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Temporary Residence - Individual Merchant

El SalvadorStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This route (Form F-12) is for a non-Central-American foreign national who is an individual merchant (comerciante individual), titleholder of a commercial business whose assets are not less than US$2,500, under article 109(14) of the Ley Especial de Migración y de Extranjería.

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  • DGME Instructivo F-12, applicant group
    Personas extranjeras no centroamericanas de origen que sea comerciante individuales titulares de empresas mercantiles cuyos activos no sean inferiores a dos mil quinientos dólares de los Estados Unidos de América, de conformidad al Art. 109 numeral 14) de la Ley Especial de Migración y de Extranjería.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

A registered individual business must exist: a notarised sworn statement describing the activities, domicile, business location and start date (with supporting documents), a certified balance sheet proving the asset minimum, and a current Company and Establishment Registration (Matrícula de Empresa y Establecimiento) in the Commercial Register.

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What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

For non-Central Americans by origin: the business (individual merchant's enterprise) must have assets of not less than USD 2,500.

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What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

Foreigners authorised to work on their own account may only carry out the paid or profit-making activities that the Directorate General authorises. Accompanying family members of residents receive their status without work authorisation.

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Limits of the record
  • F-12 itself does not describe the activity scope; the restriction comes from the general self-employment rule in Art. 122.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The DGME must respond within a maximum of 45 business days when all requirements are met. Temporary residence is granted for up to one year or up to two years. Extension is a separate procedure (form F27, Prórroga Residencia Temporal para Comerciantes Individuales); no longer-term residence direction is stated.

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Limits of the record
  • Renewal requirements (contents of form F27) and any longer-term residence direction are not stated in the captured sources.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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