Ecuador offers several income-based residence permits, each of which requires an income equal to three times the Ecuadorian minimum wage of US$460 a month (2024).
The visas offer a path to permanent residency in two years and citizenship in four.
Note, however, that Ecuador applies strict physical presence requirements of 275 days per year at both the temporary and permanent residence stage and that, moreover, the Ecuadorian passport is among the continent’s weaker travel documents.
Ecuador offers three types of income-based visas,
Each has an initial validity period of 2 years, and are renewable indefinitely as long as the requirements remain fulfilled. After three years of temporary residency, the applicant may obtain permanent status.
To qualify as a Rentista, you must show a foreign-source income of at least 3x the minimum wage per month (US$1,350).
Such income should take a passive form, such as that arising from investments, rental, annuities, and similar.
To qualify as a Jubilado, you must show you are in receipt of a monthly pension of at least 3x the minimum wage per month (US$1,350).
The payment should be certified as pension disbursements by a recognized institution.
To qualify as a Digital Nomad, you must:
Additionally, you must prove that you work for or provide services to an employer, client, or company domiciled abroad.
For all three categories, dependents may be included in the application through demonstrating an additional monthly income of US$250 for each dependent. Equally, all categories require you possess a health insurance valid in Ecuador for the duration of the visa.
The Rentista, Jubilado, and Digital Nomad visas each have an initial validity period of 2 years, but each is renewable indefinitely as long as the applicant continues to meet the terms.
Note that temporary residents must not be absent from Ecuador for more than 90 days a year. The same is true for permanent residency in the first three years of holding that status.
After two years of living in Ecuador, applicants are eligible for permanent residency.
After four years of holding residency in Ecuador, the applicant is eligible for citizenship, subject to mastery of Spanish language and Ecuadorian civics.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility.
Legislation upon which this program is based DECRETO No. 354 (EXPÍDESE EL REGLAMENTO A LA LEY ORGÁNICA DE MOVILIDAD HUMANA).
Most digital nomad visas function as long-stay tourist visas. These 11 programs offer something different: codified paths to PR and citizenship in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.