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El Salvador Freedom Visa

Obtain Salvadoran citizenship through the world's first cryptocurrency-exclusive CBI programme — a $1,000,000 Bitcoin or USDT donation unlocking 136+ visa-free destinations and Europe's fastest Spanish citizenship pathway.

The world's first crypto-exclusive CBI. $1M Bitcoin/USDT donation for Salvadoran citizenship in 4-6 weeks. 136+ visa-free destinations, zero crypto tax, and 2-year Spanish EU pathway.

$1M
Min. Investment
4-8 weeks
Processing Time
0 days
Min. Stay / Year *
Permanent
Residency Period
* No physical presence required. Biometric collection at designated consulate only (Los Angeles, Seville, or San Salvador).
people walking on pedestrian lane during daytime

The World's First Crypto-Native Citizenship Programme

The El Salvador Freedom Visa, established by Legislative Decree No. 918 (December 2023) in partnership with Tether, is the world's first and only cryptocurrency-exclusive citizenship-by-investment programme. A $1,000,000 Bitcoin or USDT donation grants Salvadoran citizenship in 4-6 weeks, unlocking 136+ visa-free destinations, zero foreign income taxation, and Europe's fastest pathway to Spanish (EU) citizenship in just 2 years.

Three reasons justify the $1M price premium over Caribbean programmes. First, the tax architecture: zero tax on all foreign-sourced income under El Salvador's territorial system, no FATCA, no CRS. Second, the Spanish EU fast-track: 2 years of legal residency in Spain leads to Spanish citizenship (vs 10 years for most nationalities), unlocking an EU passport ranked #3 globally. Third, the crypto-native design: payment exclusively in BTC or USDT eliminates conversion friction for cryptocurrency holders.

Key Benefits

  • Zero Foreign Income Tax: Territorial system means 0% on all foreign-sourced income, crypto gains, dividends, and capital gains.
  • Spanish EU Fast-Track: 2 years legal residency in Spain → Spanish citizenship with 190 visa-free destinations.
  • 136+ Visa-Free Destinations: Including Schengen Area, UK, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and UAE.
  • Fastest Processing: 4-6 weeks approval, 6-8 weeks to passport — rivaling Vanuatu as the fastest CBI globally.
  • Fully Remote: No visit to El Salvador required. Biometrics at designated consulate only.
  • Family Inclusion at $999/person: Lowest dependent fees of any CBI programme globally. Spouse and children under 25 eligible.

Investment Options

Non-Refundable Government Donation
Non-Refundable

Non-Refundable Government Donation

El Salvador$1,000,000

$1,000,000 donation in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) to El Salvador national development fund. No fiat accepted.

Program Benefits

Tax Optimization

Zero foreign income tax under strict territorial system (Legislative Decree 969, March 2024). Zero crypto capital gains tax. No property tax for individuals. No wealth tax. No inheritance tax. No gift tax. No exit tax. No FATCA agreement. No CRS participation. Domestic income taxed at progressive rates (10-30%). Corporate tax: 25-30%. VAT: 13%. One double taxation treaty with Spain.

Education

Universidad de El Salvador is the main public university. International English-language schools available in San Salvador. Education costs substantially lower than Caribbean or European alternatives. Dollarized economy simplifies fee planning.

Healthcare

Private healthcare in San Salvador offers reasonable quality at low cost. Hospital de Diagnostico and Hospital de la Mujer are top private facilities. Private health insurance approximately $50-150/month. International health insurance recommended.

Business Access

Dollarized economy (USD) eliminates currency risk. Law for Promotion of Innovation and Technology Manufacturing provides 15-year tax exemptions for tech companies. 17 Free Trade Zones with 15-20 year income tax exemptions. Tether HQ relocated to El Salvador in January 2025. Growing crypto/tech hub.

Dual Citizenship

Allowed

Application Process

1

Initial Consultation & Pre-Screening

Est. 1-2 weeks

Engage an authorized Freedom Visa agent or immigration attorney. Complete preliminary KYC/AML verification, source of funds documentation, and background screening. Confirm cryptocurrency wallet holdings in BTC or USDT.

2

Application Submission

Est. 1 week

Submit formal application through the Freedom Visa portal or authorized agent. Upload identity documents, criminal background checks, proof of crypto holdings, and family member documentation. Pay $999 application fee per person in cryptocurrency.

3

Due Diligence Review

Est. 2-4 weeks

The Salvadoran government conducts enhanced due diligence including background checks, sanctions screening, and source of funds verification. Applicants may be contacted for additional documentation.

4

Donation Transfer

Est. 1 week

Upon conditional approval, transfer the $1,000,000 donation in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) to the designated government wallet. On-chain transaction confirmation required.

5

Biometric Collection

Est. 1 day

Attend a designated consulate for biometric data collection (fingerprints, photograph). Current locations: Los Angeles, Seville, or San Salvador. Planned expansion to Qatar and UAE.

6

Citizenship Grant & Passport Issuance

Est. 2-4 weeks

Citizenship formally granted by ministerial decree. Salvadoran passport issued and delivered. Total timeline from application to passport: approximately 6-8 weeks.

Key Requirements

Minimum Age

18 years

Clean Criminal Record

Required

Source of Funds

Proof Required

Family Inclusion

Family Members

Allowed

Spouse

Included

Children

Up to 25 years

Documents & Resources

Identity

Valid Passport

Identity

Birth Certificate

Identity

National ID Card

Identity

Passport Photographs

Financial

Cryptocurrency Wallet Proof

Financial

Bank Statements

Financial

Source of Wealth Documentation

Legal

Police Clearance Certificates

Legal

Marriage Certificate

Legal

Children's Birth Certificates

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Frequently Asked Questions

Author

Sarah Mitchell
Senior Immigration Advisor

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