In case you are planning to visit, work, volunteer, invest or retire in Ecuador or do something else, you will need to understand the Ecuador visa requirements.
Like any visa, an Ecuador visa application comes with its set of documentation and paperwork. Once you know the visa type that you want to apply for, you need to start working on gathering the documents for the particular visa.
Now, some of the documents are mandatory irrespective of the type of visa you are getting.
Ecuador Visa Requirements for any Visa
Here are the required documents for any Ecuador visa:
1. Ecuador Visa Application Form
You need to fill out the Ecuador visa application form and sign it and submit it when applying for any Ecuador visa. You can download it or get it in the migraciones Ecuador or in an Ecuador embassy, depending on where you are applying it.
2. Valid passport
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in Ecuador.
3. Photo for Ecuador Visa
You need to affix a 2 x 2 Color Passport-size pictures in white background, on your Ecuador visa application form. Your facial expression must be neutral (preferably), or have a natural smile, with both eyes open
4. Background Check or Police Clearance Certificate
For applicants over 18, an original certificate of criminal record or a background check from your home country and from all the countries where you have resided for the last five years is a requirement for Ecuador visa.
This document must be apostilled from the country where you got it, and then translated and notarized. It must be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance until you enter Ecuador.
While Ecuador accepts background checks from federal authorities like FBI, US citizens are also needed to provide state background check. Depending on where you are from, you might only need to provide a federal police clearance certificate.
For example, applying Ecuador visa for Indians requires only a federal police clearance certificate.
5. Health Insurance
If you are traveling to Ecuador, you must have health insurance, at least when your visa is being processed. This can be from a public or private provider. Note that your existing insurance like Medicaid or any other that doesn’t cover international travel won’t be accepted.
We recommend you get a Safety Wing travel health insurance, to give you peace of mind and help in case of any unforeseen events. Their plans are flexible depending on your requirement and they cover COVID.
Specific Visa Requirements for Ecuador
Visa requirements for Ecuador are pretty straightforward. That being said, depending on the type visa you are applying, citizenship and your own circumstances, Ecuador visa requirements can vary.
Tourist Visa for Ecuador
- Hotel reservations for your stay
- Certificate of Financial Responsibility to prove that the applicant has the sufficient funds for expenses while in Ecuador
- Roundtrip flight tickets for visa
- Bank statements that show that you are making more than 600$ per month
- A signed cover Letter from the Applicant stating the reasons of travel, as well as mentioning whether you are self-employed or have a job.
If invited:
- Letter of Invitation to attend an event or seminar, conference etc.
For minors:
- Birth certificate.
- If traveling unaccompanied: Letter of consent from the parent/s or legal guardian/s.
Ecuador Retirement Visa
- Proof of “Guaranteed Pension” for life that is issued or provided by either Social Security, a prior public/private Employer.
Ecuador Work Visa
- Employment contract with the public/ private company.
- Registration certificate from Ecuadorian ministry.
- Proof that the employer has no outstanding obligations with SRI ( Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador) and IESS (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social).
- Résumé (CV) of applicant, proving professional experience.
- Copies of academic degrees
Ecuador Professional Visa
- Transcripts from a university authorized by SENESCYT, the degree approving institution.
- Bank statements for the last 6 months.
- Proof of recurring income of at least $400.
Ecuador Rentista Visa
- Documents that certify the income of legal income in a personal capacity abroad or in Ecuador, such as: lease contracts, investment titles etc.
This must be duly apostilled from the country where the document was issued and and translated to Spanish.
Ecuador Amparo (Family) Visa
The amparo visa or visa de Amparo is for foreigners whose immediate family member (i.e. parent or child) is an Ecuador citizen or Ecuadorian permanent resident, or who is married to one.
You might need to attend an interview before the Zonal Coordination or in a consulate of Ecuador, depending on whether you married in Ecuador or abroad.
- Marriage certificate issued by the Civil Registry Authority if you got married in Ecuador.
- If you have married abroad, it must have been registered in Ecuador.
- In the case of the de facto Union or union marital de hecho, it must be registered with the Civil Registry Authority in Ecuador.
- If you are applying through a family member, then a birth certificate.
- Bank statements for the last 6 months showing proof of a minimum recurring income of $400 from legal source such as one’s job, business, pension, real estate rental income, annuity, disability payment etc.
Student Visa for Ecuador
- Enrolment or admission certificate in an Ecuadorian educational establishment accredited legally
- Proof of financial substinence
Ecuador Investor Visa
A foreigner can get this visa by investing a minimum of $40,000 USDs (or the equivalent of 100 times the basic wage of Ecuador) in real estate or in an Ecuadorian company or in an Ecuadorian bank.
- Ecuadorian Bank Certificate of Deposit with a minimum term of 730 days
- Deed of sale of a property located in national territory
- Document that proves the ownership of shares or participations in an Ecuadorian company
- Copy of the public deed of the investment contract signed with the Ecuadorian State or copy of the contract Copy of an administrative contract of any nature, signed with the State
- Bank statements for the last 6 months showing proof of a minimum recurring income of $400 from any legal source such as one’s job, business, pension, real estate rental income, annuity, disability payment etc
Apostille, Translation, and Notarization for Ecuador Visa
For most Ecuador visa types, apostilling of many documents issued abroad is a must. These documents can be, but not limited to, your background check, letter of income, pension certificate etc.
These documents would further need to be translated to Spanish by an official translator and then notarized. Translation and notarization of documents can be done through an Ecuadorian embassy where you are applying the visa or in Ecuador.