BizCLIR

Overall, Salvadoran laws and public and private institutions support trade-related flows of people. However, El Salvador could do more to modernize its management of highly skilled visitors seeking longer-term stays and could do much more to address illegitimate flows. The issue of illegal people flows remains a significant problem. El Salvador ’s borders with Guatemala and Honduras are long and porous. El Salvador serves as a key origin and transit country for illegal immigration to the United States. The risk of kidnapping is moderate, but it rarely affects foreigners.

In this section, we analyze legal, institutional, and operational constraints that impede trade-related people flows. First, our analysis focuses on the legal framework for business-related visits. Second, we consider the institutional issues regarding people flows. Third, we review other key institutions involved in facilitation, such as police. Last, we identify major recommendations to facilitate trade-related people flows in El Salvador.