Register US-born child for El Salvador dual nationality

Children born in the United States to El Salvador-citizen parents are entitled to dual nationality — US citizenship by birthright (14th Amendment) and El Salvador citizenship by descent. To exercise the El Salvador citizenship, you register the child’s birth at the nearest El Salvador consulate.

Why register your US-born child

Registering provides the child with:

  • A El Salvador birth registration certificate (an official civil-registry document of El Salvador)
  • Eligibility to apply for a El Salvador passport (issued at Salvadoran consulates; US$60 outside Central America)

Dual nationality — confirmed lawful by both countries

The United States permits dual nationality. Per the US Department of State: “Dual nationality means you are a national of 2 countries. A dual national generally has legal rights and obligations in both countries.”

On the Salvadoran side, the Foreign Ministry says the Constitution treats children of Salvadorans living abroad as Salvadoran too.

Required documents

To register your US-born child as a El Salvador citizen:

  • Child’s US birth certificate — long-form version, in original. As of 2026-10-03, Cancillería’s birth-registration requirement lists (its registration page and its October 1, 2026 notice) do not mention an apostille, while its general legalization page says a document issued in a Hague Apostille Convention country, such as the US, takes an apostille to take effect in El Salvador. Ask your consulate which applies.
  • Identity documents of both parents, in original
  • Birth certificates of both parents, in original — a Salvadoran parent’s issued no more than a year earlier
  • Fee — exempt from payment within the legal term; US$5.00 fine if registered more than six months after the birth; US$10.00 per consular civil-registry certificate (Foreign Ministry page updated July 10, 2024; consular law Art. 212-bis)

Step-by-step process

  1. Schedule appointment at your local El Salvador consulate (online portal)
  2. Gather documents per checklist above
  3. Ask about the apostille — Cancillería’s registration lists do not mention one, but its general legalization page says documents from Hague Convention countries such as the US take an apostille to take effect in El Salvador (see apostille process)
  4. Attend the appointment — check with your consulate in advance whether the child must be present
  5. Submit documents — registration is exempt from payment within the legal term (US$5.00 fine after six months)
  6. Wait for processing — ask your consulate how long registration takes
  7. Receive El Salvador birth registration certificate — this is the child’s official El Salvador civil-registry document
  8. Apply for El Salvador passport (optional) using the new birth registration

Children born outside marriage (and other family configurations)

El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry says the Constitution treats children of Salvadorans living abroad as Salvadoran too. As of 2026-10-03, Cancillería’s published rules list no age limit for the registration; they set a US$5.00 fine for registering a birth more than six months after it occurred. If the person reporting the birth is not the father, mother or nearest relative, any duly authorized person identified with an original, valid document can register it. Verify your specific situation directly with the El Salvador consulate before the appointment.

After registration

Once the child’s El Salvador citizenship is registered:

  • The child can be issued a El Salvador passport at the consulate — see passport for a minor
  • Use the El Salvador passport when entering El Salvador
  • When entering or leaving the US, a US citizen must use a valid US passport unless an exception applies (22 CFR 53.1 and 53.2)

Voting from abroad needs no separate registration: under Decreto 541 the voter roll is built from national ID registry (RNPN) and migration data, and voters identify with a DUI or Salvadoran passport. See voting from the US.

Authoritative sources

Last verified: 2026-10-08. General procedural information for educational purposes. Citizenship-by-descent rules vary by country and change. Verify directly with the El Salvador consulate before traveling. Not legal advice.