El Salvador country guide
Entrepreneur · Last checked 2026-08-08
Residencia Temporal Negocios (F5)
Qualifying company leadership or ownership role used to promote or identify lawful investment opportunities
El Salvador’s F5 business residence is a temporary, multiple-entry category for specified company leaders, owners, and managers who need to reside while promoting or identifying lawful investment opportunities.
- Country
- El Salvador
- Applicant basis
- Qualifying company leadership or ownership role used to promote or identify lawful investment opportunities
- Responsible authority
- Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
- Official route status
- Current official route
- Information available
- Detailed guide
- Last checked
- 2026-08-08
Supported requirements
What the current source supports
- Hold one of the qualifying roles and document that the purpose is promoting or identifying investment opportunities in industry, commerce, tourism, goods or services supply, or another lawful economic activity.
- Submit the F5 request, a copy of the valid passport and all used pages, and the original passport for comparison.
- Provide an original police or criminal-record certificate from the country of origin or any country of residence during the two years before entry. Foreign documents must be apostilled or authenticated and translated into Spanish as applicable.
- Provide current Salvadoran National Civil Police clearance after more than three months in El Salvador or more than two entries during the preceding year.
- If the company has completed a year of commercial activity, provide its prior fiscal-year income-tax declaration.
Applicant scope
Who this route generally serves
- Generally designed for
- A foreign president, board member, legal representative, shareholder, business owner, or general manager whose Salvadoran activity fits the statutory business-opportunity purpose.
- Legal basis named by the authority
- Ley Especial de Migración y de Extranjería, Articles 89, 109(2), 110–113, and 119 as amended by Legislative Decree 531 of 2026; and DGME packets F5 and F20.
Route lifecycle
What to confirm from application onward
- Financial basis
- The F5 route does not state a minimum investment, capital, revenue, or personal-income threshold. Eligibility depends on the qualifying role and business-opportunity activity.
- Government service fees
- The current F5 packet states USD 70 for a Central American applicant for up to one year or USD 130 for up to two years, and USD 140 or USD 260 respectively for a non-Central American applicant. The F20 renewal packet states USD 55/USD 100 and USD 125/USD 240 respectively. Payments are non-refundable; confirm the live charge before paying.
- Administrative service targets
- The F5 and F20 packets each state a maximum 45-working-day response period when all requirements are met. This is an official service target, not an approval or processing guarantee.
- Initial status
- Temporary residence with multiple entries for up to two years, renewable, subject to the individual grant.
- Renewal
- Apply during the 30 calendar days before expiry. F20 requires the renewal request, passport comparison and any updated passport copies, and an original notarized confirmation that the qualifying activities continue. Renewal remains discretionary.
- Dependents
- No automatic dependent entitlement is established in F5. A qualifying family member must use the separate accompanying or other applicable residence route.
- Work rights
- The holder may perform only the activities authorized by the granted business subcategory. F5 does not establish unrestricted local employment or a general work permit.
- Presence considerations
- Decree 531 of 2026 now requires every temporary resident to remain in El Salvador for at least 90 calendar days during each year, consecutive or cumulative, unless DGME accepts documented force majeure or fortuitous event.
- Permanent residence
- Definitive residence is a separate application under its own current category and requirements. F5 residence does not automatically convert or guarantee approval.
- Citizenship relationship
- Naturalization is a separate legal process and is not established by temporary business residence.
Official evidence
Sources for this route
Instructivo F-05 — residencia temporal para personas de negociosDirección General de Migración y Extranjería · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08Residencias temporalesDirección General de Migración y Extranjería · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08Instructivo F-20 — prórroga para personas de negociosDirección General de Migración y Extranjería · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08Ley Especial de Migración y de Extranjería — Decreto 286Asamblea Legislativa · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08Reformas a la Ley Especial de Migración y de Extranjería — Decreto 531Asamblea Legislativa · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08Preguntas frecuentes de extranjeríaDirección General de Migración y Extranjería · ES · Last checked 2026-08-08
General planning information only—not legal, tax, or investment advice. A listed route does not determine eligibility. Verify current rules with the responsible authority before acting.