Can you bring your household goods to El Salvador duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to El Salvador bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Salvadorans living abroad — household goods (Decreto Legislativo 375 of 2025, arts. 8 and 9)Salvadorans by birth or naturalisation who live abroad, in any country and for any length of time, and say they will return or set up a home in El Salvador (a permanent, temporary or vacation home) can bring their household goods, new or used, free of import duties and of IVA, once per family group, up to US$100,000 of customs value. Above that value only the 13% IVA is charged, on the excess. You sign a sworn declaration of domicile at the immigration office (DGME), which your attorney-in-fact can sign. The goods can arrive in one shipment or in stages. The benefit runs until August 2030; our team confirms the exact day. The US$18 inspection fee, storage after 5 free days, freight and agent fees still apply, and the permits for restricted goods are not waived. Our team confirms the final requirements before you ship.
• Salvadorans with three years or more abroad — household goods (Ley de Equipajes art. 31)The permanent route of the baggage law: a Salvadoran who lived abroad three years or more and comes back for good can bring household goods free of duties and other taxes, up to US$15,000 of CIF value; the part above it pays the single tax of 30%. Motor vehicles are excluded. It needs the immigration office's certificate of the stay abroad, and the goods must arrive from 30 days before to 90 days after you. The diaspora law above is usually the better route until August 2030; this one is the fallback after it or when it does not fit.
• Salvadorans with 24 months abroad — household goods, duty only (DACG DGA-006-2025 section VIII)A Salvadoran who lived abroad at least 24 months (but less than three years) and comes back for good is exempt from the import duty (DAI) on household goods under the Central American tariff convention; the 13% IVA is collected. The same US$15,000 procedure applies (whether the cap is the same for the duty-only route is not stated). Motor vehicles are excluded. With three years or more abroad the full exemption of art. 31 applies; the diaspora law is usually the better route until August 2030.
• Foreign rentier residents (Residente Rentista) — Ley Especial para Residentes Rentistas, art. 5 bA foreigner who receives a permanent income from abroad (US$1,000 a month, US$1,500 with two or more companions) and is granted the Residente Rentista status can bring household goods of up to US$20,000 of CIF value free of the customs duties, once. The IVA is collected. The goods must be imported within 90 days of the notice of the resolution that definitively grants the status. The part above US$20,000 pays the single tax of 30%. A rentista cannot hold paid work. We found no separate pensioner law: the household franchise for a retiree is this one. Our team confirms the current requirements and the franchise order with customs before we quote the taxes.
• Salvadoran diplomats and international officials coming home — household goods (Ley de Equipajes arts. 29-30)Career diplomats and consuls of the Salvadoran foreign service who return for good, and Salvadoran directors and officials of international organisations who served at least two years without interruption, can bring their personal effects and household goods free of duties and other taxes. The Foreign Ministry authorises the entry of the goods and issues the certificate that the functions ended; customs approves the franchise. The goods must arrive from 30 days before to 90 days after the official's arrival. No value cap is written. The quotas and the other conditions are confirmed by our team before you ship.
• Foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations — customs franchise (Ley del Ceremonial Diplomático arts. 99-100, 108)On the principle of strict reciprocity, a foreign mission and its officials with diplomatic rank enjoy a customs franchise for personal use and consumption, within the quotas and limits set by special laws. The head of mission requests it by note through the Foreign Ministry's protocol office, which passes it to customs, which must grant it without delay if the file is in order. The IVA exemption of accredited missions is in the IVA law. The Ley de Franquicias Aduaneras that sets the quotas and time limits was not located, so no amount, quota or deadline is shown: our team confirms the requirements for your case before you ship.

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