President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced the country would be offering 5,000 free passports to highly skilled individuals from abroad, stating on X, “We’re offering 5,000 free passports (equivalent to $5 billion in our passport program) to highly skilled scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers from abroad.”
Bukele claimed that the immigration initiative would not pose a dramatic change to the central American country of more than 6 million people, stating, “This represents less than 0.1% of our population, so granting them full citizen status, including voting rights, poses no issue.”
Individuals immigrating to El Salvador would be exempt from taxes and tariffs under the program, with Bukele stating, “Plus, we will facilitate their relocation by ensuring 0% taxes and tariffs on moving families and assets. This includes commercial value items like equipment, software, and intellectual property.”
El Salvador’s Ambassador to the United States, Milena Mayorga, said the response to the announcement has been positive, stating on X, “You have no idea what emotion the President’s announcement has aroused @nayibbukele. And many brilliant minds are willing to provide their knowledge to El Salvador. 🇸🇻”
