Tourist entry, visa free for US citizens: US citizens are not on the list of nationalities that need a visa to enter Ecuador, and the United States is not among the 45 countries covered by the transit visitor visa created in September 2025 (Cancilleria). The official entry guide lists no health insurance requirement for tourists; health insurance is a requirement of the residence visa categories. A yellow fever vaccination certificate was an entry requirement from May 12, 2025 for travelers arriving from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, or Brazil, or who had spent more than 10 days in those countries; the Tourism Vice Ministry lifted the requirement on August 27, 2025, leaving vaccination recommended only (reported). Galapagos visits carry separate entry controls and fees and are not covered here.
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Living in Ecuador long term
Ecuador runs its long stay system on the Human Mobility Law: US citizens enter visa free for 90 days as tourists, and residence starts with a 2 year temporary residence visa, renewable once, across categories for rentistas, remote workers, pensioners, investors, professionals, employees, and sponsored family members. Most income tests sit at 3 times the basic wage (SBU), USD 1,446 per month at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, and the investor test is 100 SBU, USD 48,200; official fees are USD 320 in total for most temporary categories. Permanent residence opens after 21 continuous months of temporary residence, or directly through marriage, partnership, or close kinship with an Ecuadorian or a permanent resident, and naturalization requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence.
Numbers on this page apply to holders of a US passport. Page last verified: 2026-10-15
Rules change. Confirm the current rules with the official source or the consulate for Ecuador before you apply, pay a fee, or book travel around a date in this table.
Every route, with the math
Scroll sideways for the full table. The route name stays in view.
| Route | Income required | Investment required | Total cost | Processing time | Days allowed | Renewal rules | Tax residency trigger | Years to permanent residency | Years to citizenship | Last verified | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist entry, visa free for US citizens Tourist allowance | Not applicable | Not applicable | No fee for entry. The one time in country extension (prorroga) charged by the Ministry of the Interior costs one third of the SBU, USD 160.67 at the 2026 SBU of USD 482 (Reglamento Article 209 and the Interior extension form). | Decided at the port of entry by the migration officer, who issues the tourist stay authorization on arrival. | Up to 90 days as a tourist from the date of entry. US citizens need no visa in advance. Tourists may not work. | One extension (prorroga) is available from the Ministry of the Interior, requested between day 80 and day 90 of the stay. The July 2025 reform of Article 56 of the Human Mobility Law allows one extension of up to 180 additional days; the Interior procedure and the 2025 Reglamento (Article 209) still implement up to 90 additional days. Before the 2025 reform, the 90 days were counted within a period of one year from the first entry. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the status held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year makes an individual a tax resident, sporadic absences included. A plain 90 day tourist stay stays under that line, but a stay extended toward the July 2025 legal maximum could cross it. | Does not lead to permanent residency. Tourist time does not count toward the 21 months of temporary residence; a temporary residence visa is needed first. | Does not count. Naturalization requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence as a resident (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for rentista (passive income) Passive income | Lawful monthly rent income of at least 3 SBU, USD 1,446 per month at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, from documented sources such as rents, investments, or similar periodic income (gob.ec). Health insurance valid for the whole visa period is also required. Sponsoring a dependent requires USD 250 more per month for each person sponsored. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total (gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | 2 years per grant. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). A temporary resident may be absent from Ecuador for at most 90 cumulative days in each year of the visa; longer absences are a migration offense fined at 3 SBU (Article 65). Most holders take permanent residence at 21 months instead of renewing. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for remote workers (visa nomada) Digital nomad | Foreign source income of at least 3 SBU per month, USD 1,446 per month at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, shown for the 3 months before applying, or 36 SBU over a year, USD 17,352, proven with bank statements from an international bank (Reglamento Article 64 and gob.ec). The applicant must own a business abroad or work for one or more persons or companies domiciled abroad, and must hold health insurance for the whole visa period. Sponsoring a dependent requires USD 250 more per month for each person sponsored. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total (gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | Up to 2 years per grant. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). A temporary resident may be absent from Ecuador for at most 90 cumulative days in each year of the visa; longer absences are a migration offense fined at 3 SBU (Article 65). Most holders take permanent residence at 21 months instead of renewing. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for pensioners (jubilado) Retirement | A monthly retirement pension paid from abroad of at least 3 SBU, USD 1,446 per month at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, certified by the competent foreign institution that pays the pension, in an apostilled or legalized document (official MREMH guide for this category). Health insurance valid for the whole visa period is also required. Sponsoring a dependent requires USD 250 more per month for each person sponsored. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total, per the official guide for this category. Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over, which covers most pensioners, and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | 2 years per grant. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). A temporary resident may be absent from Ecuador for at most 90 cumulative days in each year of the visa; longer absences are a migration offense fined at 3 SBU (Article 65). Most holders take permanent residence at 21 months instead of renewing. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for investors (inversionista) Investor | No monthly income threshold is set for this category. The applicant must still prove lawful means of subsistence under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024. | At least 100 SBU, USD 48,200 at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, in one of two forms: a dematerialized term deposit or investment policy with a term of at least 730 days at a financial institution supervised in Ecuador, or real estate in Ecuador bought and registered with the applicant as sole owner. A co-ownership share qualifies only if the share itself is worth at least 100 SBU (Reglamento Article 66). | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total, at the Arancel Consular rate for income generating temporary residence categories (Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026, Article 8.5.1, as cited on gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | 2 years per grant, with multiple entries. The gob.ec description of this category states it carries no limit on time spent outside Ecuador. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). The gob.ec description of the investor category states it has no limit on time abroad, while the general continuity rule of Article 65 caps temporary residents at 90 cumulative days abroad per year, so investors should confirm which rule the authority applies before relying on long absences. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for professionals, technicians, technologists, and artisans Work | No fixed income threshold is set for this category. The applicant must prove lawful means of subsistence under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total (gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | 2 years per grant. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). A temporary resident may be absent from Ecuador for at most 90 cumulative days in each year of the visa; longer absences are a migration offense fined at 3 SBU (Article 65). Most holders take permanent residence at 21 months instead of renewing. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa for employees (trabajo bajo relacion de dependencia) Work | No salary floor is set in the visa rules; the route runs on an employment contract with an Ecuadorian employer. Lawful means of subsistence are proven under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 grant fee, USD 320 in total (gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | 2 years per grant. | Temporary residence is granted for 2 years and may be renewed once for a further 2 years (Human Mobility Law, Article 60). A temporary resident may be absent from Ecuador for at most 90 cumulative days in each year of the visa; longer absences are a migration offense fined at 3 SBU (Article 65). Most holders take permanent residence at 21 months instead of renewing. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. After at least 21 continuous months of temporary residence the holder qualifies for permanent residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Temporary residence visa by family sponsorship (amparo) Other | No separate income threshold for the sponsored person. The sponsoring visa holder proves the means of subsistence for the household, and category holders who sponsor dependents must show USD 250 more per month for each person sponsored (gob.ec). | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 200 grant fee, USD 250 in total (gob.ec). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | Granted for the time remaining on the sponsoring holder's temporary residence visa. | The amparo runs with the sponsor's status and is renewed or reissued alongside the sponsor's visa. The absence limits of the Human Mobility Law (Article 65) apply: at most 90 cumulative days abroad in each year of the visa. | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | About 1 year and 9 months. Amparo counts as temporary residence, so after at least 21 continuous months the holder qualifies for permanent residence, filing before the current status expires (gob.ec). | Naturalization by carta de naturalizacion requires 3 years of regular and continuous residence in Ecuador (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72). The Reglamento measures that continuity from the issuance of the permanent residence visa, with absences capped at 180 days per year during the first 3 years, so the practical minimum is about 3 years as a permanent resident after the 21 months, roughly 4 years and 9 months from the first temporary visa. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Permanent residence after 21 months of temporary residence Other | No new income threshold. The applicant must again prove lawful means of subsistence under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024 and file the documents behind the original temporary visa (gob.ec). | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 225 grant fee, USD 275 in total (Arancel Consular, Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026, Article 8.4.1, as cited for this tramite). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | Permanent residence with no end date (indefinite vigencia). | Residence itself does not expire or renew. Continuity has limits: during the first 2 years a permanent resident may not spend more than 180 days per year outside Ecuador, counted from the grant; after the first 2 years, absences of up to 5 years are allowed before the residence is lost (Human Mobility Law, Article 65). A breach draws a fine of 4 SBU, and a repeat breach in the same period costs the status (Reglamento). | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | This route is permanent residency itself, reached after at least 21 continuous months as a temporary resident. | 3 years of regular and continuous residence counted from the permanent residence visa (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72; the Reglamento caps absences at 180 days per year during the first 3 years). | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Permanent residence by marriage, partnership, or kinship Other | No fixed threshold. Lawful means of subsistence are proven under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024, and the Ecuadorian or permanent resident family member can prove the means on the applicant's behalf. | Not applicable | USD 50 application fee plus USD 175 grant fee, USD 225 in total (Arancel Consular, Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026, as cited for this tramite). Fees are cut by 50 percent for applicants aged 65 and over and waived in full for applicants with a disability of 30 percent or more. | No end to end decision deadline is published in the official gob.ec tramite guide. Applications are filed online in the MREMH e-VISAS platform, the USD 50 application fee is paid the same day the file is lodged, an incomplete file gets a 10 business day correction window, and the electronic visa is issued once the grant fee is paid after approval (gob.ec). | Permanent residence with no end date (indefinite vigencia). | Residence itself does not expire or renew. Continuity has limits: during the first 2 years a permanent resident may not spend more than 180 days per year outside Ecuador, counted from the grant; after the first 2 years, absences of up to 5 years are allowed before the residence is lost (Human Mobility Law, Article 65). A breach draws a fine of 4 SBU, and a repeat breach in the same period costs the status (Reglamento). | Tax residence turns on presence and ties, not on the visa held. Under Article 4.1 of the Ley de Regimen Tributario Interno (SRI), an individual is a tax resident after 183 or more calendar days in Ecuador in the same fiscal year, sporadic absences included, or after 183 or more days within a 12 month period spanning two fiscal years unless tax residence in another country is proven; having the main center of economic interests or the closest family ties in Ecuador also creates tax residence. A temporary tax residence election lets a new arrival be taxed only on Ecuadorian source income for up to 5 years (SRI). | This route is permanent residency itself. No 21 month wait applies; the family link is the qualification. | 3 years of regular and continuous residence counted from the permanent residence visa (Human Mobility Law, Articles 71 and 72; the Reglamento caps absences at 180 days per year during the first 3 years). | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
Route notes
Temporary residence visa for rentista (passive income): Rentista is the base category of this family: the digital nomad visa is a rentista subcategory for remote workers. Means of subsistence are documented under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024, and the Arancel Consular (Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026, Article 8.5.1) prices this income generating group at the USD 270 grant fee shown on gob.ec. An older Cancilleria fee table still circulating online shows a USD 400 grant fee; it predates the 2023 arancel.
Temporary residence visa for remote workers (visa nomada): Formally a subcategory of the rentista temporary residence visa under Article 64 of the Reglamento to the Human Mobility Law. The Ministry of Tourism confirmed in 2022 that the visa is open to all nationalities. Income must come from abroad; working for Ecuadorian employers or clients is outside this category.
Temporary residence visa for pensioners (jubilado): The pension must come from a public or private institution abroad. The requirements and fees above reproduce the MREMH guide for this category as mirrored at tustramitesecuador.com; the production gob.ec page for the jubilado category could not be surfaced by search on the verification date, and the USD 270 grant fee matches the Arancel Consular rate for this category group (Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026).
Temporary residence visa for investors (inversionista): Real estate bought for this visa is annotated in the property registry (marginacion) and cannot be sold while the visa is in force. The deposit route runs through an institution that works with the Central Bank of Ecuador system. The gob.ec index of MREMH tramites lists this category; its production category page could not be surfaced by search on the verification date, so the source link points to the Cancilleria consular page for the same visa.
Temporary residence visa for professionals, technicians, technologists, and artisans: The degree must be apostilled or legalized and registered with the competent national authority (Senescyt) before the visa is granted. Artisans instead file their activity registration and its validation with the Junta Nacional de Defensa del Artesano. This is the route used by degree holders who work independently or provide professional services; employees of an Ecuadorian company use the trabajo category.
Temporary residence visa for employees (trabajo bajo relacion de dependencia): A sibling gob.ec category covers autonomous work, professional services, civil work, consulting, and sponsorship letters (carta de auspicio) at the same official fees of USD 50 plus USD 270. Applicants who are already in Ecuador must show a regular migratory status, such as a current tourist authorization, when they file (gob.ec).
Temporary residence visa by family sponsorship (amparo): Covers the spouse or legally recognized partner, children, and parents of a temporary residence holder; the gob.ec tramite is a single amparo page for all categories. Family members of an Ecuadorian or of a permanent resident use the direct permanent residence route by family link instead.
Permanent residence after 21 months of temporary residence: The special requirements are an Ecuadorian criminal record certificate and proof of the 21 continuous months of temporary residence, and the application must be filed before the temporary status expires (gob.ec). Once permanent residence is granted, the holder must affiliate with the social security system or hold private health insurance under the Human Mobility Law.
Permanent residence by marriage, partnership, or kinship: Two gob.ec tramites cover this family: marriage or a legally recognized union de hecho with an Ecuadorian or with a foreigner holding an indefinite or permanent visa, and kinship up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity with an Ecuadorian or a permanent resident. Minors and persons with a disability who depend on an Ecuadorian or a permanent resident have their own permanent residence tramite on gob.ec.