NOTICE: Richmond does NOT have a permanent Salvadoran consulate. The community across central Virginia is served through mobile consulates (consulados móviles) and by the Consulate General of El Salvador in Woodbridge, which handles all full services. See the Woodbridge consulate.

Salvadoran consular service in Virginia's capital

The city of Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is home to a growing Salvadoran community spread across neighborhoods and suburbs such as Southside, the Midlothian Turnpike corridor, Henrico, Chesterfield and the Glen Allen area. Many families originally from eastern and central El Salvador work in construction, cleaning services, restaurants and the retail trade around the state capital. Unlike Woodbridge, in Northern Virginia, Richmond does not have a fixed consular office: there is no location open Monday through Friday that you can visit directly.

To bring services closer to those living in central Virginia and spare them the two-hour-plus drive to Woodbridge, the Consulate General of El Salvador in Woodbridge periodically organizes mobile consulates (also known as outreach events, or "consulates on wheels") in Richmond and in nearby towns such as Harrisonburg, Roanoke and Williamsburg. At these events you can apply for a passport and a DUI (national ID card), among other services. Anything that cannot be resolved at a mobile event—or when none is scheduled—is handled at the Woodbridge office, which is the consular office of reference for the entire state.

How the Richmond community is served

Availability and service hours

Since Richmond does not have a fixed office, there are no weekly in-person service hours in the city. Mobile consulate events have their own date and hours for each session (usually announced from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm). The hours in the table correspond to the Woodbridge office, the office that serves you for any full service.

IMPORTANT: The hours shown are those of the Woodbridge office (by appointment). *Mobile consulates in Richmond may occasionally include a weekend; always confirm the date and exact address at portalcitas.rree.gob.sv or with the Call Center before you go.

Salvadoran passport: requirements and cost

Salvadoran consulates issue and renew passports. The appointment is free and is booked at portalcitas.rree.gob.sv; the passport itself has a cost. Documents usually needed:

• Valid DUI for adults (original).
• Salvadoran birth certificate and carné de minoridad for minors.
• Previous passport if renewing.
• For minors, the parents or legal guardian present with their ID.

Item	Detail
Approximate cost	~60 USD (confirm the current fee with your consulate)
Delivery	Varies by consulate; some offer faster delivery
Appointment	Free, mandatory, at portalcitas.rree.gob.sv

Passport guide →

Consular services available for Richmond

1. Salvadoran passport: First-time application, renewal and replacement; available both at mobile events in Richmond and at the Woodbridge office.
2. DUI (Documento Único de Identidad / national ID card): Issuance, renewal and replacement with fingerprinting and photo; usually offered at mobile consulates.
3. Civil registry: Registration of births of children of Salvadorans born in Virginia, marriages and deaths (handled in Woodbridge).
4. Certificates and records: Requests for birth certificates and other documents from El Salvador's registry.
5. Powers of attorney and notarial acts: For property sales, inheritances or legal representation in El Salvador, at the Woodbridge office.
6. Apostille and authentication: Legalization of Salvadoran documents and documents issued in Virginia for official use.
7. Minor's ID card (carné de minoridad): Identity document for Salvadoran minors.
8. Consular protection and assistance: Support in cases of detention, hospitalization or death within Virginia, coordinated from Woodbridge.

The Salvadoran community in Richmond

The Salvadoran community in Richmond has settled mainly in the south of the city and in Henrico and Chesterfield counties, with a notable presence along the Midlothian Turnpike corridor, where pupuserías, bakeries and Central American grocery stores have flourished. It is a younger and more scattered community than the one in Northern Virginia, but it grows year after year thanks to jobs in construction, restaurants, cleaning and services across the state capital's metro area. That is why mobile consulates are a key tool: they bring the passport and the DUI (national ID) closer to families who would otherwise have to drive to Woodbridge.

• Key areas: Southside, Midlothian Turnpike corridor, Henrico and Chesterfield
• Job sectors: construction, restaurants, cleaning and retail
• Consular service: periodic mobile events + Woodbridge office

Requirements to get the DUI at the consulate

The Documento Único de Identidad (DUI) is issued by the RNPN and is processed in person at the consulate, by appointment. These are the documents usually requested (confirm the details of your case with your consulate):

• Previous DUI for renewal or replacement (even if expired).
• Recent Salvadoran birth certificate for first-time applications.
• In some cases, a Salvadoran passport or another document proving identity.
• Appointment confirmation generated at portalcitas.rree.gob.sv.

The DUI requires physical presence for fingerprints and a photo: it cannot be processed by mail or through a third party.

Full DUI guide →

How to book your appointment or check mobile events

For Richmond you have two options: take advantage of a mobile consulate when one is announced, or book directly at the Woodbridge office. In both cases, here's how to do it:

1. Online appointment portal: Go to portalcitas.rree.gob.sv, create your account and select United States → Woodbridge to book your service, day and time; the mobile consulate dates are also published there.
2. Call Center: Call 1-888-301-1130 and press option 4 to book your appointment or ask about the next mobile event in Richmond.
3. WhatsApp: Message +503 7070-1071 for questions and help with your application.