Salvadoran citizenship by descent: who qualifies, the law, and what it takes

Q: Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a parent?

Likely. A child of a Salvadoran parent is Salvadoran by birth and is registered at the consulate.

Q: Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a grandparent?

Possible. Nationality passes from parent to child; each generation registers in turn, so your parent establishes their Salvadoran nationality first, then you.

Q: Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a great-grandparent?

Possible. Nationality passes from parent to child; each generation registers in turn, so your parent establishes their Salvadoran nationality first, then you.

Through a parentLIKELYCitizen by descent Through a grandparentPOSSIBLECitizen by descent, generation by generation Through a great-grandparentPOSSIBLECitizen by descent, generation by generation

Ways to apply: Citizen by descent (Art. 90(3))
Dual citizenship: Kept, however you apply

Each answer assumes none of your ancestors became a citizen of another country before their child was born. Below is what changes each answer.

On this page

01Who qualifies
02Dates that matter
03Through your mother
04Keeping your citizenship
05Ways to apply
06The documents
07What it takes
08Where the records live
09Law changes
10Other options
11Sources

Who qualifies, generation by generation

LIKELY

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a parent?

Citizen by descent

A child of a Salvadoran parent is Salvadoran by birth and is registered at the consulate.

Children of a Salvadoran parent born abroad are Salvadoran nationals. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality), Art. 90(3)

POSSIBLE

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a grandparent?

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

Nationality passes from parent to child; each generation registers in turn, so your parent establishes their Salvadoran nationality first, then you.

What would settle itWhether your parent can be registered as a Salvadoran national first.

Children of a Salvadoran parent are Salvadoran nationals; the parent’s own nationality must be established first. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality), Art. 90(3)

POSSIBLE

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a great-grandparent?

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

Nationality passes from parent to child; each generation registers in turn, so your parent establishes their Salvadoran nationality first, then you.

What would settle itWhether your parent can be registered as a Salvadoran national first.

Children of a Salvadoran parent are Salvadoran nationals; the parent’s own nationality must be established first. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality), Art. 90(3)

The dates that matter

No date named in El Salvador’s rule decides who qualifies. The answers above turn on the family’s facts, not on when anyone was born or left.

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

El Salvador’s rule gives the same answer whether the line runs through a mother or a father.

Dual citizenship with your home country

You keep your citizenship.

On every open route, the rule lets a citizen of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina or South Africa keep that citizenship.

Holding this citizenship alongside another is addressed by the law cited; check the current position before relying on it. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality)

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

Citizen by descent

Open to you through a parent

LIKELY
Through a parent

The law

Children of a Salvadoran parent born abroad are Salvadoran nationals. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality), Art. 90(3)

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

Open to you through a grandparent or a great-grandparent

POSSIBLE
Through a grandparent

The law

Children of a Salvadoran parent are Salvadoran nationals; the parent’s own nationality must be established first. Constitution of El Salvador, Art. 90(3) (children of Salvadorans born abroad) and Art. 91 (dual nationality), Art. 90(3)

What would settle an unsure case

Whether your parent can be registered as a Salvadoran national first.

The documents, as the rule lists them

Citizen by descent

Through a parent

Your parent’s Salvadoran birth certificate or identity document
Your birth certificate, apostilled and translated

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

Through a grandparent or great-grandparent

Your ancestor’s Salvadoran birth certificate
Birth and marriage records for each generation, registered in turn

Most countries also want proof that your ancestor didn’t become a citizen somewhere else before their child was born: the naturalization record with its date, or a letter saying there isn’t one.

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Citizen by descent

Time: A few weeks to a few months at the consulate.
Cost: About $150–350: consular fee, apostilles and certified translations.
The hard part: None, usually. Bring your parent’s Salvadoran birth certificate or DUI and your own apostilled birth certificate.
Who decides: The Salvadoran consulate for your address, by appointment.
The first record: Your parent’s Salvadoran birth certificate (partida de nacimiento), from The Registro Nacional de las Personas Naturales (RNPN). Request the certified copy online (Simple SV or Market SV for those abroad) or in person with the full name and approximate date; it issues in about 10 business days plus shipping. rnpn.gob.sv

How it’s filed

Where: The offered Salvadoran consulate for the member’s state of residence office list
How: In person; you appear in person
Form: Consular request to register a birth abroad (asentamiento de partida de nacimiento) in the Registro del Estado Familiar
Appointments: Foreign Ministry Portal de Citas, Registro del Estado Familiar at the selected offered consulate. Member selects the offered post for their district, books and pays USD 15 per late registration by credit/debit card in Portal de Citas; keep the official receipt. Each intermediate person completes registration before the next files.
Fee: About $15
Decision: 2–17 weeks

Your consulate

Every office in the United States (12)

Consulate-General of El Salvador in Atlanta

Serves Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina

How: In person; you appear in person
Address: 6735 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite 150, Atlanta, GA 30360

These offered regions cover whole states only. Book birth registration and passport in Portal de Citas and first DUI in RNPN’s exterior service at this same consulate.

Who qualifies, generation by generation

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a parent?

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a grandparent?

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a great-grandparent?

The dates that matter

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

Dual citizenship with your home country

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

The law

The law

What would settle an unsure case

The documents, as the rule lists them

Citizen by descent

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Citizen by descent

How it’s filed

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

How it’s filed

Where each record lives, and how to ask for it

Translations

The passport

Recent and pending changes

If descent doesn’t reach you

Every source on this page

Check your family for El Salvador.

Who qualifies, generation by generation

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a parent?

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a grandparent?

Can you claim Salvadoran citizenship through a great-grandparent?

The dates that matter

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

Dual citizenship with your home country

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

The law

The law

What would settle an unsure case

The documents, as the rule lists them

Citizen by descent

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Citizen by descent

How it’s filed

Citizen by descent, generation by generation

How it’s filed

Where each record lives, and how to ask for it

Translations

The passport

Recent and pending changes

If descent doesn’t reach you

Every source on this page

Check your family for El Salvador.