In recent times, an unexpected trend has emerged at the El Salvador International Airport as there is a significant influx of individuals with Indian passports.
A new Visa Policy in El Salvador
Although the policy has led to a reduction in the overall number of Indian visitors, data from a report by Jorge Beltrán Luna and Lissette Figueroa, published in a local newspaper, reveals that approximately 800 Indian passport holders made their way to the country in January and February this year. While this figure represents a decline compared to the preceding year, it is still notably higher and has prompted the introduction of the aforementioned visa policy.
The numbers are still high. Why?
Because 800 visas per month means a lot of people from different parts of India are going there and it is a big number in terms of any Central American country.
Many of these arrivals, as confirmed by Immigration and law enforcement authorities, utilize El Salvador as a transit point en route to the United States, often arriving in large groups via air travel and then disappearing without a trace.
Migration Records of the Central American nation
The surge in Indian arrivals is starkly evident in migration records, with the number of Indians entering El Salvador witnessing a staggering sixfold increase in 2023, jumping from 5,257 in 2022 to 32,070 the following year.
Most of these arrivals entered through the El Salvador Airport, with a significant portion also arriving via the Port of Acajutla. However, despite the substantial inflow, only a fraction of these visitors departed through official immigration channels, raising questions about their intended destinations and the nature of their stay.
In the ongoing year, migration records indicate a significant decline in Indian arrivals during January and February, with only 1,681 individuals recorded, marking a notable decrease from the monthly average of 2,670 observed in 2023.
Migration Records indicate that in 2023, the number of Indians who arrived in El Salvador multiplied by six, since in 2022 5,257 arrived, but the following year 32,070 arrived, of which 25,669 entered through the El Salvador Airport and 4,763 entered through the Port of Acajutla.
Interestingly, in Jan-Feb 2024, only 1,681 Indians landed in the Central American nation. This fall in numbers is after the new Visa Policy was introduced in November 2023.
Now to go to El Salvador there is a need for a visa from the country’s embassy in Delhi. However, if the applicant holds a valid US, Canada or Schengen visa, they do not need a visa from El Salvador.
There are two different visa categories
Tourism or Business, as per the details mentioned on the website of the mission. Tourist Visa fee: USD 40.00 and Business Visa fee: USD 200.00
“While there is a need for a visa, if you are transiting El Salvador through the land border, but for airport transit, you do not require a visa. But there is an airport transfer tax of USD 1,130,” explained a top diplomat.
Impact of the New Visa Policy
The visa policy started in November 2023, and this led to the numbers going down dramatically from 2000 to 150 people arriving in El Salvador by the airport. So that is the impact of the visa policy. All Indian passport holders need a Salvadoran visa to enter the country. Before this was implemented there was a huge number of Indians reaching the Central American nation enroute to the US.
Reciprocal
For any Salvadorian coming to India there has been a visa requirement, and now the government of that country has started the process of issuing visas to the Indians traveling to that country.