Customs
Americas
El Salvador Customs Regulations
Import & export rules, duty-free allowances, prohibited items, and traveler health advisory
$9
Duty-free limit
200 cigs
Tobacco allowance
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Import Regulations
- 200 cigarettes
- 50 cigars
- 2 litres of alcoholic beverages
- 6 units of perfume
- Articles equalling 500 USD (United States Dollars)
- Illegal drugs
- Unauthorized weapons
- Pornographic materials
- A special permit is required from the Ministry of Defence before being able to import Guns, Explosives or Ammunition into the country.
- Any pets being imported into the country will require a special import permit and vaccination certificate. USD 9.04 import fee for any animals brought into the country.
Export Regulations
- No information available
- Illegal drugs
- Pornographic material
- Weapons and ammunition – unless permitted to do so
- Knives and other deadly weapons
- No information available
Health & Security
Basic health information for travelers to El Salvador
Basic security information for travelers to El Salvador
🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to El Salvador
- A yellow fever vaccination is required for all visitors over six months old who are coming from or have passed through infected countries before reaching El Salvador.
- Native water should be avoided unless boiled or sterilized first. Visitors should bring along plenty of sealed bottled water for the first couple of weeks of their holidays before attempting to use the local water. Travellers should also avoid swimming in the local pools or lakes unless certain that the water has been clean and safe. Milk and unpasteurised dairy products should be avoided where possible.
- All fish, meat and vegetables should be well cooked and served hot before being eaten. Fruit should also be peeled before eaten. Travellers should avoid food and water from vendors which may have been improperly cooked and main still contain diseases.
- AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis B are evident in the country. Travellers should observe normal precautions when dealing with needles or engaging n sexual activity.
- Hepatitis A and Cholera are both present in El Salvador and travellers should obtain the necessary vaccinations prior to their visit and remember to take care when dealing with potentially contaminated food and water.
- Dengue Fever is endemic to the region and multiple cases have been reported throughout the country. Travellers are advised to obtain insect repellent and close clothing to provide protection against the disease. If infected, travellers should seek medical attention for symptoms immediately.
- Travellers should take care when dealing with wild animals whose bite might contain Rabies. If bitten, travellers are advised to clean the wound and seek medical assistance immediately before serious symptoms develop.
- Overall medical care is limited with the countries capital San Salvador possessing the best medicine and facilities in the country. Doctors and hospitals will expect immediate cash payment for their services and travellers are urged to use private clinics whenever possible. There are about 50 state-run hospitals with a total of more than 7000 beds although more serious medical conditions may require transportation out of the country. Overall standards and availability of medical assistance become extremely limited outside of the capitol. Travellers should make sure that they have obtained complete health and travel insurance prior to beginning their journey.
🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to El Salvador
- El Salvador currently has one of the highest crime rates in Latin America and travellers should exercise caution when visiting the country. Carjacking and pick pocketing should be seen as serious concerns for visitors who are advised to keep their passports and other valuables in a safe location at all times and to avoid displaying any valuable jewellery or large sums of money in public. Travellers should also avoid travelling in remote or poorly lit sections of the cities alone after dark and should avoid attracting hostile attention wherever possible. Visitors are also advised to keep a copy of their passport with them at all times in the event of arrest or detainment by state authorities.
- Anti government demonstrations have been known to occur from time to time and can potentially turn violent. Visitors to the country are advised to avoid large crowds or participation in any ongoing demonstrations which could lead to arrest and deportation by government forces. Travellers heading to the country should also monitor the local new services for signs of potential conflict and plan their visit accordingly.
- Road conditions in the country are variable with the main roads considered reasonably safe but with the quality decreasing in more isolated regions of the country. UK visitors hoping to navigate the country by car can do so for the first six months on a UK driving licence but should exercise caution if going off the main roads where they may encounter dangerous criminals or unexploded ordnance in the countryside. Travellers should also be wary of the countries annual rainy season which runs from June to November. Combined with the Hurricane season in the Caribbean, the resulting downpour can cause vicious mudslides that can block off roads and cause considerable damage to property and loss of life. Travellers should keep a close eye on the local weather forecasts when planning their course of action during their stay in the country.
- El Salvador suffers from occasional Earth tremors and has a number of active volcanoes, the last of which erupted on the 2nd October 2005. Travellers should monitor local media for any updates on upcoming potential eruptions or aftershocks and plan their visit accordingly.
Contact Information
For additional information about travel restrictions, security warnings, political updates, and basic travel guidelines, please contact the nearest El Salvadoran Embassy.