El Salvador

• Passport
• Residence permit / work permit
• Visa
• Numero de identificacion (NIT) from the Ministry of Finance
• Certificate of migratory movement from the Immigration General Office
• Temporary import permit
• Bank guarantee, if applicable
• Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Detailed inventory in Spanish
• Packing list
• Letter of employment
• Certificate of change of residence
• Certificate of residence abroad (returning citizens)
• Diplomatic franchise (diplomats)

• All shipments are subject to inspection.
• The owners of the goods must be present for Customs clearance.
• Household goods and personal effects are duty free provided they have been owned and used by the owner of the goods for at least 6 months.
• The shipment must arrive within 90 days of the owner of the goods’ arrival.
• Customs clearance takes approximately 2-3 business days.
• Items cannot be sold, loaned or disposed of during the owner of the goods’ stay.
• Returning residents must have lived abroad for at least 3 years for duty-free import and provide proof of residency abroad; citizens must not have returned to El Salvador for more than 30 consecutive days during the 3-year period of official residency abroad.
  • Contact the destination agent for specific requirements of eligibility.
• The certificate of residence can be obtained from the Salvadoran Consulate and must verify the location and time spent abroad.
• The packing list must include the value of each item and the make, model, and serial number of electrical appliances.
• Foreign diplomats and certain government / organization members are granted duty-free entry.
  • Documents must be received by the destination agent 15 days prior to the owner of the goods’ arrival.
• Foreigners may qualify for a 6-month delay of duty payment with a bank guarantee for an amount equal to the Customs valuation of the shipment; however, the payment is required upon expiration of the guarantee.

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Certificate of title / registration
• Purchase / commercial invoice
• OBL
• Diplomatic franchise (diplomats)
• Certificate of compliance (new vehicles)
• Certificate of emissions (used vehicles)

• The vehicle title must be under the owner of the goods’ name for at least 3 months prior to departure from the origin country.
• Vehicles must arrive within 6 months of owner of the goods’ entry date.
• Vehicles must be registered / titles under the owner of the goods’ name.
• The importation of new vehicles is subject to the Ministry of Commerce regulations and is limited to certain types of vehicles.
• New vehicles may not be imported.
• Diplomats can import used or new cars with a diplomatic franchise issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs duty free.
  • The owner of the goods should confirm that diplomatic status will allow the procedure.
• Returning Argentine citizens may import used vehicles only (one car and one motorcycle for each adult member of the family).
  • The importation will be dutiable, except in very specific cases.
• Foreigners with permanent resident status may import used vehicles only, under the same rules that apply to returning Argentine citizens.
• Foreigners with a temporary visa may import used vehicles under temporary admission and will not be charged duties and taxes.
  • Vehicles are only allowed temporary admission for the duration of the visa and can be renewed upon renewal of the visa.
  • Vehicles must be removed from Argentina prior to the expiration of the visa.
• Vehicles must retain original plates.
• Argentine citizens possessing a residence certificate, issued by the Argentine Consulate from the origin country, and living abroad for more than 2 years can import one car duty free unless the car is valued at more than USD $15,000, then duties and taxes will be assessed on it.
• The duties and taxes are as follows:
  • Standard autos            81% of the cost, insurance, and freight value (CIF)
  • Diesel                           100% CIF
  • Motorcycles                  110% CIF
• The residence certificate must state the duration the owner of the goods has lived abroad (Argentine citizens with permanent residence visa).

• Rabies vaccination record
• Veterinary health certificate
• Import permit

• The vaccination record must be issued within 6 months of arrival of the animal.
• The veterinary health certificate must be issued within 15 days of arrival of the animal by a licensed veterinarian at origin.

• Firearms and ammunition (a permit from the local police is required)
• Live plants (an original invoice, phytosanitary certificate and a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture are required; subject to payment of duties)
• Medications (a permit from the local drug administration is required)
• Cigarettes (200) and cigars (50)
• Alcohol (an import permit is required)
• The following items require an original invoice and are subject to the payment of duties:
  • Appliances, machines and spare parts (duty free for diplomats)
  • Gifts and souvenirs
  • Antiques and works of art
  • Precious metal objects, including jewelry and coins
  • Household and electrical items (serial number, make and model must be included on the detailed inventory)
  • Carpets
  • Wine (a permit from a local health department is required)
  • Food items (a phytosanitary certificate is required if the item is not canned and a certificate that the item is approved for human consumption)

• Illegal drugs
• Pornographic and subversive materials
• Military clothing and equipment
• Cleaning chemicals and supplies

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.