NIT and Bank Accounts in El Salvador for Foreigners (2026)

What the NIT Is and Who Needs One

The NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) is El Salvador’s taxpayer number. Since the 2021 reform of the taxpayer registry law, a Salvadoran adult’s DUI number also works as the NIT. Hacienda lists the exceptions that still need a separate NIT: foreigners, minors and companies. If you are a foreigner, you will be asked for it by SERTRACEN for a driver’s license, by the notary and tax office when you buy property, when you import or register a car, and by many banks.

How to Get a NIT Online (Free)

Hacienda announced that from Thursday, January 15, 2026 the NIT is issued in digital format, free of charge, on its website. Foreigners use the same service:

Changing your registered details later is done with your original passport or valid residence card. Older guides still mention a $2 fee and a visit to a Hacienda office; since January 15, 2026 the digital NIT is free.

Opening a Bank Account as a Foreigner

There is no single national list. Each bank publishes its own requirements, and they can ask for more under their anti-money-laundering rules. Here is what three banks publish:

In February 2025 the Fiscalía General issued guidelines (Acuerdo 096) to make it easier for foreign investors and Salvadorans abroad to open accounts, with documents scaled by risk: a passport at the lowest level, then the NIT, proof of income and proof of the source of funds. The guidelines also list FATCA (the US tax reporting rule) among the general data banks record.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a foreigner get a NIT in El Salvador?

Online and free since January 15, 2026: in the Ministerio de Hacienda DGII portal, choose NIT Digital, enter your passport details, upload the passport as a PDF and give an address in El Salvador. The NIT arrives as a PDF by e-mail.

Do Salvadorans still need a NIT?

Salvadoran adults use their DUI number as their NIT since the 2021 reform. Foreigners, minors and companies still need a separate NIT.

Can a foreigner open a bank account in El Salvador?

Yes, but each bank sets its own requirements. Banco Agrícola asks for a passport or residence card, NIT, proof of address and proof of ties to El Salvador (the last two waived for foreign investors). Banco Cuscatlán lists a passport, residence card and a $25 minimum for resident foreigners.

Resumen en español

Para los salvadoreños mayores de edad el número de DUI es también el NIT. Los extranjeros necesitan su propio NIT: desde el 15 de enero de 2026 Hacienda lo emite gratis y en línea (NIT Digital), subiendo el pasaporte en PDF y con una dirección en El Salvador. Para abrir una cuenta, cada banco fija sus requisitos: Banco Agrícola pide pasaporte o carné de residente, NIT, comprobante de domicilio y de arraigo (estos dos no para inversionistas extranjeros); Banco Cuscatlán, pasaporte, carné de residente y $25 de apertura para extranjeros residentes; Banco Promerica, pasaporte o carné de residente y NIT.