A free PDF guide — a donation of $1,000,000 for the whole family
A guide to citizenship of El Salvador:the terms, the cost and the risks
Citizenship for a single donation — with no move, no examinations and no years of waiting. We set out the basis in the law, who can be in the application, how the origin of crypto assets is evidenced, the quota and how the process runs.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 11.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. The decision is taken by the state authority after its own check.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the programme before the calculation
Four things that set El Salvador apart from the other countries.
- The basis is a decree, not a practice
Decree no. 918 of 20 December 2023 added paragraph 5 to article 156 of the Migration and Aliens Act and directed that an expedited procedure be run for participants in state investment programmes.
- One rate for the whole family
A donation of $1,000,000 covers the applicant, a spouse and children under 18. The programme provides for no per-person top-up — only the $25 passport duty changes.
- Payment in cryptocurrency, officially
The donation is made in bitcoin or USDt. That sets El Salvador apart from the other programmes, but it calls for the origin of the crypto assets to be evidenced with documents.
- The quota is capped
The programme is built for 1,000 participants. Approval usually takes up to 6 weeks, and the passport is issued within three months.
02 / The cost
The cost for your family
The programme has one rate. Set out the family — the donation stays the same and only the state passport duty changes.
03 / A comparison
How El Salvador differs from the Caribbean programmes
Two different models: a fixed rate for the whole application against a contribution with a top-up for each participant.
The values were checked against the official material on 11.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | El SalvadorA donation covering the whole family | The CaribbeanA contribution plus fees by family |
|---|---|---|
| The size of the investment | $1,000,000 for the whole application | from $200,000 plus fees for each person |
| Does it depend on the family | no, the rate is fixed | yes, a top-up for each participant |
| How it is paid | bitcoin or USDt | a bank transfer |
| How long approval takesA BRIDGES estimate | up to 6 weeks | 3-6 months |
| The quota | 1,000 places | usually none |
| Getting the money back | no | no on the fund option |
| Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate | A large family with capital in crypto assets | One or two applicants with bank capital |
- The size of the investment
- $1,000,000 for the whole application
- from $200,000 plus fees for each person
- Does it depend on the family
- no, the rate is fixed
- yes, a top-up for each participant
- How it is paid
- bitcoin or USDt
- a bank transfer
- How long approval takesA BRIDGES estimate
- up to 6 weeks
- 3-6 months
- The quota
- 1,000 places
- usually none
- Getting the money back
- no
- no on the fund option
- Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- A large family with capital in crypto assets
- One or two applicants with bank capital
For a large family a fixed rate can work out better; for one or two applicants the Caribbean programmes are usually cheaper.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- El SalvadorThe cover of the guide: the country and the key terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstWhat to know before the calculation: the key facts of the programme.
- The terms of the optionsThe parameters of the programme in one table, on the official terms.
- The road mapThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The check on the applicantWhat is examined before the status is granted, and where people stumble.
- The limitsThe limits that bear on the timings and the sum.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
Evidencing the origin of the crypto assets runs alongside the eligibility check: it is the longest part of the preparation.
- The eligibility check
The applicant’s nationality, the family and the shape of the assets. We work out whether the programme fits your situation before the first outlay.
- Evidencing the source of funds
For crypto assets a chain is built: the history of the acquisition, the wallets, the exchange transactions and the tax filings. This is the main part of the file.
- The screening fee and the filing
A fee of $999 is paid in BTC or USDt — non-refundable, and credited against the donation. The application is filed through the official portal of the programme.
- The check on the applicant
A state integrity check. Approval usually takes up to six weeks with a complete set of documents.
- The donation and naturalisation
Once approved the donation is made, and naturalisation follows under the expedited procedure of article 156.
- The passports
The passport is issued within three months of naturalisation. The state duty is paid for everyone in the application.
07 / The check on the applicant
What is examined before approval
The programme’s central question is the source of funds. Crypto assets are examined more deeply than bank capital.
- The origin of the crypto assets
The main part of the file: the history of the acquisition, the movement between wallets, the exchange transactions and how they appear in the filings. An unclear history is the chief reason for refusals.
- The applicant’s nationality
Eligibility is checked against the rules of the programme in force. Any limits by nationality are settled on the date of application.
- No criminal record
Certificates from the country of nationality and the countries of long residence. The requirements as to their life are standard for programmes of this class.
- Who is in the application
The donation covers the applicant, a spouse and children under 18. Adult children and parents will need a ground of their own.
The screening fee is not returned whatever the decision, so the file is prepared before filing.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on the timings and on whether you can take part at all.
The programme’s quota1,000 participants in all
The programme is capped by the number of places. Once the quota is used up applications are suspended, so the timings are planned with room to spare.
The donation is not returnedIt is a cost, not an investment
The money does not come back in any circumstances. The screening fee is non-refundable too, but it is credited against the donation.
A young programmeThe practice is still taking shape
The programme has run since December 2023. Some procedural questions are settled as they arise, so the timings can differ from those announced.
Cryptocurrency takes preparationEvidencing origin is harder than with a bank
A full chain is needed from the acquisition to the transfer. Assets with no traceable history do not suit the programme.
Adult children are not includedThe application covers children under 18
Children of 18 and over, and parents, will need a separate ground. That is allowed for in the planning from the start.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists who deal with evidencing the origin of assets.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 11 August 2026
- Last updated
- 11 August 2026
The official sources
- Adopting El Salvador Freedom Visa — the official portal of the programmeThe Government of the Republic of El Salvador · checked 11.08.2026The terms of the programme, how to apply and the size of the donation, on the state domain gob.sv.
- The Directorate-General for Migration and AliensDirección General de Migración y Extranjería, El Salvador · checked 11.08.2026The authority that runs the expedited naturalisation procedure and issues the passports.
- The official gazette, the Diario OficialImprenta Nacional, El Salvador · checked 11.08.2026The publication of decree no. 918 of 20 December 2023: volume 442, number 5 of 9 January 2024.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the El Salvador programme
Is this really a state programme?
Yes. The basis is decree no. 918 of 20 December 2023, published in the Diario Oficial no. 5, volume 442, of 9 January 2024. It added paragraph 5 to article 156 of the Migration and Aliens Act and directed the Directorate-General for Migration to run a separate expedited procedure. The programme sits on the state domain gob.sv.
May the donation be made in cryptocurrency?
Yes, the donation is made in bitcoin or USDt — that sets El Salvador apart from the other citizenship programmes. The origin of the crypto assets is evidenced with documents.
What does it cost for a family?
A donation of $1,000,000 covers the applicant, a spouse and all children under 18. There is no per-person top-up: only the state passport duty changes — $25 each.
How long does it take?
Approval usually takes up to 6 weeks with a complete set of documents, and the passport is issued within three months of naturalisation.
Do I have to live in El Salvador?
No. The programme lays down no requirements as to residence, examinations or the language.
What about the quota?
The programme is built for 1,000 participants. Once the places are used up applications are suspended.
Is the donation returned?
No, the donation is non-refundable. The screening fee is not returned either, but it is credited against the donation, so it is not added again in the total.
Who is included in the application?
The main applicant, one spouse and all children under 18. Adult children and parents are not included and will need a ground of their own.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a quotation for your family
We will send the PDF with the terms of the programme and a calculation for your family.
- The basis in the law and the naturalisation procedure
- The quotation for a family, with the duties
- How the origin of crypto assets is evidenced
- The quota, the timings and what is paid separately