Visa Regulations Migration law regulations are often updated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ecuador. There are the most recent changes concerning requirements and procedures for the following Visa applications. TOURIST PERMIT “Tourist permit”: The 90-day tourist permit (T-3) is automatically granted to you free of charge on your arrival to Ecuador. “Tourist Visa …

What you need to know before bringing your pet (dog or cat) into Ecuador. When bringing your domesticated pet(s) (dog or cat) with you, there are very simple procedures to follow, and we have helped many happy clients bring their pets to Ecuador. If you follow these EXACT instructions, there will be no problem clearing …

New changes to Ecuador’s Immigration Law as of February 5, 2021 Under the new reform bill holders of Temporary Resident Visas will be allowed to leave the country without travel restrictions during the 2-year temporary residency. The temporary visa can also be renewed multiple times, as with all types of visas: Retirement, Investment, Professional, Volunteer, …

On June 12, 2019, Ecuador’s highest court, the nine-member Constitutional Court in Quito, approved same-sex marriage with five votes in favor said they based their decision on the idea that all people are equal, they also said they sought to counter any kind of discrimination. The landmark ruling came as they ruled on the lawsuits …

This is the perfect visa for people who would like to have the freedom to travel in and out of Ecuador and still have the benefits of being a resident. This visa will be valid for two years, with the option to renew, and will not be subject to the rules of maximum periods outside …

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Residency Visas – After 21 months of Temporary Residency *Applicants that have had the temporary residency for 21 months and have complied with the requirements for their visa. Requirements: All of the basic visa documents: Except State and FBI police records. Application cost $50 plus $500 for the regular cost …

VICE MINISTRY OF HUMAN MOBILITY   Foreigners who currently have a visa in process, be it temporary or a permanent residency visa, must comply with providing proof of public or private health insurance with full coverage at the time of visa issuance in the following cases: Visa renewal Visa transfer Policy renewal Current visa certification …

Ecuador has implemented specific procedures to prevent international child abduction. Under Ecuadorian law, children under the age of 18 who are citizens or residents of Ecuador and who are traveling alone, with one parent, or with a third party, must present the following requirements: a. Valid passport and identification document (cedula). b. Valid visa (if …

Recently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that, the 30-day rule has been eliminated. The 30-day rule established that, in order to apply for any type of visa, there must be at least 30 days remaining on one’s tourist visa (T3). They decided to change this because it was having a negative effect on applicants. …

Our attorney has received this new information from the Ministry. It is unofficial now, but apparently, it will be made official with a press release some time next week. The following changes are effective immediately. Change #1: As of April 14, no new visa applications will be accepted in Ecuador if the passport holder does …

Getting your visa in Ecuador can be one of the most confusing and stressful parts of your new life. Here is some good news: while the process of obtaining your proper visa can be frustrating, and full of more drama than a soap opera, it doesn’t need to be that way. Help is available in …

Why Was My Visa Rejected? It is not uncommon to have your Visa application rejected. No one likes rejection, especially when it’s handed down from the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana in Ecuador. Often it is caused by a simple typo or spelling mistake. So it is imperative that you check your documents …

Did you know that if you were married overseas and become permanent residents of Ecuador, your marriage license may not be recognized as legal in Ecuador? All Ecuadorian citizens AND residents are required by law to register their marriage at the Ecuadorian Civil Registry.  This may be information that is not widely known, especially among …

  Houston native Janet Loman talks about her recent experience on how to get a resident visa stress free before they left the United States. Janet and Ed chose visa expert Maite Duran and Gringo Visas to take the stress out of visa acquisition and their move to Cuenca, Ecuador. Loman states “The beauty of …

New requirements for visas to Ecuador announced by The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana. The important change to document requirements affects people wanting to obtain working visas or permanent residency to Ecuador. This change affects all offices of immigration regarding criminal background checks. Previously, police criminal background checks were required for the previous …

A recent survey by the German company InterNations.org ranked Ecuador No. 1 in the world for Expat destinations. The survey The Best and Worst Expat Destinations 2014 was conducted worldwide with 14,000 respondents offering insights into expat life and satisfaction living abroad. The final report includes overall ranking of 61 countries, with Ecuador emerging as “The Overall …

Mike and Sandy Dodge moved from Atlanta, GA, and now live in Cuenca, Ecuador. How did they get their visas? Through Maite Duran and Gringo Visas, of course. In this 4.5-minute video, they share their experience of getting their permanent resident visas to Ecuador, while they where still in the United States. What a smart …

If you already have your Ecuador visas, and are frequent travelers in and out of the country, the 90-day rule applies starting from the date on your VISA. For the first two years of residency, you are allowed to be out of the country NO MORE THAN 90-days within each 12-month period. But, be advised …

Gringo Visas can help you get an Ecuadorian driver’s license. Tourists and temporary visitors are allowed to drive for 30 days in Ecuador on a valid U.S., or Canadian driver’s license and a passport showing the entry date stamp. However, if you are moving to Ecuador, permanent residents with a visa need to apply for …

Obtaining a visa to Ecuador from Canada requires a different set of procedures when legalizing visa documents than your United States neighbors. Canada is NOT party to the Hague Convention, which abolished the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents and therefore, Canadian documents are not apostilled. At Gringo Visas, we have helped many Canadians …

Gringo Visas launches a 14-minute informative video packed with facts about Ecuadorian Visas.  A must-see if you’re thinking of moving to Ecuador. Founder, Maite Duran talks about the different types of visas available, starting with the most popular for expats, the Foreign Pension Visa (9-I). The video also covers the Investor Visa (9-II), which can …

GRINGO VISAS is proud to recognize Maite Duran’s 4th anniversary of providing outstanding Visa services to Ecuador for the expat community. Help Maite Celebrate on June 19th! If you are in Cuenca, Ecuador on June 19, 2014, Maite invites you to stop by DiBacco Restaurant to help her celebrate 4 years of outstanding Visa services. …

How to renew a resident Visa in Ecuador if your passport expires or your current passport gets lost or stolen. Once you receive your Ecuadorian permanent resident Visa it is stamped inside your passport. Even though your Visa status is permanent, when your passport expires, you’ll need to transfer your Visa into your new passport. …

The easy way to retire in Ecuador is to get your Retirement Visa in the US or Canada before you come to Ecuador. The most popular permanent resident visa is the Foreign Pension Visa (9-I). It is considered the easiest of all immigration visas to obtain. However, preparing the required documentation can still be a …

If you are applying for a Professional Visa in Ecuador, you’ll  need to get an Extended Tourist Visa (12-IX) from the Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate in your home country, before you come to Ecuador. This is a simple process that can be obtained in one day, provided you have all the right documentation translated into …

Get your visa before relocating to Ecuador. Don’t wait until you move to Ecuador to start the Visa process. You may have issues with your documents, which could cost you time and money. In some cases this means flying back home to fix the problem. That’s why you need to get our visa service if you’re …

Visa expert Maité Durán talks Visas on the Overseas Radio Network show “Ecuador At Your Service” with Michel & Ashley. Listen and download this radio broadcast on the latest immigration requirements, and why you should get your Visa before you leave the United States. Ecuador At Your Service Radio Show Archive February 10, 2014

Thanks to all the people who took the time to congratulate Maite on the successful launch of her new website and Facebook page Gringo Visas. Maite Duran has helped hundreds of expats obtain resident visas from around the world, and now under the name Gringo Visas will continue to specializing in visas, nothing but visas. …

Tune in to hear Maite’s one-hour interview with Ashley Rogers and Michel Blanchard on the Overseas Radio Network. The broadcast will air on Monday, February 10, at 11:00am. If you miss the broadcast, you can download it from the Overseas Radio Network archives, which will be posted here, and on Gringo Visas Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GringoVisas http://overseasradio.com/ashley-rogers-and-michel-blanchard/ …

I get asked this question a lot, along with other immigration terminology. Not everyone knows what it is, let alone how to get one, particularly in the States, where the need for apostilles is not that common. So what is an apostille? This is from the Embassy of the United States in Quito, Ecuador. The …

There are literally hundreds of websites and blogs that talk about Visas and moving to Ecuador. You can spend hours, days and weeks researching information trying to untangle the web. Often when you think you’ve found what you’re looking for, it’s in Spanish and you click on Google translate to English, and it still doesn’t …