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An independent guide written by Darya Melnik, consultant at BRIDGES. Not a government website.

El Salvador Citizenship Cost in 2026: The USD 1 Million Donation and Every Fee

By Darya Melnik · Updated · Facts checked against the sources listed below

Calm water of Lake Coatepeque under large white clouds

The price of El Salvador is easy to remember and harder to budget, because the main amount is fixed in dollars while you pay it in crypto. Here is every cost I could find on 28 October 2026 on the official portal and the BRIDGES programme page.

The main amount

ItemAmountSource
Screening feeUSD 999 in BTC or USDtofficial portal
Rest of the donationUSD 999,001 in BTC or USDtofficial portal
Total donationUSD 1,000,000official portal
Passport feeUSD 25 per personBRIDGES, not confirmed officially
All-in state costfrom USD 1,000,025BRIDGES

The USD 999 screening fee

The first payment starts the evaluation. It is not refundable. If the application is approved, it is credited towards the donation, so you transfer USD 999,001 after approval. If the application is refused, the USD 999 is lost. That is why I do a pre-check of the family and the origin of the funds before anyone pays it.

One amount for the family, or a fee per person?

The portal says the USD 1,000,000 covers the applicant, the spouse and children under 18. It also mentions an “administrative fee: 999 USD in BTC or USDt per family member in family application”. BRIDGES writes that there is no surcharge per family member. I could not resolve this from official texts, so for a family of four I plan for a possible extra 3 × USD 999 until the portal confirms the amount in writing.

Passport and residence fees

BRIDGES gives a state passport fee of USD 25 per person. Since the reform of 30 April 2025 programme participants receive permanent residence directly, and the USD 12 tourist card is gone. BRIDGES writes that the residence fee is USD 690 a year. I did not find this amount on an official page, so I mark it as unconfirmed.

The Pacific coast near El Zonte in El Salvador from above, with surf and green hills

Costs quoted separately

  • apostille or consular legalisation of documents from your country;
  • sworn translation into Spanish;
  • the BRIDGES fee for the case;
  • network fees for the BTC or USDt transfers;
  • travel, if the oath or the passport collection happens in El Salvador.

I do not give numbers for these, because they depend on the country of your documents and the size of the family.

How it compares

ProgrammeMinimum according to BRIDGES
El SalvadorUSD 1,000,000
St Kitts and NevisUSD 250,000
GrenadaUSD 235,000
DominicaUSD 200,000
VanuatuUSD 130,000

The difference is large. In my conversations El Salvador makes sense mainly for families who already hold crypto and value the Salvadoran rules on bitcoin, which I describe in the payment guide.

Questions and answers

How much does El Salvador citizenship cost?

The donation is USD 1,000,000 in BTC or USDt. BRIDGES puts the all-in state cost from USD 1,000,025 per person including the passport fee, with legalisation, translation and its own fee quoted separately.

Is the USD 999 fee refundable?

No. It is non-refundable, but it is counted towards the USD 1,000,000.

Do I pay more for my spouse and children?

The donation is the same for the family. The official portal mentions an administrative fee of USD 999 per family member in a family application, while BRIDGES writes that there is no surcharge per person. Ask for a written quote.

Is there a cheaper option?

No. There is one route and one amount.

Sources

Checked on 28 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with the official sources before you file anything.