How to get a police certificate - El Salvador

If you need to give your fingerprints for a police certificate, this isn’t the same as giving your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for an application.

Do I need to provide a Police Certificate with my Application for Permanent Residence? Yes

Name of document(s) to get: Constancia de Antecedentes Penales and Certificado de Antecedentes Penales

How to get a Police Certificate:

If you are a citizen of El Salvador:

If you live in El Salvador:

You should apply for a Constancia de Antecedentes Penales in person through the Dirección General de la Policía Nacional Civil (see Special notes and considerations for complete addresses).

You should apply in person or through an authorized third party for the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales at the Dirección General de Centros Penales y de Readaptación in San Salvador (see Special notes and considerations for complete address).

If you live outside of El Salvador:

You should apply for a Constancia de Antecedentes Penales & Certificado de Antecedentes Penales in person at your nearest Consulate of El Salvador.

Please note: The process to obtain the solvency can take two to three months, as the Consulate sends the request to Foreign Affairs of El Salvador's by diplomatic bag and they will forward it to the Police Station, where the background is consulted and when the solvency is processed will be returned to using the same procedure.

If you are not a citizen of El Salvador:

If you live in El Salvador:

You should apply for a Constancia de Antecedentes Penales in person through the Dirección General de la Policía Nacional Civil (see Special notes and considerations for complete addresses).
You should apply in person or through an authorized third party for the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales at the Dirección General de Centros Penales y de Readaptación in San Salvador (see Special notes and considerations for complete address).

If you live outside of El Salvador:

You should apply for a Constancia de Antecedentes Penales & Certificado de Antecedentes Penales in person at your nearest Consulate of El Salvador.

Please note: The process to obtain the solvency can take two to three months, as the Consulate sends the request to Foreign Affairs of El Salvador's by diplomatic bag and they will forward it to the Police Station, where the background is consulted and when the solvency is processed will be returned to using the same procedure.

Information and documents you need:

For both the Constancia de Antecedentes Penales and the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales:

El Salvador nationals and residents:

  • The original and a photocopy of your Documento Único de Identificación (DUI) or passport
  • Applicable fees

Foreign residents:

  • The original and a copy of your passport
  • Two frontal pictures and two pictures of your right side
  • The proper completed form (available at the Consulate)
  • Letter stating why you require a police certificate (i.e. For Immigration purposes)
  • Applicable fees

Special notes and considerations

The Unit of Police Background Check reserves the right to not issue Solvency to people who were found to have criminal records and/or have not cleared their legal situation.

Dirección General de Centros Penales y de Readaptación (Antecedentes Penales)

  • Oficina Central
    19 Calle Poniente, Colonia Guadalupe #320 entre 3a y 5a Avenida Norte, Edificio Duarte Novoa,
    San Salvador
    Telephone: 2235-4095

  • Registro de Armas
    Autopista Norte, Edificio Extránsito del Registro de Armas,
    San Salvador
    Telephone: 2235-1554

  • Santa Ana
    3ra ave sur, entre 5ta y 7ma calle Oriente, casa #19, barrio Santa Cruz, cerca de Iglesia el Carmen,
    Santa Ana
    Telephone: 2447-6342

  • San Miguel
    8ava Calle Poniente # 602, barrio San Francisco,
    San Miguel
    Telephone: 2661-0614

  • Sucursal adicional en san miguel
    3ra Calle Poniente pasaje Joaquin Cardenas poligono a, casa # 9, Colonia Santa Gertrudis,
    San Miguel
    Telephone:  2661-2698

  • Dirección General de la Policía Nacional Civil (Constancia de Antecedentes Penales)

    • Soyapango (San Salvador) Tel. 2277-9020
    • Flor Blanca (San Salvador) Tel. 2511-0500
    • Centro San Salvador Tel. 2529-2600
    • Santa Ana Tel. 2420-8666
    • San Miguel Tel. 2661-2443 Centro de gobierno de San Miguel

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