Living in El Salvador as a French National: Advantages, Drawbacks and Formalities

El Salvador is a small dollarised economy of about 6 million inhabitants, closely tied to the United States through trade and remittances, according to the World Bank. The absence of exchange rate risk with the dollar makes it easier to manage a budget. The World Bank notes that concerted security action has sharply reduced crime, which strengthens investor confidence; the authorities report a homicide rate of around 1 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to France Diplomatie.

France Diplomatie nevertheless specifies that violent robberies, burglaries, especially in the capital, and sexual assaults against foreign female tourists are still reported, that firearms are widespread, that driving is dangerous and that the country is strongly seismic. The whole country is under reinforced vigilance.

• Visa-free stay: less than 90 days, a continuous period shared by Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador; passport valid for at least six months on arrival.
• Extension: beyond 90 days, an extension requires a valid reason, supporting documents and USD 25 in fees.
• Long-term residence: the authorities sometimes regularise the situation on site, but France Diplomatie recommends filing an immigration application with the Salvadoran embassy in France before departure.
• Insurance: travel, health and repatriation insurance is strongly recommended.
• Lost or stolen passport: an emergency passport can be requested from the French embassy in Guatemala, generally after at least five working days; it does not allow transit through the United States without a visa.

The Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (+503 2535 6212) publishes its forms, including those for permanent residence for pensioners. See working in El Salvador and retiring in El Salvador.

• San Salvador: capital, home to the French embassy; France Diplomatie recommends avoiding marginal neighbourhoods and not moving around at night, burglaries being mainly reported in the capital.
• Pacific coast: beaches exposed to dangerous currents; follow the flags and the lifeguards’ instructions, and avoid swimming where few people are in the water.
• Volcanoes and rural areas: climbing a volcano without a local guide is advised against, even forbidden; the San Miguel volcano woke up in November 2022 and emitted ash until March 2023. Border and rural areas call for extra vigilance.

Tourist sites are patrolled by the tourist police (POLITUR). Public buses and minibuses are advised against: official taxis or well-known apps are preferable, and intercity bus companies to Guatemala and Honduras are considered relatively safe.

None of the official sources consulted publishes an average rent or a typical expat budget; amounts vary by city and neighbourhood. The most useful official benchmark is the minimum wage, around USD 400 a month in industry, trade and services (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare). Dollarisation removes exchange rate risk for those who receive income in dollars, but not for a pension in euros, which is subject to the euro-dollar parity: the “Economic benchmarks” block above displays the up-to-date indicators.

For a lease, ask about the duration, the security deposit and the solidity of the building against earthquakes; France Diplomatie advises keeping copies of your identity and travel documents, using secure cash machines and keeping a low profile with valuables.

• Identity and checks: France Diplomatie recommends carrying an identity document at all times and, given the powers of the police and the army, covering tattoos.
• Earthquakes: strongly seismic country, with earthquakes of magnitude above 7 in the past, some of which caused heavy damage.
• Climate: dry season from December to April, rainy season from May to November; tropical storms from June to November.
• Driving: dangerous conditions and frequent accidents; night driving strongly advised against; drink driving severely punished (arrest, confiscation of the vehicle and licence); helmets compulsory for motorbikes; in the event of an accident causing injury, the driver must stay in the country until the courts decide and may be detained for 72 hours.
• Emergencies: 911 for the police and 913 for the fire brigade.

The French embassy in San Salvador (+503 2550 4444) has no consular section: it issues neither identity documents nor travel documents, but can draw up a laissez-passer to return to France. Other procedures are handled by the embassy in Guatemala (+502 23 57 24 06; emergencies outside office hours +502 52 02 20 22).

Spanish is the official language. No school of the French agency for teaching abroad (the AEFE network) was identified in El Salvador in the sources consulted: the French embassy remains the contact for schooling options (local or international schools, distance learning). Families can consult the family and expatriation guide and the expat family insurance page. France Diplomatie advises registering on Fil d’Ariane (its alert service for travellers) and confirming that the insurance covers care and evacuation, with sufficient funds.

France Diplomatie indicates that assistance or insurance covering all medical costs, surgery, hospitalisation and repatriation is essential: without it, access to care may be refused, even in a life-threatening situation, and the embassy cannot pay the costs. CLEISS lists no social security agreement with El Salvador. The detail is in the pages on the El Salvador healthcare system and healthcare reimbursement in El Salvador, and in the expat health insurance guide; Expavy helps you compare offers.

• Check the validity of the passport (six months on arrival) and the count of CA-4 days: 90 days at most, shared with Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
• Take out insurance covering care, hospitalisation, repatriation and evacuation.
• To settle, file an immigration application with the Salvadoran embassy in France before departure, as France Diplomatie recommends.
• Carry an identity document and find out about the powers of the police and the army.
• Register on Fil d’Ariane and note the numbers 911, 913 and that of the French embassy (+503 2550 4444).