# Real estate in El Salvador and citizenship by investment Buying property in El Salvador does not lead to citizenship. The Freedom Visa programme asks for one non-refundable contribution, and a home remains a separate choice. Answer and evidence ## Can buying property in El Salvador get me citizenship? No. El Salvador's citizenship by investment route, the Freedom Visa, has no real-estate option. It is a single non-refundable contribution of USD 1,000,000, covering the main applicant, one spouse and children under 18, and leads to naturalised citizenship under Article 156(5) of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law. - 01 One contribution route, with no real-estate option listed [Adopting El Salvador, official portal](https://adoptingelsalvador.gob.sv)*OFFICIAL* 2 November 2026 The Freedom Visa route ## What qualifies for El Salvador citizenship by investment? El Salvador citizenship by investment qualifies you through one route, the Freedom Visa, a non-refundable contribution of USD 1,000,000. The official portal takes payment in Bitcoin or USDt and publishes no US dollar option. A non-refundable application fee starts the check and is credited to the total, and the portal limits places to 1,000 a year. The amount is as held in our data and agrees with the official portal. | Route | Minimum | Condition | | --- | --- | --- | | Freedom Visa contribution | USD 1,000,000 | Non-refundable; covers main applicant, one spouse and children under 18; paid in Bitcoin or USDt | The application fee is included in this total. Transfer charges fall on the payer, and professional costs are separate. From application to passport ## How does the El Salvador Freedom Visa application work? El Salvador Freedom Visa applications start online on the official portal, with a non-refundable fee credited to the total. The portal says approvals typically take up to six weeks, after which a secure payment link is sent for the balance, and a passport follows within three months. Checks cover criminal records and source of funds. - **Consultation** We look at your family, your goals and your funds, and tell you plainly whether this route suits you and how it compares with other programmes. - **Online application** The application and supporting documents are submitted through the official portal, and the application fee starts the eligibility check. - **Review** Salvadoran authorities review criminal and police records, control lists, economic capacity and the source of funds. - **Balance** On approval, a secure payment link is emailed for the remaining balance, and the payment is processed and verified. - **Naturalisation and passport** Citizenship follows by naturalisation, and the passport can be collected in El Salvador or at a qualified Salvadoran consulate or embassy. A home and a nationality ## What does Freedom Visa citizenship mean if you also want a home in El Salvador? Freedom Visa citizenship and a home in El Salvador are separate choices, because the programme counts no purchase and no purchase earns you a place in it. Citizenship requires no prior residence period, so you do not need a home there to apply. Any purchase is a private transaction under its own rules. ### Property stays separate A purchase in El Salvador sits outside the programme. Take independent legal advice on title and on what a foreign buyer may hold; we do not state those rules here. ### One contribution for the family The contribution covers the main applicant, one spouse and all children under 18, as the official portal states. ### Conditions of naturalised status Naturalised citizens keep a prior nationality only where treaties and reciprocity allow (Constitution, Article 93), and long absence abroad can affect the status (Article 94). Questions ## What do people ask about property in El Salvador? El Salvador citizenship by investment questions usually concern property, cost, payment and timing. Property does not qualify. The Freedom Visa is one non-refundable contribution of USD 1,000,000, covering a spouse and children under 18, with approval typically within six weeks and a passport within three months, according to the official portal. ### Does buying property in El Salvador lead to citizenship? No. The Freedom Visa has no real-estate option, and buying a home does not count towards it. The route is a single non-refundable contribution of USD 1,000,000. ### How much does El Salvador citizenship by investment cost? The Freedom Visa costs USD 1,000,000 in total as a non-refundable contribution, which includes the application fee. The official portal lists no separate due-diligence or passport fee. Transfer charges fall on the payer, and professional costs are separate. ### Is the El Salvador Freedom Visa a visa or citizenship? Despite its name, the Freedom Visa leads to citizenship by naturalisation under Article 156(5) of the Special Migration and Foreigners Law. There is no prior residence period, and the official portal describes it as a citizenship by donation initiative. ### Do I have to pay in Bitcoin for El Salvador citizenship? The official portal requires both the application fee and the balance in Bitcoin or USDt, and publishes no US dollar option. We state this as a programme condition, not a recommendation, and you should take your own advice on holding and transferring those assets. ### How long does El Salvador citizenship take? The official portal says approvals typically take up to six weeks, and that eligible candidates receive a passport within three months. Your own file and the checks on it can affect that timing. ### Can my family be included in the El Salvador Freedom Visa? Yes. The main applicant can include one spouse and all children under 18 under the one contribution, as the official portal states. ### Can I keep my current nationality with El Salvador citizenship? That depends on treaties and reciprocity: under Article 93 of the Constitution, naturalised citizens keep a prior nationality only where those allow it. Your own country may also have rules on this, so check them before you apply. ### Do I have to live in El Salvador? The programme requires no prior residence period. After naturalisation, Article 94 of the Constitution provides that long absence abroad can affect naturalised status, so take advice on your own plans before you apply. ### Is there a limit on El Salvador Freedom Visa places? Yes. The official portal limits the Freedom Visa to 1,000 participants a year. ### How do I start with Mirabello Consultancy? Book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy, available in all 11 of our languages. We look at your family, budget and goals, compare the options and tell you plainly whether El Salvador fits. You can also ask Mira, by Mirabello, our AI guide, in the same 11 languages. Official references - [Adopting El Salvador: official portal](https://adoptingelsalvador.gob.sv) - [El Salvador citizenship programme page](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/el-salvador-citizenship-by-investment) ## Considering El Salvador? We review whether this route suits you and prepare the file for the official portal. --- Source: Mirabello Consultancy, verified 2026-11-02, https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/real-estate-countries/el-salvador Free consultation: https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/contact-us-for-your-free-consultation Machine-readable data: Mirabello MCP https://mcp.mirabelloconsultancy.com