In a bid to curtail migration to the United States via its territory, El Salvador has introduced a substantial fee of $1,000 (over Rs 80,000) for passengers from India and various African nations. This move, which took effect on October 23, targets travelers holding passports from India and over 50 African countries. The revenue generated from this fee will be allocated to enhance El Salvador’s primary international airport, as confirmed by the nation’s port authority.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele recently met with Brian Nichols, the US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, to discuss addressing irregular migration, among other matters. The decision to impose this fee comes in light of a significant increase in the use of El Salvador’s main international airport, necessitating measures to regulate passenger flows. Airlines are now obligated to report daily on passengers from the list of 57 affected countries who are boarding flights to El Salvador.
Including Value Added Tax (VAT), the total cost amounts to $1,130 for travelers from these designated countries. Colombian airline Avianca, one of the airport’s key users, has already begun notifying passengers from the affected countries of the mandatory fee. This measure is part of broader efforts to manage migration, given that many migrants from Africa and elsewhere often transit through Central America en route to the United States.
The fee imposition comes amid the backdrop of a record 3.2 million migrants encountered by US Customs and Border Patrol during fiscal year 2023, which concluded in September. This measure reflects El Salvador’s strategy to address migration-related challenges and improve its international airport infrastructure.
