Obtaining an Ecuador Visa (2021)

Ecuador has reduced the minimum income required for Expats to apply for Pension and Rentista Visas.

The minimum income needed for a single Expat is $400 a month for these visas.  Previously an Expat had to show income of at least $800.

Pension visas are based on income typically from government sources, including social security and disability payments.

Rentista visas are based on income from an annuity or from non-governmental sources, including rent received through a contract involving property owned by the visa applicant.

Source... Visa specialist Maité Duran, in the same presentation

Purchase of a CD or property in Ecuador also qualifies an applicant for a two-year visa, which is renewable.

The minimum value of the asset has been raised to $40,000.  If real estate is the basis, the value is based on an assessment, not the purchase price.

A CD (certificate of deposit) is typically earning the depositor 8.5 percent in Ecuador.  The interest income can be withdrawn monthly by the depositor.  On a CD worth $40,000, 80 percent of the value is guaranteed by the government.

The source of information in this post is the presentation by visa specialist Maité Duran of Gringo Visas.

  -- cccmedia

Volunteer and Employment Visas are still available in Ecuador.

However, these are not renewable as permanent visas.

Also, Ecuador no longer requires an Expat to have health insurance to apply for a visa.

  -- Source... Expats J.P. and Amelia, who hosted Maité Duran in the 15:00 video

This is fantastic! I was stressing out a little worring my Canadian government retirement funds might not meet the $800 USD threshold. Now that the residency requirement is lowered to $400, I'm good to go!

Thank you for sharing this fantastci information! 

Hi CCC, are you aware of any difficulty for a citizen of one of the islands in the Caribbean in obtaining a residency/retiree visa in Ecuador? Say, St. Maarten.

CopperMS wrote:

CCC, are you aware of any difficulty for a citizen of one of the islands in the Caribbean in obtaining a residency/retiree visa in Ecuador? Say, St. Maarten.

No, I have no reason to think that an Expat from St. Maarten or the islands will face difficulty because of current residency.

For a really solid immigration attorney, I recommend Sebastian Cordero of Quito, who also has clients on the Ecuadorian coast.

Since successfully guiding me to obtain my visa and cédula seven years ago, Sebastian has continued to impress.  Last week, I asked him to represent me before the Ecuador DMV in renewing my expired drivers license.  He promptly emailed me back with the news that expired licenses remain valid through December 2021 because of the pandemic, by government decision.

Email... scordero(at)rcpabogados.com

  -- cccmedia in Quito