El Salvador

El Salvador has separate customs, immigration and port-authority procedures. The Ministry of Finance publishes a vessel entry-and-exit control procedure specifically for Puerto Barillas; its requirements should not be assumed to apply unchanged at every port. Confirm the applicable process with the intended port and relevant authorities before arrival.

El Salvador's immigration directorate publishes seaport immigration offices and service hours, including Acajutla, Bahía del Sol, CORSAIN, La Unión, Puerto La Unión Centroamericana and Meanguera del Golfo. The Maritime Port Authority also publishes local offices and contacts. These lists establish immigration/maritime offices, not authorisation for every location to receive foreign private yachts or provide complete border clearance. Law requires local maritime port authority permission for port entry/exit, conditional on navigation-safety, health, customs, immigration and port compliance. Before sailing, confirm private-yacht acceptance, complete first-entry clearance and designated anchorage/reporting points with AMP and the intended arrival location.

Verification status: official port offices and general entry/exit authorisation rules checked; designated private-yacht entry ports require individual confirmation.

Article 32 of El Salvador's General Maritime Port Law requires local maritime port authority permission for vessel entry/exit, after compliance with applicable navigation-safety, health, customs, immigration and port rules. Immigration's F‑50 procedure concerns foreign seafarer entry, transit or exit permissions through shipping agents and requires application at least five working days ahead. It does not establish a uniform reporting process for private-yacht masters/passengers. No uniform public yacht ETA deadline or one-stop checklist was found. Before arrival, contact the intended AMP office, customs and immigration about agents, vessel/personnel documents, reporting and each deadline. Follow F‑50 only for persons within its scope.

Verification status: general vessel authorisation and seafarer F‑50 rules checked; yacht reporting forms and timing await authority confirmation.

El Salvador's General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) states that ordinary foreign visitors need valid passports in good condition and should check visas by nationality. The page does not explain private-yacht-specific arrivals or confirm that visa requirements can be processed at every seaport. Confirm with DGME and the intended port before departure.

For Puerto Barillas, the Ministry of Finance lists these documents for vessel arrival/departure control: crew/passenger list, vessel registration certificate, passports, cargo manifest if any, clearance from the previous country or travel memorandum, customs baggage declaration, and departure notice/clearance. On arrival, customs reviews the documents and may inspect the vessel and stores. For departure, customs reviews the departure clearance and crew/passenger list and authorizes the vessel to leave after its checks. This published procedure is port-specific; confirm requirements at other ports directly with their authorities.

El Salvador Customs guidance on restricted/dangerous imports identifies food, animals and plants as categories potentially requiring competent-authority permission or quarantine, and mentions CITES-controlled species. The page concerns formal cargo imports, not yacht stores, pets or onboard waste. Confirm declarations and quarantine for this vessel's goods with customs and health/agricultural authorities before the port call.

El Salvador Customs restricted/dangerous goods guidance covers food, animals, plants and CITES species. Customs also publishes firearms, ammunition and explosives legislation and controls. Available pages are not a complete private-yacht traveller-goods list and do not establish onboard carriage permission for each item. Before carrying firearms, ammunition, controlled medicines, animal/plant products or other restricted goods, confirm declarations, permits, custody and recovery on departure with customs and the responsible authorities.

DGME's seaport page lists Acajutla, Bahía del Sol, Corsain, La Unión, La Unión Centroamericana and Meanguera del Golfo with 24/7 service hours. It does not confirm that all accept private yachts for entry, nor guarantee round-the-clock completion by customs, quarantine and port staff. Before arrival, confirm vessel eligibility, berthing and actual duty arrangements with the port and each authority.

For the vessel entry/exit control service published for Puerto Barillas, El Salvador's Ministry of Finance lists the service cost as free. This does not establish that port dues, marina/anchorage charges, agent fees, or charges at other ports are free. Confirm all applicable costs with the chosen port and authorities before arrival.