Updated June 2024 - The Single Identity Document (DUI) is the document that identifies individuals in El Salvador, in addition to serving as identification. How do I obtain a DUI in the United States?
Here we tell you the steps and requirements to do it.
Appointments at the Consulates of El Salvador in the United States
To process your DUI in the United States, you must schedule an appointment through the Call Center at 1-888-301-1130, option # 4 for the United States and Canada, or you can also visit the dating portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador: portalcitas.rree.gob.sv.
You can also contact us via WhatsApp message: 7070-1071. Once you have a date and time to appear, you must bring at least one document from each section.
Processing of Salvadoran DUI and Passport without an appointment
2026 update: The Consulate General of El Salvador in Charlotte recently announced that Salvadorans no longer need to schedule an appointment to process or renew their DUI (National Identity Document) and passport. Both documents can now be processed during a single visit to the consulate. Service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more in our [link to relevant section]. Updated guide on how to process the Salvadoran DUI and passport.
To go to the appointment portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, click on the button
Requirements to process a DUI for the first time or to renew
To obtain a Single Identity Document (DUI) for the first time, you must:
The documents you must submit to process your
- Be older than 18 years
- Pay US$ 35 (rate in effect in 2026)
- Confirm your identity
1) Confirm identity
Please submit one of the following documents:
- Original and recent birth certificate, issued no more than 12 months prior to the date of your application
- Please present one of the following documents: National Identity Card, Voter Registration Card, Minor's Card, Salvadoran driver's license or driver's license from your country of residence, or original passport. Temporary passports will not be accepted.
If you do not have any of the aforementioned documents, you may submit one of the following:
- State ID, Green Card, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Program, Driver's License or expired Salvadoran passport
- Card issued by the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration of El Salvador.
- Current travel document for refugees (I-151 or I-551)
- Current work authorization document issued by the Immigration Service
If you do not have any of the aforementioned identification documents, the applicant will identify himself with two Salvadoran witnesses by birth who know him.
2) Certification:
- Original Birth Certificate, which meets the legal requirements (less than 1 year old).
- Naturalization certificate authenticated by a notary or by the General Directorate of Immigration and Immigration in the case of naturalized foreigners.
- Resolution or ruling of the Ministry of the Interior, in which nationalization is granted or recognized.
3) Payment receipt:
– Payment for the DUI issuance process (US$35.00) to be made at the Consulate abroad on the day of the appointment.
In case of requesting a modification of data in the DUI, you need:
1. Unique Identity Document that is valid and in good condition, this will be retained.
2. Supporting documents for the modification request, for example: change in Family Status, name, profession or residence address.
3. Payment of $35.00 dollars within the consular annex
In 2022, the Government of El Salvador opened 4 new consular offices, which now add up to 25 Consulates of El Salvador in the United States where Salvadorans can go to do their paperwork.
Requirements for renew your DUI
1. Expired or soon-to-expire Unique Identity Document (preferably present it at the time of processing).
2. Application supporting documents, in case of requesting changes to the information contained in the Single Identity Document.
3. Certification of a valid birth certificate in the event that the applicant citizen has been settled through subsidiary settlement procedures (notarial or judicial).
4. Payment of $35.00 dollars within the consular annex
For replacement , it is only necessary to pay the $35 that the DUI costs and show up for your scheduled appointment.
Receive your DUI at your home address: Salvadorans in the United States can now request that their National Identity Document (DUI) be sent to their home address. Find out more in our article about it. DUI Express service.
The service has an extra cost of US$20 in addition to the cost of issuing the Single Identity Document.
DUI Appointments at the Consulate of El Salvador in North Carolina
Below we leave you the information on the location and hours of attention to Salvadorans.
The consulate of El Salvador in North Carolina is located in the city of Charlotte. The consulate is temporarily located at 1520 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Keep in mind that the Unique Identity Document - DUI - is delivered to the applicant approximately 15 days after completing the corresponding process.
Mandatory DUI for all Salvadoran natural persons of legal age. In addition, it is used to vote and to carry out other consular procedures.
In the United States alone, there are 542,309 Salvadorans with DUI and therefore, the government enabled the possibility of carrying out the DUI process abroad in the consular annexes.
Recently, the immediate delivery of the DUI for Salvadorans began to be enabled in some of the 21 Consulates of El Salvador in the United States, among them is the one located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Even those Salvadoran citizens abroad who have never had the Unique Identity Document can obtain their DUI for the first time at one of the Salvadoran consulates in the United States that have so far enabled the procedure with immediate delivery.
>>> Important: Requirements and procedures for obtaining a DUI may change. Please consult our Updated guide on Salvadoran DUI and passport procedures to verify the current information before going to the consulate.
You can also make modifications, replacement or renewal of your DUI at any of the Salvadoran consulates.
For more information about the Salvadoran DUI, click on the button:
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