Had you asked me a few years ago whether to teach English in Ecuador on an Ecuador professional visa, I would have been like: what!! Are you kidding me?
See, for the record, a few years ago, I knew nothing about Ecuador. Yet, when I stumbled upon an opportunity to teach English in Ecuador as a paid volunteer, I jumped on it.
The program was run by the Ecuadorian government and they needed EFL teachers from many countries.
The whole idea of going to Ecuador, a faraway country for an Indian like me, was so exciting.
At that time, Ecuador was visa-free for Indians and I, along with a friend decided to become an EFL teacher in Ecuador. And I just fell in love with it. The culture, the food, the people- everything.
I spent close to a whole year, teaching English in Ecuador, before coming back to India. After coming back, I decided to apply for a professional visa for Ecuador, also known as a freelance visa for Ecuador.
Bureaucratic processes in Ecuador are often complicated and more annoying than they need to be. If you don’t speak Spanish, you can often hit a roadblock. But Ecuador doesn’t deny a professional visa if you fulfill all the requirements.
But before we jump into the application process and requirements for Ecuador professional visa, let me explain to you what it is.
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What’s an Ecuador Professional Visa?
Foreign citizens who want to perform professional activities in Ecuador can get a professional or freelance visa for Ecuador.
This means you can do business in Ecuador, you can run your Etsy store, do artisan things, give private English classes, or whatever. If you want, you are free to work, or not work, or do a bit of both.
It’s a temporary resident visa for Ecuador, and one of the easiest visas to get. It gives you a lot of flexibility as a digital nomad or freelancer. And it leads up to becoming a resident of Ecuador.
U.S. Citizen? Read how Valerie got Ecuador professional visa in Quito as a U.S. citizen.
Activities Allowed for Holders of Professional Visa for Ecuador
Holder of an Ecuadorian visa for freelancers can
- Teach English in Ecuador, either giving private classes or in a school or university
- Have a remote job
- Open a business in Ecuador
- Sell whatever online
- Be employed in Ecuador legally
Ecuador Professional Visa Application Process
The application process for a professional visa for Ecuador is a two-step process, involving two different government entities.
Step 1
Register your educational qualification in Senescyt ( Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación). Here is the article I wrote on how to register a profession in Senescyt Ecuador as a foreigner.
Step 2
Once Senescyt has received your documents and you have a receipt from them, you can take that receipt and apply for the professional visa in a migraciones office with the other documents.
Requirements for Ecuador Professional Visa
The documents that you need to show for a Freelance visa for Ecuador are pretty standard for every country, although it might vary a little from country to country.
Approval of Profession from Senescyt
The professional visa from Ecuador is subject to the approval of your profession from Senescyt, a government organization. And in order to get this approval, you have to provide apostilled copies of your academic transcripts.
Educational certificates and mark sheets are the first and foremost requirements for a professional visa. And remember that your certificates, mark sheets, and any transcripts that you present must be apostilled in your home country.
I would recommend you get them apostilled no matter where you are coming from.
There have been instances in the past where nationals of different countries ended up in Ecuador without having their certificates apostilled, and their applications were rejected.
In my case, since I have a master’s, I got the certificates and mark sheets for both my master’s and bachelor’s apostilled in India before coming to Ecuador.
Police Clearance Certificate for Ecuador Visa
Police verification or criminal history record is a requirement to get visas for many countries, and Ecuador is no exception.
Depending on where you are from, you can get a Police clearance certificate from your state or from a federal authority such as the FBI.
The certificates issued by federal governments are valid as long as they include criminal records at the national level.
There are two ways to get police verification.
The better way
Get a police clearance report from your home country before coming to Ecuador.
The trickier way
If for some reason, you couldn’t get the police check done in your country, then you can get it through your embassy in Ecuador.
However, know that there are many countries that don’t have an embassy or diplomatic representation in Ecuador. So do your homework in case you want to get the police verification report in Ecuador.
In my case, I got the police clearance report from the embassy of India in Colombia, which was in Spanish and English. I would recommend you get an Indian PCC from Passport Seva Kendra.
This certificate must be apostilled as well. I didn’t have to notarize it. But I have heard from expats who had to. I didn’t have to get my certificate translated, but there is a big chance that you would need to do so if it’s not in Spanish, and then translated.
So the rule of thumb is: Get the original apostilled. Then get it translated and notarized in Ecuador.
Ecuador Criminal Record
The Ecuador criminal record is needed only if you were in Ecuador prior to applying the visa. It is issued by the Ministry of the Interior through the website: http://www.mdi.gob.ec/minterior1/antecedentes/
Migratory Movement for Ecuador
Once you are in Ecuador, you can obtain a migratory movement issued by the Ministry of the Interior. It should be valid for a minimum validity of thirty days from the date of issue when you submit the professional visa application for Ecuador.
You can get this easily by paying $5 at a Banco del Pacífico branch and then submitting the receipt along with a copy of your passport bio and the page with the Ecuador entry stamp in a migraciones office of Ecuador.
They have offices in most cities.
If you have never been to Ecuador, you don’t need the movimiento migratorio or the police check to apply for a visa. They are only available after you arrive in the country.Health Insurance for Ecuador
Foreign citizens must have public or private health insurance, in order to maintain a temporary or permanent stay in Ecuadorian territory.
The health insurance issued must be also presented to the human mobility authority within 30 days after the granting of the visa.
In my case, I took health insurance from Humana Ecuador for 3 months for the visa.
You can get health insurance through
In case you will be working remotely, they also have remote health insurance.
Get your travel health insurance through Safety Wing now!
Proof of Funds for Ecuador Freelance Visa
Submitting credit card statements or bank statements for visa applications is a requirement for a lot of visa applications.
In the case of Ecuador professional visa, you need to submit proof of financial solvency in order to justify that you can sustain yourself.
Bank statements for the last three months and credit card statements will do the trick.
As per how much money you need to show for the freelance visa application for Ecuador, a good estimate will be something more than $1500 USD. The more, the merrier.
I submitted the bank statements for my Indian bank account as well as the Ecuadorian bank account.
You don’t have to notarize or translate the bank statements.Ecuador Professional Visa Application Form
You can download the Ecuador visa application form and fill it out, and sign it.
Passport
You need to submit photocopies of the passport bio page, and the page with the Ecuador entry stamp as well as a copy of any existing Ecuadorian visa.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Photo for Visa
A passport-size color photograph that has 70-80% of your face.
Get an Appointment for Professional Visa Application
You can get an appointment for Ecuador professional visa application on the website of Ecuador’s external ministry.
Once you get the appointment, you need to go to the required immigration office with the receipt from Senescyt and all other documents.
Ecuador Professional Visa Fees, Processing Time & Duration
Fees:
Main applicant- $450
Each dependent – $250
Duration
2 Years
Processing Time
30 days usually
Teach English in Ecuador with Professional Visa
Once you have a freelance visa for Ecuador, you can apply for jobs. Although a lot of foreigners use this visa to find opportunities to teach English in Ecuador, you can apply for other jobs as well.
Whenever you apply for a job, your prospective employer will check whether your degree is approved in Senescyt using your cedula or passport number.
Alternatively, if you want to give private classes or do business or freelancing work, you can also do it using this visa.
Police Verification for US Citizens for Ecuador Professional Visa
US citizens have to get background checks both from their state and a federal background check. Those documents then have to get an apostille at the state level (for the state one).
The federal-level verification has to be mailed to Washington DC to get an official stamp. Then when you get to Ecuador you have to get them officially translated and then notarized.
For more info on this, jump to the Ecuador visa for U.S. citizens article, where Valerie has written about her experience on getting a temporary visa in Quito.
Ecuador Visa 90-Day Rule
If you are in Ecuador on a temporary resident visa, you can’t leave for more than 90 days in a year. So that means anyone who is on a professional visa for Ecuador, can’t leave for more than 90 days.
If you leave for more than 90 days, you would need to pay a hefty fine when you come back. However, you can cancel the visa before you leave and reapply when you are back in Ecuador.
Ecuador Professional Visa : F.A.Q.S
How Long is the Professional Visa Processing Time?
Bureaucracy in Ecuador can sometimes be a little too much to take, but the process is pretty straightforward.
Getting your education validated in Ecuador can take any time from 15 days to a couple of months. If your university is recognized in Ecuador, you can expect a faster turnaround time. But if it is not, then you might need to provide extra documents and things will surely take time.
Once your transcripts are validated or you get a receipt from SENESCYT, getting the professional visa for Ecuador visa would not take more than 15 days.
How to Extend Ecuador Professional Visa?
The professional visa is valid for 2 years. Before it expires, you can extend this Ecuador visa for two years.
Can Professional Visa Holders Bring Dependents to Ecuador?
Yes, you can bring your dependents to Ecuador on a professional visa. You can submit their applications along with yours and pay the visa fees.
Can I Get Ecuador Residency with Professional Visa?
Yes, you certainly can get an Ecuador residency with a professional visa. It is a temporary resident visa, and you can apply for a permanent resident visa after two years of living in Ecuador.
Ecuador Visa for US Citizens: How I Got Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa in Ecuador Easily
SENESCYT Ecuador: Register Degree as a Foreigner in 4 Steps & Get Visa to Become a Digital Nomad in Ecuador
Really appreciate you sharing this blog post. Very helpful. Keep writing.
Hi there – do you have any info about doing this whole process from the USA? How would I get the movimiento migratorio and Ecuador police check? Thanks so much!!!
Hi Mika, if you are doing the whole process in the USA, then you can get the FBI background check & the state background check done there. Make sure that they are apostilled before you come to Ecuador. These documents need to be translated/notarized in Ecuador. Do get your certified transcripts and diploma apostilled/notarized in the USA as well. This is to make sure that you don’t have to make multiple trips to the States. As far as the Movimiento migratorio and Ecuador police check are concerned, you can get them here in Ecuador.
Thank you for this response!! I am now wondering, as this is becoming a very big investment, what happens after 2 years? I have heard you can turn the professional visa into a permanent residency. Is this true? Or is there a simple/cheaper way to renew it? Thanks so much!
Hi MIchaela,
A professional visa is valid for 2 years. You can extend it for 2 years before it expires.
After 21 months with a professional visa, you also become eligible to apply for a permanent resident for Ecuador.
Hi deb pati
Iam from india, just completed my masters in uk. Can you help me getting me the professional visa . Is IELTS required to apply .
Hi Wasim,
No, you don’t need IELTS. If you follow all the steps mentioned in the article, you will be fine.
Hi Mika, If you have never been to Ecuador, you don’t need the movimiento migratorio or the police check to apply for a visa. They are only available after you arrive in the country.
Hello, how is the $50 application fee paid? Did you make a deposit with BanEcuador prior to your appointment to submit your documents? Also, do the bank statements need to be translated to Spanish and notarized in Ecuador? Thank you!
Hi Hannah, you can make the deposit after getting the appointment actually. You can pay in cash. And, no, there is no need to translate the bank statements to Spanish or notarize them. If they are in a currency other than USDs, you can simply write down the amount in USDs as a note.
Hi there,
Thank you for describing the process to us.
I’m currently outside of Ecuador and I’d like to start the application process from outside. So, where should I start? Do I need to approach my nearest Ecuadorian embassy? Do you assist people with the application process? Is there a guide for people who’d like to do it while still in their home country?
Thank you!
Hi Adam,
Yes, you can start the process outside. You can approach the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy for this. The process will still be more or less the same. They can assist you with the translation and further notarization. I don’t have a guide currently on this. I can certainly help you. If you have any specific questions, feel free to use the “Contact us” form and I can reply to you there.
Can we Go to Ecuador on a visit visa and then apply there for professional visa by submitting all the required documents to their offices?
Hi,
Yes you can do it.
Hi Deb,
Highly exciting and informative about your various visas to the Latin American countries. And, just to add I too was a part of the Time To Teach program as a volunteer for the Ecuador Govt and rightly as you stated, the administrative setup was messed up during my stay there and had to leave the country on a short notice. However, I’ve been planning on going back to Ecuador or Colombia and found your inputs highly enlightening. Need your advice and assistance further. Would really appreciate if you could pm me on my WhatsApp. Alternatively, if you could just share your contact number, I’d be really grateful. Thanks and hope you’d get in touch. Kind regards, Shiva.
Hi Shiva,
Nice to hear about your experience. I have edited out your phone number since that would inevitably invite some scammers. You can get in touch with the Contact us page.
Once I am approved in SENESCYT, can I apply for the professional visa while I am still in the US?
When would I need to enter Ecuador after submitting the visa application here in the US?
Hi Dusty,
You can totally apply for a professional visa while you are in the USA. You can go to Ecuador after you get the professional visa or as a tourist before that as well since Ecuador gives US citizens visa-free entry.
Is there a specific time frame in which you must enter Ecuador once you have been approved for the professional visa in the US? What would the next steps be once approved in the US?
Hi Dusty,
if you have an approved visa already, then you can enter as long as it’s valid.
Hi Deb Pati
I am from India, I would like to apply for Ecuador Professional Visa. My bachelor’s degree university is not on their approved list but masters university is on the list.
How difficult it would get my bachelor’s degree approval?
Is there visa restrictions for Indians ?
Thank you
Hi Bharath,
It is not that difficult. You need to get in touch with the University and get a letter from them.
Ecuador needs Indians to come with a tourist visa. You can get one and then travel there, and then change it to a professional visa or do the whole thing here in India.
Hi,
How about those people with a Higher National Diploma in the field of sciences, say computer science, also with working experience.
Hi Dee,
As far as I understand, they need someone with a bachelor’s or higher. You can try a different route such as applying for a job and getting a work visa in a company in Ecuador.