ETIAS for Salvadorans
EU travel authorisation for Salvadoran Citizens
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Salvadoran passport holders can travel to Europe without having to apply for a Schengen visa. This is because El Salvador has a visa waiver agreement with the Schengen Area.
People from Salvador should be aware that all visa-exempt travellers will need a valid ETIAS travel authorisation to visit the Schengen Area. ETIAS will be operational from 2026 .
Registering with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System will be a mandatory requirement for Salvadoran citizens visiting the Schengen Area. EU authorities have created this visa waiver registration and verification system to protect and strengthen its borders.
Obtaining an ETIAS from El Salvador will be quick and easy. Applicants will not be required to visit an embassy or consulate in their home country to be granted the travel authorisation.
Citizens of El Salvador will be able to apply online for an ETIAS travel authorisation in minutes, provided they meet the requirements. Read on to discover what Salvadorians need to apply for an ETIAS and visit the European Union.
ETIAS REQUIRED
THIS INCLUDES ALL 25 EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT:
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
MICRO-STATES DE FACTO PART OF SCHENGEN AREA:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
WHAT DO SALVADORAN TRAVELLERS NEED TO VISIT EUROPE?
Salvadoran passport holders can travel to the Schengen Area by showing their valid passport. Salvadorans can stay in the European Union and travel between member countries for tourism, leisure or business for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visa.
When entering Europe from 2026 Salvadorans staying for a period of up to 90 days will be able to apply for an ETIAS. ETIAS is not a visa, it is a visa waiver, or electronic travel authorisation, and will become an entry requirement.
This is what citizens of Salvador need to get started with the ETIAS application:
- Salvadoran passport valid for 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen zone
- Valid email address to receive ETIAS status updates
- Credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS processing fees
ETIAS APPLICATION FOR SALVADORANS
Salvadorans will need to complete the ETIAS application form with basic personal details, passport information, and contact data.
Information required to fill out the ETIAS for from Salvador includes:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Passport issue and expiry dates
- Schengen country of entry
There are also some security questions to verify the applicant is eligible for visa-free travel.
ETIAS applicants must carefully revise all the information they provide on their form. The data must coincide exactly with the passport.
This new travel control system is being introduced to pre-screen visa-exempt travellers before reach Europe. The purpose of ETIAS is to improve safety and security in the region for visitors and residents.
When the applicant completes the required information and pays for the ETIAS fee, they will receive their approved ETIAS by email. Most applications will be approved quickly.
The ETIAS visa waiver is digitally linked to the passport used in the application process and cannot be transferred to a different passport. This ETIAS rule means that citizens from El Salvador who hold a second nationality must choose one of their passport to apply for ETIAS and travel.
Since the travel authorisation cannot be transferred to a new passport, this also means that Salvadorans need to apply for a new ETIAS if the associaed passport expires.
TRAVELLING FROM EL SALVADOR TO EUROPE WITH AN ETIAS VISA WAIVER
Citizens of El Salvador can travel short-term to Europe without a Schengen visa. Salvadoran nationals will have to complete the online ETIAS application before departure from 2026 .
ETIAS will be verified when the traveller's passport is scanned at an external Schengen border. Visitors will also be registered in the European Entry/Exit System. Citizens of El Salvador must meet all the requirements to be granted entry to the Schengen Area.
ETIAS does not guarantee entry. Border officials have the right to grant or deny access to the Schengen zone.
ETIAS FROM EL SALVADOR SECURITY PROCEDURES
The information provided by applicants on their ETIAS applications from El Salvador will be checked against security databases to identify any potential threats to Schengen nations. This security check will take place before the travel authorisation is issued.
Applicant data is screened against databases such as Interpol, SIS, VIS, Europol and EURODAC. This verification step is done in order to determine whether the traveller has any relation to serious criminal activity.
The entire Schengen Area security system is managed by eu-LISA, which is also responsible for the development and management of the ETIAS application process. All parts of the system integrate flawlessly to offer applicants from El Salvador, and other eligible countries, a seamless travel experience to the Schengen Area.
ETIAS for Salvadorans - FAQ
How long can Salvadoran ETIAS holders stay in Europe? Toggle faqs
The ETIAS visa waiver authorises Salvadoran holders to spend up to 90 consecutive days in any of the Schengen member countries. ETIAS holders from Salvador can enter all Schengen nations multiple times during its 3-year validity.
Each visit to the Schengen Area must be within the 90 days per 180-day period. Once the 90 days within the Schengen borders run out, Salvadoran ETIAS holders must spend the next 90 days outside the Schengen Area in order to be granted entry once again.
Travellers who exceed the permitted 90-day stay may face severe consequences such as their ETIAS being revoked, having to pay a fine, or even being deported.
Salvadoran passport holders who would like to spend more than 90 consecutive days in the Schengen Area may apply for a European visa. This can be done by visiting a consulate or embassy for the country they intend to reside in.
Can Salvadoran citizens work in Europe on an ETIAS? Toggle faqs
Salvadoran passport holders -just like any other citizen with an approved ETIAS- are not authorised to work in Europe, nor seek employment. However, the ETIAS visa waiver does grant holders permission to conduct business activities in Europe for up to 90 days.
Travellers from Salvador who wish to work or look for a job in Europe are advised to visit the embassy or consulate of the country they intend to reside in. Diplomatic personnel will be able to inform them of the requirements they need to present in order to apply for a resident or work visa.
Conditions and required documents for a work visa may vary from one Schengen country to another. Embassy personnel of the country a citizen wishes to live in are well equipped to inform them in this regards, and also on processing time, validity, and more.
How can El Salvador passport holders study in Europe? Toggle faqs
Salvadoran students need to obtain a student visa for the country they intend to pursue their studies in. Students can visit Europe on an ETIAS to get to know different cities and explore different universities and determine which one they would like to continue their studies in.
Salvadoran nationals will have to visit the embassy or consulate of the country where their chosen university is located in their place of residence. Embassy personnel will be able to inform students regarding how to obtain a student visa.
Citizens of El Salvador need to have a letter of acceptance for a specific university when pursuing graduate studies or a master’s degree. Other requirements for a student visa may vary from one Schengen member nation to another.