How to apostille documents between the United States and El Salvador
An apostille certifies that a public document is authentic so it can be used in another country. Between the US and El Salvador, who issues it depends on which country issued the document.
A US document gets its apostille from the Secretary of State of the state that issued or notarized it, then a notary in El Salvador handles the Spanish translation. A Salvadoran document can only be apostilled by the Foreign Ministry in El Salvador, and it is free. A partida first needs RNPN authentication ($20). Salvadoran consulates do not issue apostilles.
- Salvadoran apostille
- Free Under El Salvador's 2022 Electronic Apostille Law. Applies to paper and electronic apostilles.
- RNPN authentication (partidas)
- $20, since June 25, 2026 Required before a birth, marriage or death record can be apostilled.
- US documents
- Secretary of State of issuing state Federal documents go to the US Department of State: $20 per document.
- Salvadoran consulates
- Do not issue apostilles Only the Foreign Ministry in El Salvador apostilles Salvadoran documents.
- Hague Convention
- In force for El Salvador since 1996 Since May 31, 1996, per the HCCH. The US is also a member.
Explainer video
Requirements
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Step by step
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Figure out who issued the document
A US document is apostilled by a US authority. A Salvadoran document is apostilled by the Foreign Ministry in El Salvador. Consulates don't apostille either kind.
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US document: state apostille
Mail it or bring it to the Secretary of State of the state that issued or notarized it. Federal documents go to the Department of State's Office of Authentications.
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US document: translation
Send the apostilled original to El Salvador, where a notary handles the Spanish translation. No consulate or Foreign Ministry step is needed.
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Salvadoran record: order a fresh copy
Order it online or at a consulate, as the birth certificate guide explains. It must be less than one year old.
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Salvadoran record: RNPN authentication
Request the authentication from the RNPN ($20). Press reports say it is done in person at its head office and 8 DUI centers, paid by card.
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Free Foreign Ministry apostille
Submit the authenticated document at the Foreign Ministry's main office or a regional office. Anyone holding the original can request it, so a relative can do it for you.
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Translate into English if needed
For USCIS, attach a complete, certified English translation. Check first whether the agency really needs an apostille.
How to apostille US documents for use in El Salvador
US documents are apostilled in the US, not at the Salvadoran consulate. Who adds the apostille depends on the type of document:
| Document | Who apostilles it |
|---|---|
| State birth, marriage or divorce record | Secretary of State of the state that issued it |
| Document signed before a notary public | Secretary of State of the state where it was notarized |
| Federal document (FBI, USCIS, federal court) | US Department of State, $20 per document |
Each state sets its own fee, form and processing time. For reference, California charges $20 and Texas $15 per document, and both offer same-day service in person. Check your state's Secretary of State website.
Once in El Salvador, a document in English needs a translation “in legal form”: a Salvadoran notary runs a translation proceeding (diligencias de traducción), appointing and swearing in an interpreter. There is no official fee.
A US-notarized, apostilled power of attorney is not always accepted in El Salvador. Before going that route, read the power of attorney guide.
How to apostille a Salvadoran birth record for use in the US
You need two steps in El Salvador: RNPN authentication ($20) and the Foreign Ministry apostille (free). The same applies to marriage and death records.
| Step | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Partida under one year old | Simple SV, consulate or town hall | $5 to $35 |
| 2. Authentication | RNPN | $20 |
| 3. Apostille | Foreign Ministry | Free |
Since June 25, 2026, only the RNPN, El Salvador's national registry, can authenticate civil records for use abroad (Articles 7(j) and 106 of the Family Status Registry Law). Town halls used to do it for a few dollars and no longer can. July 2026 press reports say the RNPN authentication is done in person at its head office and 8 DUI centers, card payment only. One outlet mentioned Simple SV, but online filing is not confirmed.
If you live in the US, the practical route is to have a relative or agent in El Salvador handle the in-person steps.
Before you apostille anything, confirm it is really required: for USCIS, a certified English translation is generally enough.
Which prior authentication each Salvadoran document needs
The Foreign Ministry only apostilles a Salvadoran document after the right authority has registered or authenticated the signature on it. Use this table:
| Document | Step before the apostille |
|---|---|
| Birth, marriage or death records | RNPN authentication ($20) |
| Diplomas and transcripts | MINED authentication, online on Simple SV (about 5 business days) |
| Deeds, notarial certificates, sworn statements, minors' travel permits, court rulings | Supreme Court authentication |
| Police (PNC) documents | PNC authentication |
| Driver's license certification | Electronic apostille directly on Simple SV (72 business hours) |
For the criminal record certificate, a 2023 Foreign Ministry note said people abroad could order it already apostilled on Simple SV. The current service page doesn't mention it, so confirm before relying on it.
Documents issued by a Salvadoran consulate, such as a power of attorney, are not apostilled. They are authenticated by the Foreign Ministry ($5) to take effect in El Salvador.
Can the Salvadoran consulate apostille my documents?
No. The Foreign Ministry in El Salvador is the only authority that issues apostilles for Salvadoran documents. The Hague Convention also does not apply to documents issued by consular officers.
What consulates do is authenticate documents from countries that are not part of the Convention. US documents don't fall in that group: they get a US apostille.
Where apostilles are issued in El Salvador. According to a May 2026 news report, the Foreign Ministry serves the public at Centro de Gobierno and at regional offices (SOHO Cascadas, Plaza Mundo, Pasatiempo in Lourdes, Santa Ana and Metrocentro San Miguel), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no lunch closure. It publishes no processing time and does not say whether an appointment is needed.
Who can file. The Foreign Ministry says anyone can request authentications without showing ID, and only originals are processed. If you live in the US, mail the original to a relative or agent in El Salvador so they can submit it for you.
Electronic apostille: what you can do online
There is an official platform, apostilla.rree.gob.sv, launched on February 24, 2022, but it is unclear today whether individuals can use it directly. The electronic apostille is also free.
At first the platform accepted deeds, commercial documents from the CNR (El Salvador's property and business registry) and MINED digital certificates; police clearances and criminal records were added later. Its home page says you can apply from anywhere in the world, but it only shows a login for public servants (Clave Única).
What is available online on Simple SV:
- MINED authentication of school records, in about 5 business days.
- Electronic apostille of a driver's license certification, in 72 business hours.
- Criminal record certificate with an electronic apostille, per a 2023 note that should be confirmed.
No fully online route was found for a birth record: the RNPN authentication is still in person, according to press reports. If a website offers a paid “online apostille” for a partida, make sure it is an official site, such as the Foreign Ministry's, the RNPN's or Simple SV.
Common mistakes and scams
- Taking US documents to the Salvadoran consulate to be “authenticated” instead of getting a state apostille.
- Asking the wrong state for the apostille, or sending a state document to the federal Department of State.
- Sending photocopies instead of originals or certified copies.
- Taking a partida to the Foreign Ministry without the RNPN authentication: since June 25, 2026, town halls no longer do it.
- Paying a middleman because you think the Salvadoran apostille has a fee: it is free.
- Skipping the legal Spanish translation in El Salvador for a document written in English.
Frequently asked questions
Is El Salvador part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. According to the Hague Conference (HCCH), El Salvador joined on September 14, 1995, and the Convention has been in force there since May 31, 1996. The US is also a member, so between the two countries an apostille replaces consular legalization.
How much does an apostille cost in El Salvador?
Nothing. The Foreign Ministry apostille, paper or electronic, is free under the 2022 Electronic Apostille Law. What does cost money is the step before it: $20 for the RNPN authentication of a birth, marriage or death record. You can compare other charges in the consular fees table.
Does an apostille expire?
No. The Hague Convention sets no expiration date for an apostille. But the office receiving the document may require it to be recent. A Salvadoran partida is valid for one year, so a partida apostilled more than a year ago could be rejected even though the apostille itself is still valid.
Do I need to apostille my Salvadoran birth certificate for USCIS?
Generally, no. USCIS rules (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) require a complete English translation certified by a competent translator and do not ask for an apostille. Only apostille it if the receiving agency specifically asks. That saves you the $20 authentication fee and the in-person steps in El Salvador.
Do I need to apostille my child's US birth certificate to register them at the consulate?
It's unclear. The Foreign Ministry's consular list asks for the original certificate and does not mention an apostille, but the RNPN requires one for registrations filed in El Salvador and the press says it is needed. Confirm with your consulate. Details are in the guide to register a child born in the US.
Do US business or customs documents still need an apostille in El Salvador?
Not for Salvadoran government agencies in that specific case. Since February 25, 2026, Article 4-A of the Administrative Procedures Law says public agencies will not require apostilles on foreign documents tied to trade or customs operations. Nothing changed for personal documents such as birth records, powers of attorney or diplomas.
What if the document is for a country outside the Convention?
Then no apostille is used. The Foreign Ministry authenticates the Salvadoran official's signature for $5, and the document is then legalized by the destination country's consulate. This does not apply to the US, which is a member of the Convention.
Sources
- HCCH – Apostille Convention status table
- Salvadoran Foreign Ministry – Authentications and apostilles
- Legislative Assembly of El Salvador – Electronic Apostille Law
- RNPN – Authentication of local registrar signatures
- U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications
- Legislative Assembly of El Salvador – Apostille dropped for trade documents (2026)
Confirm this detail with the consulate before you go.