Direct citizenship program
El Salvador Freedom Passport
Citizenship of the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender, paid in Bitcoin or USDT, in 2-3 months, with no need to move. If you believe in where El Salvador is going, this is your passport.
- Contribution from
- $1M
- Processing time
- 2-3 months
- Visa-free destinations
- 131
- Presence required
- None
As featured in
Why the El Salvador Freedom Passport?
I'm a Bitcoiner, so El Salvador has my attention. A decade ago it had the highest murder rate in the world. By 2025, it was safer than the United States.
The Freedom Passport is the one citizenship you can buy with Bitcoin. You contribute in Bitcoin or USDT, and El Salvador grants you citizenship, with most files done in 2-3 months and no trip required.
I'd shortlist it for crypto founders and Bitcoin maxis who believe in where this country is going. It's a little like buying Singapore or Dubai property in the 1980s, before those places took off.
James NuveenFounder of the Freedom Files
Benefits of the El Salvador Freedom Passport
Direct citizenship on approval
You become a Salvadoran citizen through naturalization once your contribution clears, with no period of residence first.
Visa-free to about 131 destinations
Your passport opens about 131 destinations without a visa in advance, including the Schengen Area. US passport holders already have visa-free Schengen travel.
Paid in Bitcoin or USDT
You make your contribution in Bitcoin or USDT, with no conversion to dollars first. No other citizenship program takes payment this way.
No minimum presence
You don't need to live in El Salvador to become or remain a citizen, and most files need no trip there.
No tax residency from citizenship alone
Citizenship doesn't make you a tax resident. If you become one, after more than 200 days there in a year, El Salvador taxes Salvadoran-source income.
Is the El Salvador Freedom Passport Right for You?
Right for you if
- Crypto founders and Bitcoin investors who want to pay in Bitcoin or USDT
- Anyone who wants a second citizenship in the Americas without moving
- Couples and parents of children under 18 who want one contribution for everyone
- Investors betting on El Salvador's future
- Applicants who want visa-free travel to the Schengen Area on a second passport
Look elsewhere if
- You want to include your parents: The contribution covers a spouse and children under 18.
- You want to live in Europe: Your passport covers short visits to the Schengen Area, not residence.
- You can't document where your crypto came from: Every contribution goes through a full source of funds review.
- You'd happily live in El Salvador for 5 years: The Retirement Visa reaches citizenship for far less.
Who Your El Salvador Freedom Passport Application Covers
One $1M total covers you, your spouse, and your children under 18, on one application with one $999 application fee. Each person passes the same background review.
| Family member | Condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Legal marriage |
| Children under 18 | Yours or your spouse's |
Are You Eligible for the El Salvador Freedom Passport?
Answer 3 quick questions. In 2 minutes, you'll know whether you're likely to qualify, and what fits better if you don't.
El Salvador Freedom Passport Investment Options
There's 1 route: $1M in total to El Salvador, paid in Bitcoin or USDT. You pay a $999 application fee when you file, and once you're accepted, the $999,001 contribution. Both are non-refundable, and the total covers you, your spouse, and your children under 18.
- Popular
Bitcoin or USDT contribution
$1M
How this route works
You pay $1M in total to El Salvador, in Bitcoin or USDT: A $999 application fee when you file, then the $999,001 contribution once you're accepted. Both are non-refundable, and the total covers your spouse and children under 18. El Salvador accepts up to 1,000 applicants a year.
El Salvador Freedom Passport Cost
Estimated total for 4 people
$1,000,160
- Qualifying contributionBitcoin or USDT
- $999,001
- Application processing fee, once per applicationPaid directly to the Government of El Salvador
- $999
- Criminal record check, $20 per adultPaid directly to your country's police authority
- $40
- Apostilles, $40 per adult and $20 per childPaid directly to the issuing authority
- $120
The $999 application fee is non-refundable and paid in Bitcoin or USDT when you file. Once you're accepted, it's credited toward the $1M, so the contribution is $999,001 and El Salvador receives $1M in total. One application covers your spouse and children under 18 at no added cost. Freedom Files fees aren't included. All amounts are subject to change.
Get your numbers on the call. We price your route for everyone applying before you commit.
El Salvador Freedom Passport Costs at a Glance
| Application processing fee | $999 once per application, non-refundable, credited toward the $1M |
|---|---|
| Qualifying contribution | $999,001 in Bitcoin or USDT, non-refundable, paid once you're accepted |
| Total to El Salvador | $1M, including the application fee |
| Spouse and children under 18 | Included in the $1M, with no added fee |
| Other government fees | None published, and we confirm them before you file |
| Translations and apostilles | Depends on the number of documents |
| The Freedom Files | A fixed quote in writing before you commit |
El Salvador Freedom Passport and Taxes
The basics below are for planning only, and each one is pending licensed review. Your own position depends on your income, your assets, and where you spend your time. Our team provides US and El Salvador tax planning, so you can have your plan reviewed before you commit.
Tax residency in El Salvador
You're a Salvadoran tax resident after more than 200 consecutive days in El Salvador in a calendar year, or if your main source of income is there.
US income tax treaty
The US and El Salvador have no income tax treaty. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too, and foreign tax credits help prevent double tax.
Freedom Passport presence vs tax residency
No minimum presence. Tax residency starts after 200 days in a row, and only Salvadoran income is taxed.
Special tax regimes
El Salvador taxes income from Salvadoran sources. Retirement residents can have their foreign income certified as untaxed, and move home goods in duty free.
El Salvador Freedom Passport Document Checklist
Here's the typical file for the El Salvador Freedom Passport. Your country and your case can change the list, and we confirm yours on the call.
Main applicant
- Valid passport
- Birth certificate
- Criminal record check for each country you've lived in
Investment proof
- Source of funds file: Records that trace your Bitcoin or USDT to its origin
- Wallet and exchange statements for the funds you'll contribute
- Proof of the contribution: The transaction record
Spouse and children
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate for each child
Prepared in El Salvador
- Power of attorney for our El Salvador team
El Salvador Freedom Passport Process and Timeline
Total: 2-3 months for most files. Most applicants never need to travel to El Salvador.
- 1
Freedom Consult
A call with our founder. We confirm the Freedom Passport fits your goals, your assets, and anyone applying with you, or we point you to a better route. You leave with a clear plan and a quote in writing.
- 2
Engagement and document file
You sign the engagement and we send your checklist. You gather your records, and we check each one, then arrange the apostilles and Spanish translations.
- 3
Source of funds file
We build the file El Salvador reviews: Your identity, the origin of your Bitcoin or USDT, and your criminal history.
- 4
Filing and review
We prepare and file your application for you and anyone applying with you, you pay the $999 application fee in Bitcoin or USDT, and we answer any requests for more documents.
- 5
Contribution
Once you're accepted, you send the $999,001 contribution in Bitcoin or USDT, which brings your total to $1M. Your naturalization begins when the payment completes.
- 6
Naturalization
El Salvador processes your naturalization and confirms your citizenship, and that of anyone applying with you.
- 7
Passport
You receive your Salvadoran passport soon after approval. Most files need no trip to El Salvador, and we confirm early whether yours does.
- 8
Passport renewals
Your citizenship has no renewal, and your passport renews through a Salvadoran consulate. Contact us to renew.
Milestones to residency and citizenship
Application filed
Month 1
Citizenship approved
2-3 months
Passport issued
Soon after approval
“I love the way the Freedom Files team present themselves and show up for our family. I much prefer their honest, on-the-ground-experience approach than the suited-up lawyers with bookshelves of textbooks behind them.”
El Salvador Freedom Passport vs Alternatives
| El Salvador Freedom Passport | Argentina Citizenship by Investment | Turkey Citizenship by Investment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial requirement | $1M total | $350K | $400K |
| Processing time | 2-3 months | 6-9 months | 8 months |
| Presence required | None | None | None |
| Time to citizenship | Upon approval | Upon approval | Upon approval |
| Language test for citizenship | Not published | See program page | None |
| Family included | Spouse, children under 18 | Spouse, children to 25 | Spouse, children under 18 |
| Capital returned | Contribution is non-refundable | Contribution is non-refundable; bond returns at maturity | Yes, after 3 years |
Undecided between these programs? We compare them for you on the call.
Other Routes into El Salvador
El Salvador Retirement Visa
Live in El Salvador on a pension from $1,226/mo or passive income from $1,635/mo, with citizenship after 5 years of residence.
Explore this route →
El Salvador Residency
The catch-all residency for digital nomads, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and investors, through $10K in company shares. Fast and low lift.
Explore this route →
How the Freedom Files Helps You with the El Salvador Freedom Passport
You get one team from your first call to your arrival in El Salvador. We prepare, check, and file your application, and we're your single point of contact from start to finish.
- Clients served
- 200+
- years in investment migration
- 10+
- Americans educated
- 2M+
| This program only | Private Client Engagement | |
|---|---|---|
| An eligibility review before you pay a government fee | ||
| Your document file, assembled and optimized | ||
| We prepare and submit your application | ||
| Consular coordination and liaising | ||
| Qualifying investment vetting and due diligence | ||
| Your case manager | Through arrival | Long term |
| A global Plan B strategy across residency, citizenship, tax, asset protection, and more | ||
| Residency and/or citizenship in more than one country | ||
| US and foreign tax strategy, with introductions | ||
| Banking and asset protection strategy, with introductions | ||
| Healthcare, schools, and relocation, with introductions | ||
| Book a consult | Learn more |
Other Freedom Files Services in El Salvador
We can take on each of these for you, alongside your application or on its own. Our El Salvador team provides legal, tax, financial, immigration, and investment advice and services.
Tax strategy and filing
Bank account opening
Investment vetting
Real estate and accommodations
Healthcare enrollment
Citizenship maintenance
“We came in with a complicated global setup and needed special attention. What we got from the Freedom Files team was direct, honest, and personal responsiveness at every turn. Exactly what we needed! Very impressed.”
Mike · New York“The Private Client Engagement has been perfect for our unique situation. James is the total quarterback of our whole Plan B strategy.”
Kenneth · Illinois
Why El Salvador?
Pacific surf all year
El Salvador's Pacific coast has some of Central America's best surf breaks, with warm water all year and sunsets over dark volcanic sand.
Lakes in volcanic craters
Lake Coatepeque fills an ancient caldera, and the volcanoes of the west, from Santa Ana to Izalco, are a short drive from the capital.
Among the safest countries in the Americas
El Salvador closed 2025 with a homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people, lower than that of the United States.
Colonial towns and coffee country
Cobbled towns like Suchitoto and the coffee farms of the Ruta de las Flores give daily life a slower, highland pace.
El Salvador Freedom Passport FAQs
Cost and qualifying routes
How much does the El Salvador Freedom Passport cost?
$1M in total, paid in Bitcoin or USDT: A $999 application fee when you file, then the $999,001 contribution once you're accepted. Both are non-refundable, and the total covers you, your spouse, and your children under 18. Document costs come on top, and the fee calculator adds them up.
Can you pay for El Salvador citizenship in Bitcoin?
Yes. The contribution is made in Bitcoin or USDT, with no conversion to dollars first. Your source of funds file traces the coins to their origin.
Is the $1M refundable?
No. The $999 application fee and the $999,001 contribution are both non-refundable. You pay the contribution only once you're accepted, and the fee counts toward the $1M.
How many Freedom Passports does El Salvador issue each year?
Up to 1,000 a year. We prepare your file early so it's ready to file when you are.
Timeline and presence
How long does the El Salvador Freedom Passport take?
Most files finish in 2-3 months, and naturalization begins once your contribution clears. We confirm the timing for your file on a Freedom Consult.
Do you need to travel to El Salvador for the Freedom Passport?
Most files need no trip at all. We confirm early whether yours needs biometrics in person.
Citizenship
Is the Freedom Passport direct citizenship?
Yes. You become a Salvadoran citizen through naturalization, with no period of residence first, and receive your passport soon after approval.
Does El Salvador allow dual citizenship?
Yes. El Salvador allows dual citizenship. If you're a US citizen, the US allows it too. Other countries have their own rules, so check yours.
How many countries can you visit with a Salvadoran passport?
About 131 destinations without a visa in advance, including the Schengen Area. US passport holders already have visa-free Schengen travel.
Family, tax and living
Who can you include on a Freedom Passport application?
Your spouse and your children under 18, on one application with one $999 fee and no added contribution. Each person passes the same background review.
Do Freedom Passport citizens pay tax in El Salvador?
Only if you become a tax resident, after more than 200 consecutive days there in a year. Citizenship alone doesn't make you one. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too.
Is it right for you?
El Salvador or Argentina citizenship by investment: Which is better?
El Salvador takes Bitcoin and finishes faster. Argentina costs less and adds the right to live across South America. We compare both on a Freedom Consult.
Freedom Passport or the Retirement Visa?
If you're ready to live in El Salvador for 5 years, the Retirement Visa reaches citizenship for far less. If you won't move, the Freedom Passport is the route that works.
Documents and approval
What documents does the Freedom Passport require?
Your passport, a birth certificate, criminal record checks, and a source of funds file for your Bitcoin or USDT, plus civil records for anyone applying with you. The document checklist on this page lists each one.
Working with the Freedom Files
What does the Freedom Files do on your application?
We review your eligibility, assemble and check your documents, and optimize your application for approval. We have a 100% approval rate so far. We prepare and file your application, liaise with the government, coordinate your consular appointments and communication, and support you through your arrival in El Salvador, when your residency or citizenship is formalized. We're your single point of contact from start to finish.
Who does the legal work?
Our El Salvador team can provide any legal, tax, financial, immigration, or investment advice and services you need. You work with one team from your first call to your arrival.
What does the Freedom Files charge?
Prices differ by program, because each program has its own costs and its own currency. You get a fixed quote in writing before any work begins. Government fees and third-party costs are listed separately, and you pay them directly.
How does the Freedom Files get paid?
We accept card, wire or ACH transfer, Bitcoin, USDC, and most other payment methods. You choose whether to pay for our services up front or monthly through the end of your engagement.
What if you need more than one country, or help with tax and banking?
That's what the Private Client Engagement is for. A long-term case manager with global expertise, always reachable on WhatsApp, manages your whole Plan B: Residency and citizenship in more than one country, tax strategy, banking and asset protection, and introductions for your move.
What if this program is the wrong fit?
Compare it with the alternatives on this page. Then book a Freedom Consult: If you're ready to move forward, we tell you which programs are best for you.
How do I start?
Book a Freedom Consult. There's no charge.
Start Your El Salvador Freedom Passport
If El Salvador is the wrong fit, we tell you on the first call.