Salvadorans can enter Spain without a visa, can obtain citizenship after 2 years and can exchange their driving licence. Unlike other countries in the region, there is no dual nationality treaty, but Spain does not require you to renounce Salvadoran nationality. Here is how people usually make the move and what to prepare before leaving.
Key facts
- Entry: Salvadoran passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. There is no dual nationality treaty, but art. 24 of the Civil Code does not require you to renounce Salvadoran nationality.
- Documents: El Salvador is party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Salvadoran licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.
- Social security: the Ibero-American Multilateral Social Security Convention allows periods contributed in El Salvador to be taken into account for your pension.
How people usually move
- Studies. A degree, master’s or vocational course with a student visa; it allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Work in Spain. A Spanish employer applies for the work permit, and you then request the visa in San Salvador. Employment permit
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen, or family reunification if your relative already lives in Spain. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- If you are already in Spain. After 2 years of continuous stay and with no criminal record, social, socio-labour or socio-training arraigo may become available. Family arraigo (for example, if you are the parent of a Spanish child or a relative of a Spaniard) does not require those 2 years. Arraigo
- International protection. It is for people facing persecution or serious harm, not a route for economic migration. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum has applied since 12 June 2026; each case is assessed individually. Asylum and international protection
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record certificate (Constancia de Antecedentes Penales) from the Dirección General de Centros Penales, requested online or at its offices; from abroad, at the Salvadoran consulate. Have it apostilled. It usually has to be recent.
- Police record certificate (solvencia de antecedentes policiales) from the Policía Nacional Civil (PNC), online or in person, if your procedure requires it.
- Birth and marriage certificates from the Registro del Estado Familiar of your municipality, apostilled.
- Apostille: issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; check its website for the current procedure.
- Degrees and transcripts, apostilled, if you will study or have your qualification recognised in Spain.
What to keep in mind
- The Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in San Salvador is the only consular office and covers the whole country. Since June 2026 it only serves people with an appointment, requested by email.
- Check its website for your visa’s document list before booking, and bring everything apostilled and recent.
- A criminal record certificate requested from outside El Salvador can take time: if you already live in another country, apply early.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence or student visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose Salvadoran nationality if I become Spanish?
Spain does not require you to renounce it because El Salvador is an Ibero-American country, even though there is no dual nationality treaty. You apply after 2 years of legal, continuous residence and pass the CCSE test of the Instituto Cervantes; the DELE is not required because Spanish is an official language of El Salvador.
Do I need both the criminal and the police certificate?
For Spain the key document is the criminal record certificate from Centros Penales, apostilled. Some procedures also ask for the PNC police certificate, so check your visa or permit document list before requesting them.
Can I apply for asylum in Spain?
You can apply for international protection if you face persecution or serious harm in your country; general insecurity or economic reasons are not enough on their own. Each application is assessed individually, and it is worth preparing it with evidence from the start.