PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
El Salvador

El Salvador has been a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since February 19, 1994, and joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on August 17, 2006. The country is also a signatory to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for Patent Procedures. Additionally, El Salvador is a member of the regional IP information platform LATIPAT and participates in the "SISTEMA DE COOPERACIÓN SOBRE ASPECTOS DE INFORMACIÓN OPERACIONAL Y DE PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL" (PROSUR). 

In El Salvador, a PCT application must be filed within 30 months from the priority date to enter the national phase. 

In El Salvador, Spanish is the official language for filing, and the Spanish translation can be filed at national phase entry or within two months from the national filing date. 

In El Salvador, extensions for the late filing of the initial patent application are generally not permitted. 

Documents required to file national phase applicatiion in the said country are as follows:

• Power of Attorney: A Power of Attorney, duly notarized and legalised by the apostille or a Honduran consulate should be submitted within 2 months from national filing date. 

• Assignment Deed: Assignment, duly notarized and legalised by the apostille are required only if the applicant of the priority application differs from the applicant of the El Salvador application. 

There is no cost exemption availability for patent application in El Salvador. 

In El Salvador, to initiate the examination of a patent application, a written request must be submitted to the Registry within six months from the application’s publication date. This request should be made after the application has been assigned a filing date. 

In El Salvador, patent renewal fees are annual payments due on the anniversary of the filing date, beginning in the second year after the application is filed. 

In El Salvador, patent protection is provided for a standard period of 20 years, starting from the filing date of the national application. 

In the 2024 Global Innovation Index, El Salvador ranked 98th out of 133 countries, demonstrating notable strengths in innovation outputs. The country excelled in areas such as Creative outputs, Market sophistication, and Business sophistication, reflecting its growing capacity for innovation and economic development. 

El Salvador has made significant strides in boosting investor confidence through strengthened security measures, leading to a notable reduction in crime. The country has also seen steady economic growth, with GDP increasing by 2.1% annually from 2000 to 2023, and a 14% decline in official poverty during that period. In addition, government actions such as improving public security and implementing fiscal reforms have contributed to a rise in government revenues, which increased by 7.3% in 2024. 

El Salvador's fiscal measures, including debt buybacks, have reduced short-term fiscal pressures, and the IMF’s approval of an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement is expected to further strengthen the country's fiscal stability. The country's low inequality, with a GINI coefficient of 39.8 in 2023, is another positive indicator of its economic progress. These efforts position El Salvador for future growth, particularly with the continued support from multilateral institutions.