If you visit Ecuador on a Tourist Visa (T-3), you are allowed to stay for up to 90 days. If you wish to extend your stay, you can obtain an extension (prórroga) for an additional 90 days for $150.00 at any Immigration office. Make sure your Passport is valid for six months or longer.

The “tourist visa extension” will be granted only once within each chronological year. It will be valid for up to ninety (90) additional days, which will be continuous and accounted for regardless of whether the foreign person is inside or outside Ecuadorian territory.

– When to obtain the extension visa.

The tourist must obtain the extension visa within ten days of the previous tourist permit expiration date (between 79 and 89). The extension period will start the day after the expiration of the tourist permit. This means that if you get your extension visa on day 80, you will not “lose” 10 days of stay in Ecuador since the extension visa days will count from day 91-180.

The foreign person who exceeds ninety (90) days of their authorized stay as a tourist may request the extension visa up to 30 days after the tourist permit expires (days 90-120) but will pay a fine of $225 in addition to the cost of the extension visa.

– “Chronological year”

The moment in which the foreign person enters Ecuador with the category of tourist is considered the start of the chronological year, and it ends 365 days from that date.

The chronological year start will not remain on the same date as your initial entry to Ecuador in previous years; it will change each year depending on your first arrival after the end of the previous chronological year.

e.g., if you arrive on a new tourist permit on July 10, 2023, your current chronological year will be July 10, 2023 – July 9, 2024. If you use all your tourist permit days and your extension visa days within those dates, you will be able to re-enter Ecuador as a tourist on July 24, 2024; however, if you re-enter Ecuador on August 10, 2024, your new chronological year will be August 10, 2024 – August 9, 2025.

– Tourist permit automatic renewal.

If you are legally in Ecuador on a tourist permit or an extension visa at the time your chronological year ends, the Migration system will not automatically grant you a new 90-day tourist permit while you remain in Ecuador. You must leave Ecuador before your chronological year expires (even if you have not used the full 90 days of your tourist permit or extension visa) and re-enter Ecuador to “activate” a new tourist permit on a new chronological year.

RESIDENT

Temporary Resident Visa

If you wish to reside in Ecuador, there are 16 resident visa categories altogether, most of which require you first apply for a 2-year Temporary Visa. After 21 months of being a Temporary Resident, you can begin applying for Permanent Residency. Note not all Temporary Visas lead to Permanent Visas.

The law requires proof of Health Insurance through the government social security system in Ecuador (IESS) or private health insurance with coverage in Ecuador to obtain a Temporary Visa. Gringo Visas can help you navigate health insurance options.

During the time of your 2-year Temporary Residency, there are no travel restrictions. You can leave the country as many times as you wish. However, to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, the person holding the Temporary Visa shall not have left Ecuador for longer than 90 days during the 21 months. 

Remote Work “Digital Nomad” Visa (Video below)

The Temporary “Digital Nomad” Visa will be granted to those who carry out professional activities or services remotely, digitally or telecommuting by owning their own company or working for one or several legal companies, natural persons, or businesses abroad. The minimum monthly salary requirement is now $1,350, based on three times the Ecuadorian base salary of $450.

If you wish to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, the person holding the Temporary Visa shall not have left Ecuador for longer than 90 days during the 21 months. 

Permanent Resident Visa

When applying for Permanent Residency, depending on how long you left the country during the first 21 months, you must obtain an Ecuadorian police report and provide the last three months’ bank statements as proof of income. These documents must be in Spanish and legalized.

The most popular Resident Visas for Expats are – Pension (Retirement), Professional, Investment and Digital Nomad. To qualify for a Pension Visa, you need proof of a retirement plan or pension fund like Social Security that guarantees your monthly pension covers the minimum requirement.

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