Ecuador Visa Application: How to Get Ecuador Visa?

Although most people from around the world don’t need a visa to visit Ecuador, some do need one. And many people who want to retire in Ecuador or immigrate for work or business, need to know how to get Ecuador visa and the application process.

The process to apply for an Ecuador visa can be a little complicated sometimes depending on where you are applying and the requirements for that specific visa.

For your Ecuador visa application, you can follow the underlined process no matter where you are.

Ecuador Visa Application Process

Except for a tourist visa for Ecuador, you can apply for any Ecuador visa either in Ecuador or in an Ecuador embassy in your home country.

1. Do You Need a Visa for Ecuador?

Before you apply for Ecuador visa, what you need to know is whether or not you need a visa to visit Ecuador. Citizens of most countries from Europe, the Americas and Asia don’t need a visa to enter Ecuador.

Right now there are 36 countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Ecuador. You can check if you need a visa to enter Ecuador on the official websiteof Ecuador’s foreign ministry.

Of course, if the purpose of your visit to Ecuador is to work or retire or do business, you would need a visa.

2. Choose the Ecuador Visa Type

Since there are so many types of Ecuador visas, you need to understand the difference before you apply. Choose the Ecuador visa type you need for your purpose, and then only move forward with your application.

Here are some of the popular Ecuador visa types.

• Ecuador retirement visa
• Ecuador professional visa
• Rentista visa for Ecuador
• Ecuador amparo visa

3. Check the Ecuador Visa Requirements

No matter which Ecuador visa you apply for, you would need to submit an original passport and photos. You would also need to submit the Ecuador visa application form after filling and signing it.

That being said, Ecuador visa requirements can vary a lot depending on the visa type, where you are applying from, and other factors.

4. Get Your Documents Apostilled/ Translated and Notarized

Except for the tourist visa, almost every visa for Ecuador needs you to apostille and/or translate the document to Spanish and get them notarized. This is where many applicants make a mistake and come to Ecuador without apostilling their documents.

While researching how to get Ecuador visa, it is important to understand that only some documents need to be apostilled and some need to be apostilled, translated, and notarized.

A document such as a background check would only need to be apostilled, and not translated. However, documents such as diplomas, and social security income letters would need to be apostilled, and then translated and notarized.

If you are planning to come to Ecuador and apply for a visa there, you must know the difference and plan accordingly.

What’s apostilling?

An Apostille is nothing but a way of notarizing on an international level, agreed upon by many countries. You can only apostille documents in your home country or where the document originated. Each country’s procedure for this is different.

What’s the official translation/notarization?

A certified/official translation must be carried out by translators registered or accredited to embassies or governments of the country whose visa you are applying.

After getting your document and the apostille translated, if required, they can be notarized through the embassy of the said country or through a notary in the country.

5. Submit Ecuador Visa Application Online

It is possible to submit your visa application for Ecuador online, through the official website of Ecuador’s external affairs ministry. You can fill in your details and upload the documents.

After you submit the application, you can choose the consulate that should process your application and everything will happen step by step.

But if for some reason you have any issues with the website, you can send in your documents through mail or in person, by getting an appointment.

6. Get an Appointment for Your Visa

If you are applying for a visa in Ecuador, You can get an appointment for the Ecuador visa application on the website of Ecuador’s external ministry.

However, if you can’t get an appointment online or there is an issue with the website, you can call the migraciones office close to where you live or show up and get a date for your appointment.https://maphub.net/embed/108645?legend=1&panel=1&panel_closed=1

You can also get an appointment by requesting one to the email citasvisas@cancilleria.gob.ec.

Once you get the appointment, you need to go to the required immigration office or migraciones Ecuador. Make sure to carry all the required documents in a file folder.

If you are applying through an Ecuadorian embassy, you can email or call them and set a date for your Ecuador visa appointment.

7. Attend the Visa Interview

While not everyone might be required to attend an interview for an Ecuador visa, you might be asked some questions during your interview.

If you are in Ecuador, the interview will mostly be in Spanish. So make sure that you speak some Spanish or have someone who can translate for you.

8. Pay the Ecuador Visa Fees & Get the Electronic Visa

Once your visa application is approved, you would need to pay for the visa. The usual form of payment in Ecuador is in cash only.

Since 2019, Ecuador has been issuing electronic visas that don’t need to be stamped on the passport. You will receive an email with the Ecuador visa PDF and you can take a printout of the same.

Ecuador Visa Application: F.A.Q.S