President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador unveiled a bold initiative this Saturday, extending an invitation to scientists, professionals, artists, and thinkers worldwide to become citizens and positively impact El Salvador’s trajectory. This move, he emphasized, aims to reinforce the ongoing transformations in the country while leveraging the expertise of global talents.
The initiative, part of the “passport program,” will offer 5,000 free passports, equivalent to $5 billion, to highly skilled scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers from abroad, President Bukele announced via his X account.
“These passports will grant them full citizenship rights, including the right to vote in El Salvador,” he added.
President Bukele highlighted that this allocation represents less than 0.1% of the Salvadoran population, ensuring that granting them full citizenship, including voting rights, poses no logistical issues.
Moreover, beneficiaries will enjoy a secure relocation process, with “0% taxes and tariffs on the transfer of families and assets,” he assured.
Emphasizing the developmental impact of this initiative, President Bukele noted that integrating highly skilled international professionals across various fields will propel the nation forward, fostering progress and innovation.
As El Salvador continues on its path of advancement, the infusion of global expertise promises to bolster its societal and economic foundations, underlining President Bukele’s commitment to leveraging talent from around the world for the nation’s prosperity.