El Salvador
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Update history
2024-08-15 13:40
Removal of State of Emergency information (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-06-17 17:59
Announcement of State of Emergency due to heavy rainfall (‘Warnings and insurance’ page)
2024-06-04 09:22
Removal of information on the threat of disruption (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-31 23:29
Information on Salvadoran government warning of an increased threat of disruption during the weekend of 1-2 June
2024-04-23 09:54
Updated information on Coatepeque Lake (‘Health’ page).
2024-03-14 14:09
Updated information on political situation (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-02-06 17:45
Updated information on elections (Safety and Security)
2023-11-24 12:26
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-10-30 15:57
Information on Tropical Storm Pilar (‘Summary’ page).
2023-09-04 09:47
Updated information about Public Spaces and Services (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-06-22 11:10
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-23 09:40
Getting a new entry immigration stamp if issued an Emergency Travel Document whilst in El Salvador (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-03-31 19:14
Updated information about a further extension to the State of Exception (emergency)(‘Safety and Security’ page).
2023-02-17 15:05
Updated information about the State of Exception (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2023-01-23 15:50
Updated information about the crime rate in El Salvador, especially San Salvador (‘Summary page’).
2023-01-17 10:13
Updated information on State of Exception, Seismic Activity, Entry Requirements and Political Situation (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’, ‘Entry requirements’, and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2022-12-16 11:28
Updated information on State of Exception (‘Safety and security’ page).
2022-11-30 10:27
Updated information on Volcanic Activity (‘Summary’, ‘Entry Requirements’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2022-11-18 21:37
Updated information on Volcanic Activity (‘Summary’, ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2022-11-18 09:42
Updated information on State of Exception (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Safety and Security’, ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2022-10-20 11:21
Updated information on State of Exception and State of Emergency caused by Tropical Storm Julia (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and Security’ and ‘Natural Disasters’ pages).
2022-10-12 12:04
Updated information on State of Emergency caused by Tropical Storm Julia (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural Disasters’ pages).
2022-09-16 19:48
Updated information on the extension of the State of Exception until 18 October 2022, and the number of people detained since the 27 March (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-22 12:05
Updated information on the extension of the State of Exception until 18 September 2022, the drop in requirement to wear masks in public places, and the number of people detained since the 27 March (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and Security’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2022-07-26 11:21
Updated information on the risk from terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-07-21 19:15
Updated information on the extension of the State of Exception and the number of people detained during the last four months (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-06-24 12:19
Updated information on the extension to the State of Exception and the numbers of people detained during the last two months (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-05-27 11:24
Updated information on the extension of the State of Exception (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-04-27 11:05
Updated information on the extension of the State of Emergency (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-04-06 16:46
Minor update on State of Emergency and murder rate, and to ‘Safety and Security’, ‘Terrorism’, and ‘Health’ pages.
2022-03-28 22:43
On 26 March 2022, the Legislative Assembly approved a 30 day State of Emergency throughout El Salvador, after a sharp rise in the number of murders. (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)