Moving to Ecuador
7 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
Ecuador digital nomad visa
Visa de residencia temporal de rentista para trabajo remoto (visa nómada digital)
Remote employees, freelancers and business owners earning at least 3 x SBU (USD 1,446 a month in 2026) from outside Ecuador.
- What you need
- Foreign-source income of at least 3 SBU a month for the 3 months before applying, or 36 SBU a year, shown with international bank statements. 2026: USD 1,446 a month or USD 17,352 a year. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Consejo Nacional de Trabajo y Salarios, 15 Dec 2025, as reported by Ecuadorian press; the Ministry of Labour agreement itself was not read). (USD 1,446 a month)
- Proof of work or services for a foreign employer, client or company based abroad (employee or self-employed), or proof of owning a company registered abroad.
- Health insurance valid for the whole visa period; a foreign policy must state it covers Ecuador.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People working for Ecuadorian employers or clients
- Nationals of countries not on the Ministry of Tourism list referred to on the official page
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- Up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Temporary residence renewable once under the LOMH (cited on the page); no separate renewal procedure published.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- Extra USD 250 a month per dependant (official).
- Your passport
- Official page limits the visa to nationals of countries on a Ministry of Tourism list; the list was not checked for the US, Canada or the UK.
Retire or live on savings
Ecuador pensioner (jubilado) visa
Visa de residencia temporal de jubilado
Retirees with a lifelong pension from abroad of at least 3 x SBU (USD 1,446 a month in 2026) who want a low-cost, dollarised country.
- What you need
- Official document from the paying institution abroad certifying a monthly pension paid from abroad of at least three Salarios Básicos Unificados (SBU). 3 x USD 482 (2026 SBU) = USD 1,446 a month. Apostilled or legalised. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Consejo Nacional de Trabajo y Salarios, 15 Dec 2025, as reported by Ecuadorian press; the Ministry of Labour agreement itself was not read). (USD 1,446 a month)
- Public or private health insurance valid for the whole visa period; a foreign policy must state that it covers Ecuador.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People whose income is investments or rent rather than a pension (use the rentista visa)
- Anyone whose pension is below 3 x SBU
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- 2 years.
- Renewal
- Temporary residence is renewable once under the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana (as cited on gob.ec procedure pages); most holders move to permanent residence after 21 months.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- Dependants can be included if the holder shows an extra USD 250 a month per dependant (official).
Retire or live on savings
Ecuador rentista (passive income) visa
Visa de residencia temporal de rentista
People living on steady rental, investment or other passive income of at least 3 x SBU (USD 1,446 a month in 2026).
- What you need
- Documents proving lawful personal monthly income from abroad or from Ecuador (e.g. leases, investment securities) of at least 3 SBU = USD 1,446 a month in 2026. Apostilled or legalised. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Consejo Nacional de Trabajo y Salarios, 15 Dec 2025, as reported by Ecuadorian press; the Ministry of Labour agreement itself was not read). (USD 1,446 a month)
- Health insurance valid for the whole visa period; a foreign policy must state it covers Ecuador.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People relying on salary from remote work (use the digital nomad visa)
- People who only have savings and no regular income
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- 2 years.
- Renewal
- Renewable once (LOMH); permanent residence possible after 21 months.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- Extra USD 250 a month per dependant (official).
Freelance or your own business
Ecuador professional visa
Visa de residencia temporal de profesional, técnico, tecnólogo o artesano
Graduates and qualified technicians who want to work for themselves or for clients in Ecuador; no fixed income figure is published.
- What you need
- Professional, technician or technologist degree, apostilled or legalised, and registered with the competent Ecuadorian authority (SENESCYT); artisans need validation by the Junta Nacional de Defensa del Artesano.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People without a degree or recognised technical qualification
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated; degree registration with SENESCYT adds time.
- First permit
- 2 years.
- Renewal
- Renewable once (LOMH, cited on the page).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- Not stated on the page.
A job offer
Ecuador work visa
Visa de residencia temporal de trabajo (actividades laborales en relación de dependencia)
People with a job offer from an employer in Ecuador that registers the contract with the Ministry of Labour.
- What you need
- Employment contract or public-sector personnel action, plus the contract registration certificate from the Ministry of Labour.
- Employer certificate showing no outstanding obligations with the SRI (tax), IESS (social security) and Superintendencia de Compañías.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- Remote workers for foreign employers (use the digital nomad visa)
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- 2 years.
- Renewal
- Renewable once (LOMH).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- Not stated on the page.
Invest
Ecuador investor visa
Visa de residencia temporal de inversionista
People who can invest at least 100 x SBU (USD 48,200 in 2026) in an Ecuadorian bank term deposit, property or company.
- What you need
- Investment of at least 100 SBU (2026: USD 48,200) in one of: a 730-day term deposit or certificate at a regulated Ecuadorian financial institution; registered property in Ecuador; registered shares in an Ecuadorian company; or a current investment or administrative contract with the State. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Consejo Nacional de Trabajo y Salarios, 15 Dec 2025, as reported by Ecuadorian press; the Ministry of Labour agreement itself was not read). (USD 48,200)
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People who cannot tie up funds for at least 2 years
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- 2 years.
- Renewal
- Renewable once (LOMH); permanent residence possible after 21 months.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 3 years.
- Family
- The page gives no dependant income uplift; dependants apply as beneficiaries.
Study
Ecuador student visa
Visa de residencia temporal de estudiante
People enrolled at an accredited Ecuadorian school, university or official language programme.
- What you need
- Enrolment or admission certificate from a legally accredited Ecuadorian institution (school, university, postgraduate, official language teaching, or pre-professional/professional practice).
- Passport valid for at least 6 months; recent 5 x 5 cm colour photo.
- Criminal record certificate (over-18s) from country of origin and every country lived in during the last 5 years; apostilled or legalised and translated; no more than 180 days old at your last entry to Ecuador.
- Proof of lawful means of living under Ministerial Agreement No. 70 (28 June 2024). The agreement is a scanned PDF and its detail was not read.
- Not for
- People who mainly want to work
- Where you apply
- Online. Online only through the Cancillería e-VISAS platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador. Applicants already in Ecuador must hold regular status (tourist permit or valid visa). Pay the same day by card (until 23:55 Ecuador time) or Banco del Pacífico deposit, or the application is deleted.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- Length of the studies, up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Renewable with updated study documents.
- Family
- Not stated on the page.