Ecuador visas, residency and citizenship, explained in plain English
Moving to Ecuador? Find the right visa, check how long until permanent residency and citizenship, and download your document checklist, all based on official Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry pages (checked 2026-10-31).
Free tools
🧰 Visa eligibility checker
4 questions → your best visa options
🧰 Residency time calculator
Temporary → permanent → citizenship
🧰 Requirements checklist (PDF)
Documents and official fees, printable
Choose your visa
Retirement visa (Jubilado)
USD 320 official fees · 2 years
Rentista visa (passive income)
USD 320 official fees · 2 years
Digital nomad / remote work visa
USD 320 official fees · Up to 2 years
Investor visa (Inversionista)
USD 320 official fees · 2 years
Professional, technician, technologist or artisan visa
USD 320 official fees · 2 years
Permanent residence after more than 21 months of temporary residence
USD 275 official fees · Indefinite
MERCOSUR permanent residence
USD 270 official fees · Indefinite
🛂 Citizenship by naturalization
USD 400 official fees · 3 years with permanent residence
From visa to passport: the path
- Temporary visa
2 years (retiree, rentista, nomad, investor, professional…). - Permanent residence
After more than 21 months of temporary residence. - 3 years of permanent residence
Up to 180 days abroad per year. - Exam + interview
Knowledge exam in Spanish and an interview. - Carta de Naturalización
You become Ecuadorian.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I can become an Ecuadorian citizen?
You need regular and continuous residence with a permanent-residence visa for at least 3 years (2 for recognized refugees and stateless persons), plus the knowledge exam and an interview. Permanent residence itself requires more than 21 months of temporary residence.
How much does Ecuadorian citizenship cost?
The official fees are USD 50 for the application and USD 350 for the grant of the Carta de Naturalización, with discounts for older adults and people with disabilities.
Do I have to take the exam in Spanish?
Yes. You must speak and write Spanish, and the knowledge exam is in Spanish. Exemptions exist (for example, a university degree completed in Ecuador in Spanish).
What is the minimum income for the retirement or rentista visa?
Three unified basic wages (SBU) per month: USD 1,446 with the 2026 SBU of USD 482, plus USD 250 per dependent.