Customs Clearance in El Salvador
Import entries into El Salvador are administered by Dirección General de Aduanas de El Salvador. Cargo typically sits 3–8 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — El Salvador
| Customs authority | Dirección General de Aduanas de El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | IVA 13%; Central American common tariff 0–15% |
| De-minimis | USD 200 for courier consignments |
| Certification | Health registration for food and cosmetics; conformity for regulated goods |
| Typical port dwell | 3–8 days |
| Sea gateways | Acajutla |
| Air gateways | SAL (San Salvador) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way El Salvador expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Acajutla has limited direct Asian calls — most cargo transships. Compare the Guatemala routing, which is sometimes faster overall.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
El Salvador uses the US dollar, which simplifies pricing, and Acajutla on the Pacific gives a shorter routing from China than the Atlantic Central American ports. Many consignees also clear through Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and truck across, so it is worth comparing both when quoting.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in El Salvador
Our entries in El Salvador are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our El Salvador clearance partner →Freight rates into El Salvador
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo–Acajutla Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Shanghai to Acajutla FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Yantian–Acajutla Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for El Salvador — the background this clearance page assumes.
El Salvador destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in El Salvador?
Import entries are administered by Dirección General de Aduanas de El Salvador.
How long does clearance take in El Salvador?
Cargo typically sits 3–8 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in El Salvador?
IVA 13%; Central American common tariff 0–15% The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in El Salvador that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in El Salvador?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.