All country guides
El Salvador
elsalvador.travel/about-el-salvador/en/- Visa: Not Required
- Vaccination: Conditionally Required
- Capital
- San Salvador (SAL)
- Dialing Code
- +503
- Time Zone
- UTC / GMT -6
- Language
- Spanish
- Best Time to Go
- November – April
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
Travel Tips
- While you can use larger bills in hotels and banks, you may struggle to use bills larger than $20 in restaurants and shops
- English is spoken in tourist areas, but not to a high standard
- For surfing the best season is March – November
- All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated, milk is unpasteurised
- Siesta is still a tradition, although most shops and restaurants stay open
Last updated 29 September 2026
Visa Guide
Public Holidays
2026
January: 1
April: 2-4
May: 1, 10
June: 17, 22
August: 6
September: 15
November: 2
December: 25
Visa Requirements
No visas are required by S.A. passport holders for a stay of up to 90 days
Visa information: www.migracion.gob.sv
Entry Requirements
- Valid passport (6 month validity)
- Tourist Card on arrival (USD 12)
Health / Vaccinations
Compulsory:
Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Recommended Travel Vaccines:
Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
South African Representative Abroad
Representation accredited from Mexico City, Mexico