Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Passport
• Residence permit / work permit
• Visa
• Numero de identificacion (NIT) from the Ministry of Finance
• Certificate of migratory movement from the Immigration General Office
• Temporary import permit
• Bank guarantee, if applicable
• Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Detailed inventory in Spanish
• Packing list
• Letter of employment
• Certificate of change of residence
• Certificate of residence abroad (returning citizens)
• Diplomatic franchise (diplomats) 

Specific Information

• All shipments are subject to inspection.
• The owners of the goods must be present for Customs clearance.
• Household goods and personal effects are duty free provided they have been owned and used by the owner of the goods for at least 6 months.
• The shipment must arrive within 90 days of the owner of the goods’ arrival.
• Customs clearance takes approximately 2-3 business days.
• Items cannot be sold, loaned or disposed of during the owner of the goods’ stay.
• Returning residents must have lived abroad for at least 3 years for duty-free import and provide proof of residency abroad; citizens must not have returned to El Salvador for more than 30 consecutive days during the 3-year period of official residency abroad. 
  • Contact the destination agent for specific requirements of eligibility.
• The certificate of residence can be obtained from the Salvadoran Consulate and must verify the location and time spent abroad.
• The packing list must include the value of each item and the make, model, and serial number of electrical appliances.
• Foreign diplomats and certain government / organization members are granted duty-free entry. 
  • Documents must be received by the destination agent 15 days prior to the owner of the goods’ arrival.
• Foreigners may qualify for a 6-month delay of duty payment with a bank guarantee for an amount equal to the Customs valuation of the shipment; however, the payment is required upon expiration of the guarantee.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required 

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Certificate of title / registration
• Purchase / commercial invoice
• OBL
• Diplomatic franchise (diplomats)
• Certificate of compliance (new vehicles)
• Certificate of emissions (used vehicles)

Specific Information

• Vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) can be imported duty free but are subject to taxes.
• Diplomats can import vehicles duty and tax free.
• New and used vehicles must be less than 8 years old from the date of manufacture for import.
• The certificate of compliance for new vehicles is issued by the manufacturer and must be authenticated by the Salvadoran embassy or consulate at origin.
• The certificate of emissions for used vehicles must be authorized by a mechanic and authenticated by the Salvadoran embassy or consulate at origin.

Pets

Documents Required 

• Rabies vaccination record
• Veterinary health certificate
• Import permit

Specific Information

• The vaccination record must be issued within 6 months of arrival of the animal.
• The veterinary health certificate must be issued within 15 days of arrival of the animal by a licensed veterinarian at origin.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Firearms and ammunition (a permit from the local police is required)
• Live plants (an original invoice, phytosanitary certificate and a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture are required; subject to payment of duties)
• Medications (a permit from the local drug administration is required)
• Cigarettes (200) and cigars (50)
• Alcohol (an import permit is required)
• The following items require an original invoice and are subject to the payment of duties:
  • Appliances, machines and spare parts (duty free for diplomats)
  • Gifts and souvenirs
  • Antiques and works of art
  • Precious metal objects, including jewelry and coins
  • Household and electrical items (serial number, make and model must be included on the detailed inventory)
  • Carpets
  • Wine (a permit from a local health department is required)
  • Food items (a phytosanitary certificate is required if the item is not canned and a certificate that the item is approved for human consumption)

Prohibited Items

• Illegal drugs
• Pornographic and subversive materials
• Military clothing and equipment
• Cleaning chemicals and supplies

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Helpful Website(s):

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/el-salvador.html