Embassy of El Salvador in Washington D.C.
The Salvadoran diplomatic mission in the U.S. capital
The Embassy of El Salvador in Washington D.C. occupies a historic building at 1400 16th Street NW, in the diplomatic corridor near Dupont Circle and Scott Circle. Unlike a consulate, an embassy is the highest representation of the Salvadoran State before the Government of the United States: its work is essentially political, diplomatic and cooperation-focused —bilateral relations, trade, investment, advocacy for the migrant community and liaison with international organizations headquartered in the capital—. For that reason, under normal conditions the embassy is not the window where the average citizen goes to obtain a document.
If you live in the Washington metropolitan area (the so-called DMV: D.C., Maryland and Virginia) and need a routine procedure such as the DUI (Salvadoran national ID card) or the passport, the usual step is to visit the nearest consular offices: the Consulate of El Salvador in Silver Spring (Maryland) and the Consulate of El Salvador in Woodbridge (Virginia), which handle services for the public across the entire region. Below you will find the embassy's contact information, its hours, how to book an appointment, and a clarification of which office is right for you depending on the procedure you need.
Contact information for the Embassy in Washington D.C.
Address: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20036
Area: Dupont Circle / Scott Circle (diplomatic corridor)
District: Washington, District of Columbia
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Phone: (202) 595-7500
Call Center / Virtual Consulate: 1-888-301-1130
Email: infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv
Appointments (procedures): portalcitas.rree.gob.sv
IMPORTANT: Consular procedures (DUI national ID, passport, civil registry, powers of attorney) for the Washington area are normally handled through the consulates in Silver Spring (MD) and Woodbridge (VA), not at the embassy. Always book an appointment before going.
Office hours
The embassy is closed on weekends and on the official public holidays of El Salvador and the United States. For urgent matters outside business hours, use the Call Center / Virtual Consulate.
Embassy or consulate? What each office does
- Diplomatic relations: The embassy represents El Salvador before the Government of the United States and manages the bilateral, political and security agenda.
- Cooperation and trade: It promotes investment, foreign trade and cooperation agreements between the two countries.
- Advocacy for the migrant community: It drives policies and programs for Salvadorans in the U.S., including monitoring of TPS (Temporary Protected Status).
- Liaison with international organizations: It coordinates with multilateral institutions headquartered in Washington (IDB, OAS, IMF, World Bank).
- DUI and passport: Personal procedures that are carried out at the Silver Spring consulate and Woodbridge consulate, not at the embassy.
- Civil registry and notarial services: Birth registrations, powers of attorney and authentications are also handled at the consular offices in the area.
- Consular protection: In emergencies (detention, accident, death) assistance is channeled through the corresponding consulate and the 24-hour Call Center.
How to book an appointment for your procedures in the Washington area
Remember that personal procedures are not done at the embassy, but at the consulates in the region. The appointment is mandatory and free; you can arrange it in the following ways:
- Online appointment portal: Go to portalcitas.rree.gob.sv, create your account, select United States and choose the consulate (Silver Spring or Woodbridge), the procedure, the day and the time.
- Call Center: Call 1-888-301-1130 and press option 4 to schedule your appointment with an agent.
- WhatsApp: Message +503 7070-1071 for questions and help with your appointment.
Frequently asked questions – Embassy of El Salvador in Washington D.C.
What is the difference between the embassy and a consulate?
The embassy is the official representation of the Salvadoran State before the Government of the United States: it handles the political, diplomatic, commercial and cooperation relations between the two countries. The consulate, on the other hand, is the office that serves people directly: it issues the DUI (national ID) and the passport, registers births and provides consular protection. In Washington the embassy is at 1400 16th Street NW, while personal procedures are done at the Silver Spring and Woodbridge consulates.
I live in Washington D.C. — where do I get my DUI or passport?
You do not process them at the embassy. If you live in the metropolitan area (D.C., Maryland or Virginia), go to the Consulate of El Salvador in Silver Spring (MD) or the Consulate of El Salvador in Woodbridge (VA), whichever is closest to you. Book your appointment at portalcitas.rree.gob.sv choosing the corresponding consulate, and bring your previous DUI or your Salvadoran birth certificate if it is your first time.
What is the embassy's address and phone number?
The Embassy of El Salvador is located at 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20036, near Dupont Circle. Its main phone number is (202) 595-7500 and its email is infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv. It is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For consular procedures use the Call Center 1-888-301-1130 or the appointment portal.
Can I receive emergency consular assistance through the embassy?
In the event of detention by the police or ICE, a serious accident or the death of a relative, you have the right to contact the representation of El Salvador in accordance with the Vienna Convention. Emergency assistance operates 24 hours a day through the Call Center 1-888-301-1130; the embassy and the consulates in the area coordinate support depending on the case. Save this number in your phone.
Which states does the Washington embassy serve?
As a diplomatic mission, the embassy covers El Salvador's relations with the entire United States. For the purposes of personal procedures, residents of the Washington area —the District of Columbia and the nearby areas of Maryland and Virginia— are served by the Silver Spring and Woodbridge consulates. If you live far from the capital, look for the Salvadoran consulate closest to your state.
Does the embassy handle TPS and migrant community matters?
Yes. Among the embassy's functions is the defense of the interests of the Salvadoran community in the U.S., including the monitoring of programs such as TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and dialogue with U.S. authorities. However, individual immigration applications (TPS, asylum, status adjustments) are filed with USCIS, not with the embassy; for your Salvadoran documentation (DUI national ID, passport) go to the Silver Spring or Woodbridge consulates.