Moving to El Salvador: taxes, residence and life
How to become tax resident in El Salvador: personal, dividend and corporate tax, 7 residence programmes, tax-residency requirements and climate. Explore the basics and compare residence routes.
Taxes
In El Salvador the top income tax rate is 30%, dividends are taxed at up to 5% and companies pay 30% corporate tax.
How to move and become tax resident
To become tax resident in El Salvador you need at least 200 days a year (More than 200 days (continuous or not) in tax year). The typical route is Rentista residence (or Freedom Visa US$1m BTC/USDT): Rentista ~US$1,635/mo foreign income; Freedom Visa: US$1m in bitcoin/USDT (cap 1,000/yr) There are 7 open residence programmes in El Salvador — see the list below.
Living there
San Salvador has a tropical savanna (wet/dry) climate with winter highs around 30.5 °C and summer highs around 32 °C.
Key facts
| Top income tax | 30% |
|---|---|
| Dividend tax | 5% |
| Corporate tax | 30% |
| Résidence fiscale | après 200 jours — More than 200 days (continuous or not) in tax year |
| Voie de résidence typique | Rentista residence (or Freedom Visa US$1m BTC/USDT) — Rentista ~US$1,635/mo foreign income; Freedom Visa: US$1m in bitcoin/USDT (cap 1,000/yr) |
| Type de climat | tropical savanna (wet/dry) · 30.5° / 32° (San Salvador) |
Residence programmes in El Salvador
Active programmes
- Rentier Residence — Revenu / an CHF 15'700 · 2026-10
Decree 531 replaced 9-month presence rule with 90 days/yr from 31 Mar 2026
- Pensioner Residence — Revenu / an CHF 11'800 · 2026-10
- Investor Residence — Investissement CHF 80'000 · 2026-10
- Permanent Residence for Investors/Donors in Government Programmes — investment · 2026-10
- Freedom Visa — Investissement CHF 800'000 · 2026-10
Running per 2026 reports but no approval statistics; bitcoin legal-tender rollback 2025
- Work Residence — employment · 2026-10
- Family Residence — family · 2026-10
Plan your residence route
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to spend in El Salvador to become tax resident?
après 200 jours. More than 200 days (continuous or not) in tax year Foreign-source income exempt since 2024
How much tax will I pay in El Salvador?
In El Salvador the top income tax rate is 30%, dividends are taxed at up to 5% and companies pay 30% corporate tax.
Which residence programmes does El Salvador offer?
Rentier Residence; Pensioner Residence; Investor Residence (CHF 80'000); Permanent Residence for Investors/Donors in Government Programmes; Freedom Visa (CHF 800'000)
What is the usual way to move to El Salvador?
Rentista residence (or Freedom Visa US$1m BTC/USDT). Rentista ~US$1,635/mo foreign income; Freedom Visa: US$1m in bitcoin/USDT (cap 1,000/yr)
Compare with nearby countries
Argentina · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Rep. · Ecuador · Guatemala
Information générale uniquement – pas de conseil fiscal, juridique, migratoire, en investissement ou financier, ni de relation client. Chiffres simplifiés, indicatifs et parfois dépassés. Vérifiez toujours auprès de l'autorité officielle et d'un professionnel agréé du pays concerné avant d'agir. Les liens partenaires éventuels sont signalés et peuvent nous rémunérer.