References
Every fact, fee, and law in Moving to El Salvador comes from a source listed here, grouped by chapter. Each group shows when we last checked it. Government pages move, so if a link breaks, tell us and we'll fix it here.
Chapter 7: The Repatriación Benefit (checked September 2026)
- Decreto Legislativo No. 375, Ley Especial de Beneficios y Protección para la Diáspora y Personas en Movilidad Humana (refworld.org). Official text: Diario Oficial No. 148, Tomo 448, August 11, 2025, pages 19 to 45, Imprenta Nacional, https://www.diariooficial.gob.sv/seleccion/31574 (checked September 30, 2026)
- DACG No. DGA-016-2025, Disposiciones relativas a la aplicación de la Ley Especial de Beneficios y Protección para la Diáspora y Personas en Movilidad Humana, Dirección General de Aduanas, signed September 1, 2025. https://sitio.aduana.gob.sv/wp-content/uploads/download-manager-files/DACG-016-2025-Ley-Especial-de-Beneficios-y-Protecci%C3%B3n-para-la-Di%C3%A1spora-y-Personas-en-Movilidad-Humana.docx.pdf (checked September 30, 2026)
- Beneficios para la diáspora (sitio.aduana.gob.sv)
- Constitution of El Salvador, Articles 90 and 91 (constitutions.unwomen.org)
- Registro del Estado Familiar, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (rree.gob.sv)
- Importación de Menaje de Casa (sitio.aduana.gob.sv)
- Impuestos a pagar (sitio.aduana.gob.sv)
Chapter 34: Staying Connected to the US & Military Retiree Benefits (checked September 2026)
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Foreign Medical Program (FMP)," https://www.va.gov/health-care/foreign-medical-program/
- VA News, "Paper's out. File your Foreign Medical Program claim online," https://news.va.gov/145900/papers-out-file-foreign-medical-program-claim/
- VA Form 10-7959f-2, Foreign Medical Program Claim Cover Sheet, https://www.va.gov/forms/10-7959f-2/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "File a VA Foreign Medical Program claim" (updated August 6, 2026), https://www.va.gov/health-care/file-foreign-medical-program-claim/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Getting care through the Foreign Medical Program" (updated April 30, 2026), https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-care-through-the-foreign-medical-program/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "How to file a CHAMPVA claim," https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-file-a-champva-claim/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, CHAMPVA Guidebook (updated January 1, 2025): "Coverage Outside the United States," "Claim-Filing Deadlines," "CHAMPVA and Medicare," and "CHAMPVA and TRICARE," https://www.va.gov/files/2025-12/CHAMPVA-Guidebook.pdf
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Evidence needed for your disability claim," https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/evidence-needed/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Eligibility for VA disability benefits" (updated April 23, 2025), https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Types of disability claims and when to file," https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/
- Veterans Benefits Administration, "Veterans Living Overseas," https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-abroad.asp
- TRICARE, "I'm a retiree and I plan to move overseas. Will I have TRICARE coverage?" https://tricare.mil/FAQs/General/GEN_Eligibility_Moving_Overseas
- TRICARE, "TRICARE Select Overseas," https://tricare.mil/selectoverseas
- TRICARE, "Filing Claims Overseas," https://tricare.mil/PatientResources/Claims/MedicalClaims/FilingOverseas
- TRICARE, "Retiring from the National Guard or Reserve," https://tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring/GuardReserve
- TRICARE, "TRICARE Retired Reserve," https://tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans/TRR
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, "Gray Area Retirees," https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/plan/Gray-Area-Retirees/
- Air Force Benefits Fact Sheet, "Space-Available Travel," https://myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Space-Available-Travel-(Space-A-Travel)?serv=27
- Army Benefits Fact Sheet, "Space-Available Travel," https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Space-Available-Travel-(Space-A-Travel)?serv=126
- Air Mobility Command, AMC Travel Site, https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/
- Joint Base Charleston, Passenger Terminal Information, https://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/Welcome-to-Charleston/Passenger-Terminal-Information
- Joint Task Force-Bravo, https://www.jtfb.southcom.mil/
- Military OneSource, "Veterans Online Shopping Benefit," https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/veterans-online-shopping-benefit/
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, "Commissary and exchange privileges for Veterans," https://www.va.gov/resources/commissary-and-exchange-privileges-for-veterans/
- Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, "Hospital Militar Central" (November 7, 2020), https://fuerzaarmada.mil.sv/?servicios=servicio-2
- Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, "Servicio Privado del Hospital Militar," https://www.fuerzaarmada.mil.sv/?p=78
- Círculo Militar El Salvador, "Club social," https://circulomilitarsv.com/club-social/ (membership details to confirm by phone, (503) 2555-5000)
- US Embassy in El Salvador, "Contact Us" and "Embassy," https://sv.usembassy.gov/contact/ and https://sv.usembassy.gov/embassy/
- Diálogo Américas, "Cooperative Security Location Comalapa at the Forefront of Combating Narcotrafficking," https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/cooperative-security-location-comalapa-at-the-forefront-of-combating-narcotrafficking/
- Code of Virginia § 46.2-324, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter3/section46.2-324/
- Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia," https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
- Virginia Tax, "Residency Status," https://www.tax.virginia.gov/residency-status
- Federal Voting Assistance Program, "Voting Residence for Citizens Residing Outside the US," https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/voting-residence
- US Postal Service, "Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)," https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Commercial-Mail-Receiving-Agency-CMRA
- US Postal Service, PS Form 1583, https://about.usps.com/forms/ps1583.pdf
- Correos de El Salvador, "Preguntas Frecuentes," https://www.correos.gob.sv/preguntas-frecuentes/
- Amazon Customer Service, "AmazonGlobal Export Countries and Regions" and "About Import Tax and Fees," https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GCBBSZMUXA6U2P8R and https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8VRJ7Y8Z3T5WPV3
- Diario El Mundo, "Esta es la forma en cómo los extranjeros pueden pasar consulta médica en DoctorSV," December 23, 2025, https://diario.elmundo.sv/ampArticle/esta-es-la-forma-en-como-los-extranjeros-pueden-pasar-consulta-medica-en-doctorsv?amp=1
- elsalvador.com, "Cómo usar DoctorSV, la nueva app de consultas médicas gratis en El Salvador," November 15, 2025, https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/salud-el-salvador-aplicaciones-app/1251116/2025/
The book behind these resources
Moving to El Salvador
One family's real move, turned into a clear, step-by-step roadmap.
Paperwork and residency. Banking and taxes. Shipping a household, finding a home, schools, health care, and getting around. Written for those returning home and those arriving for the first time.