F7 pensioner residency in El Salvador

Who this category is for

For retirees with a lifelong or permanent pension. If your income comes instead from investments, rentals or other passive sources abroad, the F8 rentista category is the closer fit.

General requirements for every temporary residence

Article 161 of the Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law sets the common file for all temporary residence applications. The category-specific documents below are added to it.

1. Application signed by the foreign applicant or a legal representative; if not signed in person before the authority, the signature must be notarised. [Regulation art. 161 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
2. Copy of every used page of the valid passport, with the original presented for verification. [Regulation art. 161 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
3. Original criminal record or police clearance from the country of origin or from the country where you lived during the last two years. [Regulation art. 161 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
4. Salvadoran police (PNC) clearance where it applies: if you have been physically in El Salvador for more than three months or entered more than twice in the past year. The authority may check it electronically. [Regulation art. 161 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
5. An employment support letter or certified employment contract only where your residence basis allows you to work. [Regulation art. 161 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]

Category-specific requirements (F7)

1. Original letter from the entity paying the pension, showing a pension that meets the amounts set in Articles 144 and 145 of the Migration Law. We do not restate a figure here; check the current amount on form F7. [Regulation art. 166 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
2. Sworn declaration before a Salvadoran notary stating the origin and amount of the pension and your commitment not to perform paid work in El Salvador. [Regulation art. 166 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]

Conditional requirements

1. Employment documents are not part of this file because pensioner residence is tied to not working for pay; confirm any activity you plan with the DGME. [Regulation arts. 161, 166 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]

Rules for foreign documents

1. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalised and, where not in Spanish, officially translated into Spanish. [Regulation arts. 149–150 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
2. Documents without their own expiry date are generally accepted for up to one year from issue; employment letters for 30 days. [Regulation art. 151 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]
3. Government fees are non-refundable and paying them does not guarantee approval. [Regulation art. 152 — Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)]

How the application works

1. Identify the correct residence category for your situation; an entry visa is not the same as residence.
2. Download the official F form for that category and read its complete, current requirements, timelines and fees.
3. Gather the general and category-specific documents, with apostilles and Spanish translations.
4. Lodge the application with the DGME and pay the government fees.
5. The authority reviews documents and background; it may request more information.
6. Only if approved is the temporary residence card issued. Renewal conditions vary by category and must be met each time.

[DGME — How can I become a temporary resident in El Salvador?]

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum pension for F7?

The Regulation refers to the amounts set in Articles 144 and 145 of the law. We do not invent or round a figure; read the current amount on official form F7 or confirm it with the DGME.

Can I work as a pensioner resident?

The required sworn declaration includes a commitment not to perform paid work, so F7 is not a work route.

Does the 90-day rule apply to pensioners?

Decree 531 of 2026 sets a general 90-day annual stay for temporary residents, with a force majeure exception. Confirm how it is applied to your renewal.

Government sources

• DGME — Official DGME form F7 (PDF)
• DGME — Temporary residences (list of official forms)
• DGME — How can I become a temporary resident in El Salvador?
• Regulation to the Migration and Foreigners Law (updated with D.L. 35 of 24 May 2019)
• eRegulations El Salvador — investor residence procedure
• Legislative Assembly — Legislative Decree No. 531 (2026)
• Legislative Decree No. 531 — official PDF text