Visas To Ecuador (PRV and TRV)

20POSTS

8 years ago

For any person who would like to become a resident of Ecuador, since February 6th of 2017, there is the new Human Mobility law, which is making the difference bewtween temporary and permanente residency visa:

.- The temporary residency visa is valid for 2 years and can be renew just once.

.- The Permanent residency visa will allow a foreigner to stay for a long term. It is important to know once you have a temporary residency visa you can apply for a permanente residency visa after 21 months.

The type of residency visas are the following:

1.聽 Worker (Trabajador): A person who is authorized to do a paid activity under an employee-employer relationship in the public service, private industry or self-employed途

2.聽 Independent means (rentista): A person who has their own economic resources brought from聽 abroad, from the income generated by those resources or any other legal income originated from external economic or any economic income generated in Ecuador;

3. Pensioner Visa: In order to apply for a pensioner visa, you must show you have a steady income from a reliable source such as Social Security or a corporate pension. The minimum monthly income required is $800 plus $100 per dependent.

4. Investor (Inversionista): A person who has assets and economic resources to develop聽 productive or commercial activities;

5.聽 Scientist, Researcher or Academic: A person who is specialized in scientific activities, researcher or academics, hired by public or private entities, or for a person who is part of the Ecuadorian education system to work on their specialty. The permit to stay will be renewed according to the duration of the program途

6. Athlete, artist, cultural agent: A person who is hired by a natural person or an entity to develop activities of this type途

7.聽 Religious or religious volunteer of an organization with legal authorization and duly recognized by聽 the Ecuadorian government: A person who develops activities related to religion;

8. Volunteer (Voluntario): A person who, by their own means or with the support of a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), in an altruistic and voluntary way, provide their services to the community according to the regulations of the Human Mobility Law of Ecuador.

9. Student (Estudiante): The person who comes to Ecuador to attend Basic Education, High school education, University education and Master's-level education as a regular student in a private or public educational facility, duly recognized by the Ecuadorian government, also for people who come to do an internship program. The permit to stay can be renewed according to the duration of the study program.

10.聽聽聽聽聽 Professional, technician, technologist or master craftsman: A person who comes to Ecuador to develop a profession or a technical activity, technological or handcrafted activities, under the regulation of the law that controls all of these activities. This is for professionals with a 4-year degree from a recognized college or university. Click here for a list of the recognized colleges and universities (please note U.S. universities are listed under 鈥淓stados Unidos鈥�). If your university is not on the list, you will need to submit a notarized, apostilled copy of your transcript(s) to the Ecuadorian Government.

11.聽聽聽聽聽 International convention (Convenio): A person who enters Ecuador under the umbrella of what is stated in an International convention to which Ecuador has subscribed and recognized.

12.聽聽聽聽聽 Dependent (Amparo), A person who can be dependent under the visa of a person holding migratory status: Sons, daughters, spouse or common law partner, legally recognized by the principal of one of the migratory categories, detailed above.

13.聽聽聽聽聽 International Protection: A person who has been recognized by the Ecuadorian government under refugee status, asylum or stateless, and can not fulfill any of the requirements of the above mentioned categories, will be able to get the migratory status of international protection.

There are some travel restrictions with both type of residency visas, below a link with an explanation for both of them.

Thanks for your comment and any will be welcome.

Regards

See also

The Working Holiday Visa for Ecuador - Guide
Ecuador visa info - 6 Replies
Obtaining an Ecuador Visa (2022) - 13 Replies
Ecuador PR on T3 visa - 2 Replies
Arranging visas from within Ecuador - 7 Replies
Visas in Ecuador - 28 Replies
Able to apply for 2 different visas concurrently - 5 Replies

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

8 years ago

Thank you, EcuaAssist, for posting this information in English and for the links you have provided.

Many Expats in Ecuador and prospective Expats had been waiting to see this information in print -- and in English -- since the law was passed about six months ago.

It was understood on this forum that the administration (which changed last month with the inauguration) would eventually post the rules determined by the new immigration law and the executive branch's interpretation of same.

Meantime, prospective Expats were confused or in-the-dark as to what was necessary to obtain visas in Ecuador.

One important issue remains unclear, as I will discuss in my ensuing post below.

cccmedia

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

8 years ago

EcuaAssist wrote:
3. Pensioner Visa: In order to apply for a pensioner visa, you must show you have a steady income from a reliable source such as Social Security or a corporate pension. The minimum monthly income required is $800 plus $100 per dependent.

4. Investor (Inversionista): A person who has assets and economic resources to develop聽 productive or commercial activities.

Until this 2017 immigration law took effect, most Expat visa applicants who lacked a pension invested $25,000-plus in a certificate of deposit or in a home or other real estate.

Would such an investment qualify for a visa under the new law?聽 The way #4 reads above does not necessarily indicate that non-commercial investing such as a home or the CD is sufficient.

Is #4 the relevant paragraph for visa applicants willing to make such a non-commercial investment?

If such investments still qualify, is $25,000 still the minimum to qualify for a visa?聽 What is the minimum additional value of the investment for dependent(s)?

cccmedia

1 member reacted to this post

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

8 years ago

EcuaAssist wrote:
There are some travel restrictions with both types of residency visas, below a link with an explanation...

The outside-of-country travel allowance posted at this link is of great interest to permanent visa-holders, including those who obtained such visas under the "old rules."

New permanent-visa holders may now be outside Ecuador for 180 days a year for each of the first two years, the timeline pegged to the date when the visa was obtained.聽

Longtime permanent visa-holders (two years or more) may now be outside Ecuador for five years and still retain permanent-visa rights, according to this information!聽 Previously, they were subject to loss of visa rights if outside of Ecuador for any aggregate total of more than 18 months within a five-year period.聽 Now, with visa and c茅dula, they evidently can keep their retirement discounts, health care coverage under IESS and the right to be outside Ecuador .. and return at their pleasure after long periods.

cccmedia

1 member reacted to this post

EcuaAssist Member

20POSTS

8 years ago

Thank you for your comments, they are always helpful to clarify more the current law.

The minimum investment for CD or Real Estate Property is $25.500 USD per principal and extra $500USD per dependant, to apply for a temporary residency visa in Ecuador.

Angelo66 New member

8POSTS

8 years ago

Thank you , very informative information.
I have a question concerning employment. Can your office assist, or guide me.

Thank you for your time
Best rgds

Angelo

1 member reacted to this post

la veta New member

7POSTS

8 years ago

EcuaAssit,
Thank you for the great information. Can dependents on a Pensioner Visa be adults ( my daughter her husband) and my minor grandchildren? Yes, my pension $ cover the $ requirement. Again thank you.I

Andrew242 Active member

40POSTS

8 years ago

cccmedia wrote:
New permanent-visa holders may now be outside Ecuador for 180 days a year for each of the first two years, the timeline pegged to the date when the visa was obtained.

I have received different answers from official sources regarding this. The Canciller铆a/Direcci贸n de extranjer铆a said the old rule applies to permanent resident visas that were submitted prior to February 6th. However, when I went to pick up my 9V profesional visa at the EC consulate in Washington DC this week they said the new rule applies.

My 9V visa application was submitted in late January and was approved this week. In regards to visas processed via cable they don't begin counting the days you are outside of the country until you arrive.....although I am going to contact the Direcci贸n de Extranjer铆a again to make sure.

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

8 years ago

Andrew242 wrote:
My 9V visa application was submitted in late January and was approved this week.

Congratulations on receiving your 9-V visa, Andrew.

I commend you on your diligence in following this issue closely over the months.

As you know, I thought we might have to wait until at least August 1st to see the new rules in print.聽 The Ecuadorian government evidently beat that prediction by about five weeks.

cccmedia

EcuaAssist Member

20POSTS

8 years ago

#10

Angelo66

Thank for your message, make the question maye someon else has the same inquiry.

Regards

EcuaAssist Member

20POSTS

8 years ago

#11

la veta wrote:
EcuaAssit,
Thank you for the great information. Can dependents on a Pensioner Visa be adults ( my daughter her husband) and my minor grandchildren? Yes, my pension $ cover the $ requirement. Again thank you.I

Yes, dependanst can be adults, but it is neccesary to proof the relationship with paperwork, ie. bih certificates or marriage certificate.

Thanks for your comment

Sophems Contributor

150POSTS

8 years ago

#12

I moved and obtained my cedula and permanent resident visa in 2013.聽 While me and my fianc茅e lived together in Florida and Florida recognized that as common law (the official term eludes me right now), we didn't have the same luck in ecuador and my investment had to be the same as his.聽 I do know other couples in the same situation, in my same Ecuadorian city with a different attorney, who did in fact get it recognized and only had to pay the $500 for the female significant other.聽 In talking to their attorney afterwards, I could have probably gotten it changed, but it would have cost me even more money to do so, so I didn't bother.聽 Now, since we own joint property in excess of the investment requirement it no longer matters.聽 Do your research, talk to numerous attorney's and never pay all the money up front in case they can't deliver on their promises.聽 From what I have seen and heard, it's sometimes easier with a little extra cash to get things you want done in smaller cities than in Quito and GYE, just my opinion.聽 We have considered citizenship here, now that with the new law, we are eligible, but I have to learn more Spanish to do so.聽 Since that doesn't include an Ecuadorian passport automatically as I perceived, we will now wait and see if we remain here or move back to the US.聽 I'm gonna remain patient on this one instead of rushing into it.聽 We have spoken to an attorney in GYE, who speaks English, cause at this point, we may need to do a will here also.聽 Just hate to keep paying attorneys fees for every new law that pops up all the time or switch things out from investment CD's to property purchases.聽 I could have a face lift from my world renowned surgeon in miami for what I've paid in attorney fees here and have money left over, lmao.

Susan_in_Ecuador Serial expat

248POSTS

8 years ago

#13

Just a note:

The term you are seeking is "domestic partnership"聽 Florida abolished "common law marriage in 1967.

Susan_in_Ecuador Serial expat

248POSTS

8 years ago

#14

Something that is not being mentioned:

At this time: Temporary Resident Visa holders will not have Cedulas.

The the temporary visas dont have numbers or letters. Just names. Pension, profesional, etc
At this point, no cedula.

This is an important issue that has yet to be addressed as the citizen identification card is necessary for so many basic needs here.聽 Perhaps they will return to the Censo we had when I first arrived in 2008?聽 Until then, your visa in your passport will be your proof for your first 2 years in the country.

And something else for those who are still unsure whether their "facilitator" or "attorney" or professional applied for a permanent or a temporary visa:聽 Look at your receipt.聽

If you paid $500...(or 50% for an over 65) you were applying for a permanent visa... $400? They put you in for a TRV.

From an entirely personal perspective, based on nearly a decade of living here on the coast of Ecuador as an expat and "doing what I do" on Social Media in a number of Ecuador expat related groups
...(I麓m the moderator of the Ecuador Forum on ExpatExchange with something like 70,000 click throughs a month, I am one of the Administrators for the Facebook page Ecuador Expats which now has 15,000 members, and I created the Ecuador Coast page on Facebook which has over 2,500 members ...
I can say that it will take some time for this all to shake down.聽 It will and patience and tenacity is cetainly needed.聽 If you are seriously coming here to live than you haven麓t any worries about time, just enjoy being here and let the matter handle itself.聽 You just get your paperwork together.聽 And that paperwork really has not changed a bit.聽 You still need your background checks, you still need your apostillement, you still need your independent translations, and you still need all of that notarios statement that the translatement has been done correctly.聽 You still need your proof of investment, or pension of that your four year degree is from a legitimate institution of higher learning and has been vetted by SENECYST.聽 None of that has changed.

Basically from my contacts the change in the visa program came about from a combination of issues: the influx of Chinese nationals, the turn around of expats staying for a short period of time and not remaining beyond a 2 year mark, and that creating a problem in distinguishing Tourism (which is an important part of the Ecuador economy) from Human Mobility which is completely different as it reflects the population as a whole.

Last point, we all have our people we recommend, and I am no different.

My go to person is Prof. Dana Cameron who麓s credentials are impeccable.聽 She has done literally thousands of visas for satisfied expats and her fees are economical. You can find her contact information here on 大咖福利影院 in the Business Directory.聽 Please consider using her services for your Visa needs. (and no I don麓t get a kicback...in case you were wondering

)