Moving to Cuenca starts with paperwork. Not the most exciting part, but the most important one. Get it right the first time and the rest flows smoothly. Get it wrong and you’re looking at months of delays.
Ecuador offers several residency visa options for expats. The most common for English-speaking retirees, remote workers, and investors are the retirement visa, the investor visa, and the professional visa. Each has its own specific requirements, but all share the same core document list.
What every applicant needs
A valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity. A criminal background check covering the last five years from country of residence, apostilled and translated into Spanish. Proof of health insurance valid in Ecuador. Two passport style photographs. Payment of the government fee. For US citizens, you will need both an FBI and State background check.
For the retirement visa
Official proof of retirement income of at least $1,446 per month, issued by the paying institution, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
For the investor visa
Proof of investment in Ecuador, typically a property deed or a bank deposit certificate meeting the minimum required amount.
For the professional visa
Recognized professional credentials and proof of a monthly income equivalent to one month’s minimun wage, currently $482/month.
For the permanent visa
While this step is fairly easy, it is important to get your “ducks lined up in a row” so plan at least four months ahead what is necessary to be done (which is little but important).
What is an apostille?
An apostille is the international certification that makes your documents valid outside your home country. Without it, Ecuadorian institutions will not accept anything issued abroad. It’s one of the most common reasons applications get returned.
One thing worth knowing
Having the documents is only half of it. The other half is making sure every translation meets official standards, every apostille is current, and nothing is missing before anything gets submitted. That’s exactly where most people run into trouble. At Cuenca Roots we review every document with you before anything is submitted, in plain English, with no surprises.