top of page
el salvador-min.jpeg

Immigration and Health Insurance Requirements in El Salvador

Immigration Requirements

General Directorate of Immigration and Foreign Affairs, grants the requested immigration status. Documents issued abroad must be authenticated or apostilled and duly translated into Spanish, Passport. INSTRUCTION F-07 IS DIRECTED TO: Foreign persons who enter the country and receive monthly, permanent and stable pensions from abroad, the amount of which is not less than THREE CURRENT MONTHLY MINIMUM SALARIES CORRESPONDING TO THE COMMERCE AND SERVICES SECTOR intended for their subsistence in the country. 

 

The retired resident may not engage in any type of paid work, except work with the State, Municipalities or autonomous official institutions, in specialized fields or teaching, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 109, paragraph 6) and 144 of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners. 

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENTS AS PENSIONERS. 

1. Application signed by. The foreign person, legal representative or attorney or a legalized signature.

 

2. Photocopy of the current Passport, of all the pages used and present the original for comparison.

 

3 . Original proof of not having a police or criminal record, from the country of origin or where you have resided for the last two years prior to entering Salvadoran territory. 

 

4. Valid solvency of the National Civil Police of El Salvador, when the foreign person has remained for more than three months in the national territory or has more than two entries into the country in the last year.

 

5. Original certificate from the institution from which the pension comes, taking into account the amounts established in Art. 144 of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners.

 

6. Affidavit before a Salvadoran notary, stating: Origin, amount of income and that he/she will not perform any paid activity in the country. (If there is a family group, it may be presented in the same declaration that establishes economic support in the country).

 

 

This official government link in El Salvador provides the most updated requirements, but only in Spanish:

https://www.migracion.gob.sv/guia-de-servicios/
 

Health Insurance Requirements in El Salvador 

Health insurance is not mandatory in El Salvador, but the government strongly recommends that all residents have international health insurance priced in USD or EUR to guard against inflation and ensure access to local medical care.
 

State Health Insurance System in El Salvadora

El Salvador public healthcare is provided government ministries and  provides basic healthcare at public hospitals but with very long waiting times to see doctors and most only speak Spanish.

Here are the pros and cons of public health insurance in El Salvador:

  • Basic Medical Care at Public Hospitals: Public health insurance in El Salvador for both local citizens and foreigners to obtain basic healthcare at public hospitals.

  • The standards and quality vary between public hospitals. AccessHMO has listed the top rated hospitals in El Salvador on our hospitals page located in our main menu.

  • Potentially Long Waiting Times: Public hospitals in El Salvador are underfunded and understaffed with crowded waiting rooms, resulting in delayed treatment for most.

  • Most doctors and almost all staff at public hospitals do not speak English.

Due to these limitations and shortcomings, foreigners or ‘expats’ tend to avoid seeing healthcare at public hospitals and choose private insurance instead. The public sector works to provide healthcare through hospitals, health facilities, and various health centers, whereas the private sector allocates resources within private doctors offices, clinics, and hospitals. AccessHMO provides coverage at all of these facilities.
 

The advantages of having AccessHMO Health Insurance membership in El Salvador

Your freedom to choose any licensed doctor for treatment.
 

Peace of mind in having solid Medical Evacuation coverage to, in case of medical emergency, fly to the nearest, more medically advanced facility in a nearby country such as Costa Rica, Mexico or the U.S. This could mean all the difference with the current medical scarcities in El Salvador.


Access to private doctors and specialists including pediatrics 

AccessHMO health insurance plans provide access to higher quality, English speaking medical facilities with board certified specialists.
 

Shorter waiting times for appointments and to schedule medical procedures

AccessHMO health insurance plans usually provide shorter waiting times for appointments and scheduling medical procedures. This saves our clients precious time to enjoy more of El Salvador.
 

Flexibility and Coordination 

AccessHMO health insurance plans are tailored to the budget and needs of the individual clients which allows greater flexibility and choice of benefit and coverage levels.
 

In conclusion, while health insurance is not mandatory for residents in El Salvador it could save your life and most foreigners choose to have private health insurance for greater coverage and benefits. It is important to compare different insurance options to find the plan that best fits your budget and needs.


AccessHMO’s licensed professionals stand ready to answer your questions and address your individual needs to find the most suitable health insurance plan with options such as medical evacuation from El Salvador for medical treatment back in the U.S. and also available for Canada or Europe.

  • phone call  quick contact button
  • Gmail quick contact button
  • whats up quick contact button
bottom of page