is my data handled?
A valid passport, an identity document, current and past work and professional activities, and evidence of economic capacity; where relevant, information on companies, foundations or other entities linked to the applicant. The data may be shared with public institutions and with contracted know-your-customer and payment providers, and kept for at least fifteen years under the anti-money-laundering law. El Salvador has no data protection law; the terms state that GDPR principles are taken into account.
Do I have to travel to El Salvador?
The application is filed online. According to intermediaries, biometrics and passport collection take place in person, in San Salvador or at designated consulates; the official channel should be confirmed before planning travel.
Can I keep my current nationality?
Article 91 of the Salvadoran Constitution recognises dual nationality for Salvadorans by birth. For naturalised citizens, the grounds for loss in article 94 — which include prolonged absence from the country — must be reviewed, together with the law of the applicant’s other nationality, before applying.
How does it compare with Argentina’s program?
Argentina announced a US$350,000 contribution to the Treasury or a US$800,000 bond, with applications expected in Q4 2026; El Salvador requires US$1,000,000 in cryptoassets in a program already in operation. They differ in cost, means of payment, reviewing authority and the rights each nationality confers.
Before committing capital
- Confirm personal eligibility
Nationality, immigration history, family composition and background checks.
- Review the investment
Qualifying asset, holding requirements, exit terms and legal ownership.
- Document the funds
Trace the lawful source of wealth and the complete transfer chain.
- Assess the wider consequences
Residence obligations, tax exposure and the limits of any future nationality route.
Source & research scope
Official government / program source ↗Terms and conditions · Adopting El Salvador portal ↗Launch announcement · Tether, 7 December 2023 ↗Research snapshot: 5 October 2026. Sources: the official “Adopting El Salvador” portal and its terms and conditions, and Tether’s launch announcement (7 December 2023). The portal sets out the program’s published conditions; it does not replace the rules governing naturalisation. This summary is not confirmation of individual eligibility, current application availability or a guaranteed outcome.