Question regarding Ecuador Residency Visas

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Pro-Ecuador.com received the following question about Ecuador residency Visas:


We are planning to move to Ecuador in a few months. I'm 51 and retired; my wife is 49. We'll be bringing 6 of our children with us. Should I start the retiree resident visa process at the consulate here or wait until we get to Ecuador? Also, my daughter and her husband and their children want to join us. What is the easiest way for them to get residency?

Thank you,

R

MY REPLY:

Hi R,

Wow, sounds like a mass exodus! Great! Do you have a location picked out yet?

You will need to get your Ecuador residency visas here in Ecuador. Most people moving to Ecuador get either a retirement visa or a real estate visa/investment visa. There are other options, but I will not go into them here.

The head of the family gets the primary visa, (or the person with the retirement income) then each dependent receives his/her visa based on the primary visa. Each person receives a personal residency card, called a cedula. You also get a card called a censo. Dependents can include children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, parents, and grand children

For the Ecuador retirement visa, the primary applicant needs $800 per month documented income, plus $100 for each of the dependents. For the Ecuador investment visa, the applicant can purchase real estate worth $25,000 plus $500 additional for every dependent.

Or you can deposit the same amount in an Ecuadorian bank CD or Ecuador government bonds deposited in the Central Bank of Ecuador for a one year-term, renewable each year. Please do not quote me on the above figures, as rules tend to change from time to time, but you get the idea. Check with an immigration attorney for the current details when you are ready. Although an immigration attorney is not absolutely necessary, I strongly recommend it.

You needs to get some documents together in the states and bring with you. They are:

1. Certified copies of your marriage licenses, and marriage licenses of your dependents.

2. Birth certificates of the children.

3. Two passport-size photos of each person, but it is likely cheaper to get them here than in the states.

4. Police background checks are required. Go to your local police station or state highway patrol and ask them to run a backgound check. Children under 18 need a certificate of good conduct from their school.

5. Official documents proving your retirement income.

You may also need to be tested for HIV and get a health certificate here, which can be done at most any hospital or clinic here in Ecuador for a very low price.

This part is important: Each document needs to be certified. You also need to have them validated by the nearest consulate in the states. The consul simply takes your documents, stamps them, and gives them back. A year ago it cost us $10 for each document. That fee could be different now. All documents must be translated into Spanish and signed by a certified translator. The translation and validation are important steps and must be accomplished before you leave!

You have 6 months from the time you arrive in country to receive your residency visa. You should start the process at least two months before your passport tourist stamp expires. And with the number of people you are talking about, I certainly wouldn't cut the time short.

Each person holding an Ecuador Residency Visa can only be out of the country for 90 days each year for the first two years. Don't go over the time limit by even one day or your resident visa will be canceled. After the first two years, you must return to Ecuador at least once every 18 months. My visa is good until 2019.

Reminder: All of the above items are subject to change. Please check with your attorney for accurate details at the time you are ready to apply.

Hope this helps,

Best,

Gary