Ecuador is a beautiful little country on the northwestern side of South America. It has a low cost of living, mild yet tropical weather, and it has a low crime rate for the region. It actually ranks 50 countries safer than the United States according to the 2022 Global Peace Index.

The country uses the USD as it’s currency, which makes things even easier for Americans.

There are a number of residency visa options available. You only need to pick one to get your temporary visa and start your way toward permanent residency and even citizenship.

It is even possible to apply for residency right in your home country through an Ecuadorian consulate or embassy. This may be easier since you will need to submit a number of documents that will need to be apostilled, translated, and notarized.

Retirement Visa: 9-I

This is probably the most popular visa as a lot of Americans choose Ecuador as a location to retire. The healthcare in Ecuador is affordable and quite good, particularly in the major cities. This plus the cheap living costs and mild climate makes it an attractive destination for many American elderly.

All you need is some guaranteed income for the rest of your life such as Social Security or any recognized retirement income of at least $800 a month. You will need an additional $100 per dependent. You can petition to have your income considered if you do not meet the exact requirements, or you can apply for one of the other visas easy enough.

Investor Visa: 9-II & 9-III

There is a variety of ways you can satisfy this requirement. You can purchase a property, invest in an Ecuadorian company, or even just make a bank deposit in a bank or cooperative. You will need to invest $42,500 plus $500 per dependent as of 2022. This value goes up every year as it is based on the current minimum wage.

Investing in a certificate of deposit at Ecuadorian cooperatives can yield as high as 9.5%! This is a great option if you don’t qualify for the retirement visa but have some retirement money. Not the mention, this can make a decent bit of stable income which might just be ideal for many retirees.

Professional Visa: 9-V

If you are considering teaching English, or gaining employment in Ecuador some other way you will probably end up getting this visa.

Student Visa: 12-V

Have you wanted to learn Spanish? Why not spend some time in Ecuador and officially study Spanish to get a student visa?

Marriage or de factor union relation with an Ecuadorian or permanent resident: Amparo Visa/9-VI

If you have a relationship with an Ecuadorian through blood (parent/child) or are married or in a de factor Union with an Ecuadorian or an Ecuadorian permanent resident you can qualify for the Amparo visa. You will need to provide proof of marriage and/or a birth certificate depending on your relationship. This is the only option that can grant your permanent residency immediately.

Other

There are actually a lot of other options available. You could volunteer in Ecuador and qualify for the 12-VII visa. You won’t be able to earn money from your volunteer work, but if you want to volunteer at an Ecuadorian NGO or other non-profit or even missionary work, this will also grant your residency.

Permanent Residency

Once you have any residency in Ecuador, all you need to do to convert to a permanent residency is not leave the country for more than 90 days for two years. At the end of the two years, rather than renewing the visa, you will be able to upgrade it to permanent residency.

If that residency requirement is too high for you, you can opt to renew your temporary visa instead as long as you satisfy the requirements still.

For most of these visas, besides the investor visas, you must remain in the country for at least 180 days to maintain the visa. Otherwise you will need to re-apply for your next visit.