El Salvador citizenship by investment, explained plainly
El Salvador grants citizenship for a donation of USD 1,000,000 paid in bitcoin or USDt. The programme is called Adopting El Salvador or the Freedom Visa and has run since December 2023. This guide shows every fee, the family rules, the 2025 and 2026 reforms, the passport and the open questions, each fact linked to an official source or BRIDGES data.
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El Salvador Citizenship by Investment in 2026: The Complete Guide
How the Adopting El Salvador Freedom Visa works in 2026: the USD 1 million donation in BTC or USDt, the legal basis, permanent residence, the family, the passport and what is still unclear.
El Salvador Citizenship Cost in 2026: The USD 1 Million Donation and Every Fee
What El Salvador citizenship by investment costs in 2026: the USD 1,000,000 donation, the USD 999 screening fee, the family question, passport and residence fees and the costs quoted separately.
El Salvador Freedom Visa: Application Process, Documents and Timelines
Step by step through the El Salvador Freedom Visa in 2026: pre-check, registration, documents, apostille and translation, donation, permanent residence, the oath and the passport.
Paying the El Salvador Donation in Bitcoin or USDt: Source of Funds and Rules
How the El Salvador citizenship donation is paid in BTC or USDt, what the evaluation looks at, how to document the origin of crypto, what changed in the Bitcoin Law in 2025 and what is known about taxes.
El Salvador Citizenship for the Family: Children, Dual Citizenship and Loss of Status
Who is included in El Salvador citizenship by investment, children born abroad, dual citizenship and reciprocity, and how naturalised citizenship can be lost after the reform of 17 March 2026.
The El Salvador Passport in 2026: Visa-Free Travel, Schengen, ETIAS and Residence
What the El Salvador passport gives in 2026: rank 37 of 199 and 129 destinations without a prior visa, Schengen visa-free, ETIAS and EES, where a visa is still needed, no E-2 and permanent residence.
The costs at a glance
| Amount | Source | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donation | USD 1,000,000 | official portal | in BTC or USDt, covers spouse and children under 18 |
| Screening fee | USD 999 | official portal | non-refundable, counted towards the donation |
| Passport | USD 25 per person | BRIDGES | biometric, 6 years, not confirmed officially |
Compiled from the official Adopting El Salvador portal and the BRIDGES programme page, checked October 2026. See the cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an investment option?
No. The only route is a donation of USD 1,000,000 in BTC or USDt.
What does it cost for a family?
The donation is the same for the applicant, spouse and children under 18. Whether the USD 999 fee is charged per person is not clear.
How fast is it?
BRIDGES writes approval within about 6 weeks and the passport within 3 months.
Does it give visa-free Europe?
Yes, up to 90 days in any 180 days in the Schengen area.
Can I lose the citizenship?
Yes, after long absences or a serious conviction, under the reform of March 2026.