El Salvador to offer 5,000 “free passports” to skilled foreign workers

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele recently announced a move to bolster the country's economy through foreign investment by offering 5,000 "free passports" to highly skilled international workers.

Scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers will be granted “full citizen status” including voting rights, the president said in a statement on social media platform X.

El Salvador intends to facilitate the relocation process by removing taxes and tariffs on "moving families and assets," which includes equipment, software, and intellectual property.


“Despite the small number, their contributions will have a huge impact on our society and the future of our country,” said Bukele in his post.

Last year, El Salvador introduced a $1,000 (Rs 83,240) fee for passengers travelling from Africa or India as part of its efforts to address irregular migration through the Central American nation, according to a Bloomberg report.