Located on the equator (hence the name), Ecuador is a country with a lot to offer. Rich in natural beauty, with a diverse landscape of active volcanos, mountain peaks reaching over 6,000 meters, tropical rain forests, and beaches. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Ecuador is a popular tourist destination.
In recent years, many North American and European expats have decided to call Ecuador home. We can attribute this to several factors, such as economic stability thanks to dollarization, a low cost of living, and the ease of obtaining a visa. In fact, Ecuador is regarded as one of the easier countries to get a visa due to the low minimum income and investment requirements.
While you will have to wait five years before applying for citizenship (three if married to an Ecuadorian citizen), it opens the door to living in any member of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru).
Map of Ecuador
The main temporary visas categories are:
General requirements for all visas:
As the name implies, the pensioner visa is geared toward retirees that receive a guaranteed monthly income of at least $1275 USD/month and an additional $250 USD/month for any dependents. While this usually refers to pensions or Social Security, it can include other sources such as dividends, interest payments, or income earned from a rental property.
As with all temporary visas, it is valid for two years and can be renewed indefinitely. However, if you have not been out of the country for more than 90 days during the first 21 months, you can apply for permanent residency.
Ecuador added a new visa category in March 2022 to attract remote workers. While the income requirements are the same as the pensioner visa, you must provide proof of employment and a monthly salary. If you own a business, you must provide paperwork stating where the business is domiciled and registered. In both cases, all documents must be apostilled (or legalized).
It should be pointed out this is a new visa. Therefore the requirements may change.
American Dollar, Ecuador currency
The investor visa is an excellent choice for anyone that wants to invest in Ecuador. Unlike other countries in the region, this can be fulfilled by having a monthly income of at least $425 USD/month (plus $250 USD/month for any dependents) and by investing $42,500 USD in one of the following: a two-year Certificate of Deposit (CD), purchasing property, or investing in an Ecuadorian company.
Here’s a small summary of possible costs (these can vary based on several conditions and are in USD):
Many opt for the first option due to the many cooperatives' 8% to 9% interest rates. Another benefit of the investor visa (unlike other categories) is no residency requirements unless you plan on becoming a permanent resident.
However, there are a few things worth mentioning. First, your visa is tied to whatever option you choose, and you cannot “mix and match” investments to reach the $42,500 USD limit. Secondly, if you decide to park money in a CD, it should be noted that deposits are only insured for up to $32,000 USD. Should the institution become insolvent (unlikely, but possible), you would be out $10,500 USD.
Lastly, Ecuador has an exit tax (Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas) of 5%. However, as of January 2022, it is gradually being phased out at a rate of .25% every three months.
You can qualify for a professional visa if you have a four-year (or higher) degree from an accredited university and a monthly income of at least $425 USD/month. However, as with the investor visa, some caveats apply. Most notably, online degrees are generally not accepted, and you may be required to obtain a letter from your university attesting to this. In addition, a few extra steps are involved, such as having your degree apostilled (or legalized), and the documents may need to be translated into Spanish. Lastly, you will have to register it with the Ministry of Higher Education (SENESCYT), which can take up to a month.
While there are a few extra hoops to jump through, if you meet the requirements mentioned above, a professional visa is an excellent way to obtain residency in Ecuador. In addition, you can legally work in the country, although you should keep in mind that wages are considerably lower than what you expect in North America or Western Europe.
Old town of Quito, Ecuador
Unless you are married to an Ecuadorian citizen, temporary residency is the first step. If you have not been out of the country for more than 90 days during the first 21 months, you are eligible to become a permanent resident. Aside from being a step closer to citizenship, it does not expire. Likewise, the fee is the same, so unless you plan on frequently travelling, becoming a permanent resident is a better option.
After being a permanent resident for at least three years, and if you have not been out of the country for more than 180 days per year during that time, you can apply for Ecuadorian citizenship. In practice, this is about five years after becoming a temporary resident (three if married to an Ecuadorian citizen).
Overall, the process of becoming a citizen is not complicated. Still, you will need to obtain a few documents from your home country, such as a criminal background check, marriage certificate (if applicable), and a birth certificate; all documents must be apostilled or legalized. In addition, you will need to demonstrate a means of supporting yourself, such as a salary or other income of at least $425 USD/month plus $250 USD for any dependents, investments of at least $42,500 USD, or owning property in the same amount.
If your paperwork is approved, the final step is an interview where you will be required to demonstrate a conversational level of Spanish and pass a multiple-choice test covering Ecuadorian history, culture, geography, and political topics.
Your New Ecuadorian passport
The relatively low costs of acquiring Ecuadorian residency are attractive for expats who wish to get more for their dollars. For the nature lover, there are many tourist spots such as mountains, volcanos, beaches, and tropical forests. Investors don’t need to make heavy investments and have large sums of money taken in taxation, and any foreign income will not be taxed.
Their visas will accommodate all types of stays you wish. Be it a temporary tourist visa, if you want to work and live there as a digital nomad, or even if you decide to live there and become a permanent resident or get your citizenship. A place that is “arms wide open” to expats and people wanting a change in their lives.