El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, recently announced an initiative aimed at supporting the nation’s workforce by extending a generous offer to overseas skilled professionals, including Nigerians. This program includes the provision of 5000 free passports, valued at $5 billion, as part of the government’s passport initiative.
Situated in Central America, El Salvador shares borders with Honduras, and Guatemala, and is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is the only Central American nation lacking a Caribbean coastline.
The initiative is designed to harness the expertise of professionals residing abroad, inviting them to become integral contributors to El Salvador’s growing workforce. Recipients of these passports will be granted full citizenship status, inclusive of voting rights. Nigeria is part of the countries listed by El Salvador to benefit from this initiative.
In a statement on the President’s X account, Bukele stated that the country will be extending 5,000 free passports (equivalent to $5 billion in the passport program) to highly skilled professionals such as scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and teachers from across the globe. He pointed out that this figure represents a mere fraction of the population; mitigating concerns about citizenship saturation.
He equally spoke on the monumental impact these professionals can have on El Salvador. The passport program includes provisions to simplify the relocation process for immigrants by waiving taxes and tariffs on the transfer of families and assets. This includes valuable commodities like equipment, software, and intellectual property.
Nigeria Benefits from El Salvador’s 5,000 Passport Initiative
However, Nigerian citizens planning to visit El Salvador for tourism or business must obtain a visa beforehand. There are several types of visas available for different purposes, but none are available through e-visa or visa-on-arrival options. A tourist visa is necessary for short-term travel or vacation purposes.
To apply for this visa, Nigerian passport holders must ensure their passports are valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay in El Salvador. Additionally, they need to provide proof of onward travel from El Salvador. These requirements are necessary to help make entry of foreigners including Nigeria into El Salvador very easy.
With a population exceeding 6 million, El Salvador grapples with labor dynamics characterized by concentrations in commerce and services, coupled with elevated rates of underemployment and urban informality, particularly impacting women and youth. This initiative aims to address these challenges while harnessing the potential of skilled professionals across the globe.