Investor and business residence
El Salvador's DGME lists separate temporary-residence categories for investors and business people.
Investor evidence
The official investor-residence guidance requires evidence connected to registered foreign capital and the operating business. For consular investor visa processing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires an investment-registration resolution issued by the Ministry of Economy.
Business people and founders
Business people have their own temporary-residence category. The reviewed framework does not establish a standalone startup-founder visa, so founders should map their facts to investor, business-person, shareholder, individual-merchant or independent-worker categories.
Investment does not erase immigration formalities
Company formation or investment promotion alone should not be treated as automatic residence. DGME remains the authority for the residence category.
See the El Salvador hub, self-employed route, Latin America, business visas, methodology, and legal disclaimer.
Official and supporting sources
- DGME — Temporary residencesgovernment · accessed 2026-10-02
- DGME — Investor residence extensiongovernment · accessed 2026-10-02
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Consular visasgovernment · accessed 2026-10-02