El Salvador Citizenship by Investment.
Bitcoin-aligned citizenship at the sovereign level.
A $1,000,000 contribution in BTC or USDT, a 6 to 8 week target timeline, and a non-CRS jurisdiction built around a national Bitcoin Office and strategic reserve.
Recognition tier
Sovereign
Government contribution
$1,000,000
Single-applicant estimate
$1,050,000
Professional fee
$50,000
Target timeline
6–8 weeks
Visa-free destinations
131
Passport rank
#37
Engagement fee
$5,000, or 5% less when you settle via BitSettle ($4,750)
Paid, not free. The amount paid credits toward the $50,000 professional fee for 90 days.
Payment rails
Government contribution: BTC or USDT only
The $1,000,000 contribution goes directly to the government wallet. 21 CBI does not custody it. The professional fee and engagement fee can settle through BitSettle using BTC, Lightning, or USDT. Credit cards and bank transfers are also accepted as needed for those fees.
The unvarnished Trade-offs.
A passport is not a tax residence, a visa waiver, or an exemption from existing obligations. These are the points that belong in the first conversation.
- The passport does not provide visa-free access to the United States or the United Kingdom.
- The $1,000,000 contribution is non-refundable once collected under the program terms.
- United States citizenship-based taxation and FATCA reporting continue until a lawful status change is complete.
- Spain may provide a naturalisation route for eligible Salvadoran citizens, but this is not citizenship de origen and requires separate Spanish-law analysis.
Before the next Move.
Is Bitcoin still legal tender in El Salvador?
No. The reform passed on 29 January 2025, and the legal-tender mandate ended on 1 May 2025 after Decree 199 took effect. The current case rests on the Bitcoin Office, the strategic reserve, the digital-asset framework, and BTC or USDT settlement for the Freedom Passport.
Can the government contribution be paid over Lightning?
No. The government contribution is BTC or USDT only. Lightning is available for 21 CBI fees through BitSettle, not for the $1,000,000 government contribution.
Does 21 CBI hold the contribution?
No. The contribution is sent directly to the government wallet after the required process and approval steps. 21 CBI does not custody the contribution.
What happens if El Salvador is not the right fit?
Use the Sovereignty Strategy Session to test Vanuatu, residency pathways, or another jurisdiction through bespoke advisory before a wider engagement is scoped.
Figures verified 11 July 2026
Depth belongs on passport.sv.
Full depth, family-size tables, and application mechanics live on passport.sv.