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Visa Requirements to Visit the U.S. from Ecuador

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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

To enter the U.S., you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship along with your visa. Officials at your port of entry into the U.S. will also issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94 and how to apply .

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check to see if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visa

The visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa, is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

How to renew a visitor visa

You must renew your visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas within the U.S.

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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U.S. Consulate General Guayaquil, Ecuador - GYQ

Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Step 1: Register your appointment online

You need to register your appointment online before attending your interview. Registering your appointment provides us with the information we need to return your passport to you after your interview. Registration is free . You must complete this requirement for  all applicants applying for a visa. Failure to comply with this instruction prior to attending your interview will result in not being allowed to enter the consulate and will delay your process. Click the “Register” button below to register.

Register >>

Step 2: Schedule a medical exam in Ecuador

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Ecuador. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Consulate can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below  before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Consulate. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

QUITO Dr. RODRIGO SOSA Edificio Citimed Avenida Mariana de Jesus OE 7-02 y Nuño de Valerrama Piso 8, Oficina 803 Telephone:  02-3801601 02-3801602

GUAYAQUIL Dr. JORGE CHEHAB Vélez 503 y Boyacá 2do Piso Oficina 202 Telephone: 04-2532092 / 04-2513663 / 098-4944753 / 099-9874455

Items to bring to your medical examination

The doctor will need the following items to complete the medical exam forms:

• Your visa interview appointment letter,
• Your valid passport,
• Six (6) recent color photographs, sized 3 by 4 centimeters,
• All available immunization records, and
• Complete questionnaire  “ Información del Solicitante ,”  
• DS-260 confirmation page.

Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician:

0-2 years old                      USD$ 80 2-14 years old                    USD$ 240 15-17 years old                  USD$ 300 18-24 years old                  USD$ 350 25-44 years old                  USD$ 315 45 years older and older:  USD$ 300   

During the medical exam

Applicants must have their medical exam performed at least seven (7) days prior to their immigrant visa appointment. The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray, and screening test for syphilis and gonorrhea (for applicants 18 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for applicants from two to fourteen years of age. If the test is positive, applicants will be required to have a chest X-ray and in some cases need to go through a complementary treatment. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available here .

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available here . You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements online .

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will either provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the U.S. Consulate. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview . Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview Checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that the applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview.  Any documents that are not in either English or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation:

• A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
• Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States  and  a photocopy of the biographic page.
• One (1) color photograph of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our  online photo requirements.
• Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at  ceac.state.gov/iv .
• Your birth certificate. The acceptable documents are 1) “Inscripción de Nacimiento” issued by the National Civil Registry and 2) “Libro de Nacimientos” issued by the Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil. c  The  “Inscripción de Nacimiento” shows “República del Ecuador” in the header and a barcode, electronic signature of Director of the Civil Registry and QR code in the footer. This document is not printed in security paper.  The document must be legalized and stamped by the Civil Registry on the reverse side. The  “Libro de Nacimientos” is printed in security paper, with water seals on the background and has a dry seal over the Delegate’s signature. Certification stamp and signature are placed on the left side of the document. The document does not need to be apostilled or notarized. The following documents are not acceptable: “ Partida de Nacimiento ” and “ Certificado de Nacimiento ”.
• Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope ( if the physician gives you these results) .

Instructions for getting an Ecuadorian police certificate are online at  www.ministeriodegobierno.gob.ec. Although the validity of the Ecuadorian police certificate is for ninety days, for U.S. immigrant visa process it is accepted for two years. Police certificates from the United States are not required.

• If you have been issued any type of non-immigrant visa to the United States (for example, tourist, student or work visas) bring your passport containing the visa to your interview.  

Applicants who fall into any category below should bring these additional documents

For family based visa applicants:

• The appropriate  Form I-864 Affidavit of Support  for  each  financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s. 
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card) and  domicile in the United States. 
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant. For marital relationship cases: photographs, letters, emails, birth certificates of children born of the marriage, etc. For child, parent, or sibling relationship cases: baptismal, hospital or birth records; childhood immunization or school records; and photographs, letters or emails.  

If you are married : Your marriage certificate. The acceptable documents are 1) “ Inscripción de Matrimonio ” issued by the National Civil Registry and 2) “Libro de Matrimonios ” issued by the Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil. The “Inscripción de Matrimonio” shows “República del Ecuador” in the header and a barcode, electronic signature of Director of the Civil Registry and QR code in the footer. This document is not printed in security paper.  The document must be legalized and stamped by the Civil Registry on the reverse side. The “Libro de Matrimonios” is printed in security paper, with water seals on the background and has a dry seal over the Delegate’s signature. Certification stamp and signature are placed on the left side of the document. The document does not need to be apostilled or notarized.   The following document is not acceptable: “ Certificado de Matrimonio ”.

If you were previously married: Your divorce certificate or spouse’s death certificate. If the marriage took place in Ecuador, the acceptable documents are 1) “Inscripción de Matrimonio” issued by the National Civil Registry, with the appropriate divorce amendment and  2)  “Libro de Matrimonios” issued by the Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil, with the appropriate divorce amendment. The  “Inscripción de Matrimonio” shows “República del Ecuador” in the header and a barcode, electronic signature of Director of the Civil Registry and QR code in the footer. This document is not printed in security paper. The divorce amendment is registered on the left side or reverse of the document.  The document must be legalized and stamped by the Civil Registry on the reverse side.  The “Libro de Matrimonios” is printed in security paper, with water seals on the background and has a dry seal over the Delegate’s signature. The divorce amendment is registered on the left side or reverse of the document. Certification stamp and signature are placed on the left side of the document. The document does not need to be apostilled or notarized.  The following document is not acceptable: “Acta de Divorcio” .

For employment-based visa applications:  A letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime:  Bring all documents related to previous encounters with law enforcement, regardless of the outcome of the case.

If you have served in any country’s military:  Military records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are adopted:   Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation,  and  a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:   The  original  marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent. Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and biological parent (such as birth certificates of any children born of the marriage, photographs, utility bills or rent receipts, lease/mortgage and bank/credit accounts held jointly).

Interview Guidelines

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please go to ais.usvisa-info.com to select a new appointment date. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment , so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC. DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview . Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.

Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online before you can reschedule it (see Step 1 ). Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil must follow certain security procedures. Applicants may not enter the building with anything other than the documents needed for their visa application. Purses, backpacks, cell phones, electronic devices, cigarettes, food and beverages are prohibited. There is no storage at the consulate. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Consulate General security personnel will be unable to enter the consulate.

Accompanying persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Spanish well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Petitioners are not  required to attend the visa interview and will only be allowed to attend in the case of a minor who is noth otherwise accompanied by an adult.

Visa applicants under 14 years of age, who are not the principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition but a are listed as derivative applicants in F visa category cases, do not need to attend the interview.

Children not applying for an immigrant visa will not be allowed to access the consulate.

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Immigrant visa fees

Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found here .

Do not make travel plans outside of Ecuador

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport  in approximately 10 business day s from your interview date at the courier location you previously selected at the time of appointment registration (see Step 1 ).   

After Your Visa Interview

A Consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a Consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the Consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the Embassy.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.

What happens after visa approval

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a K visa.

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of medical exam. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “ Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants ” online.

Diversity Visa - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available online ).
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee.  

Review your DV Lottery entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements online .

Print (Translation included)

Last Updated: 4/24/2024

Contact Information

Santa Ana St. and Jose Rodriguez Bonin Avenue Guayaquil, Guayas

Other Links

Diversity Visa Instructions After Your Interview Frequently Asked Questions Where to Get Civil Documents

Interview Preparation Video

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Do I need a visa to visit Ecuador?

Jul 29, 2023 • 4 min read

Check your entry requirements for Ecuador before you visit as they vary depending on citizenship © Laura BC / Getty Images

For most travelers, entering the vast diversity of Ecuador’s Cuatro Mundos ("Four Worlds": the Pacific Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galápagos) requires nothing more than arriving with your passport.

However, citizens of some countries will require a visa to enter Ecuador , and the process isn't always straightforward. And there's even the option for some travelers to stay a little longer and work in this beautiful country. Here's everything you need to know about the entry requirements for Ecuador.

Do I need a visa before visiting Ecuador?

Ecuador welcomes visitors from most countries for 90 days, issuing a T3 visa stamp on arrival. There is no visa requirement for most foreign visitors who carry passports with at least six months’ validity from their entry date.

With the exception of Venezuelans, South American nationals may enter Ecuador with a cédula (national ID card); a passport isn’t necessary.

Some travelers need to apply for a visa in advance

For citizens from around three dozen countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, visa requirements apply. Those countries currently include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, India, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Senegal, Syria, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Haiti, Republic of Congo, Mali, Ivory Coast and Myanmar.

Visitors from these nations must submit a visa application, a valid passport, at least one passport photo, an onward ticket and travel insurance. The application fee is US$50; once approved, the visa itself costs US$150. For current requirements, visa applicants should contact the Ecuadorian embassy in their home country.

Once in Ecuador, you can extend your stay for another 90 days (called a prórroga ) online , or by visiting any immigration office in Ecuador. Locations include (but are not limited) to Quito , Guayaquil and Cuenca . If you plan to stay beyond the initial 90 days, start the extension process early to ensure you don’t inadvertently overstay your visa. 

Be aware that popping over the border into another country and returning to Ecuador is not a viable extension option. Doing so does not automatically grant you another 90 days in Ecuador.

Vaccination requirements for Ecuador

There are no longer any COVID-19 vaccination requirements to enter Ecuador or the  Galápagos Islands , but you will need to complete an online Health Declaration Form before checking into your flight.

For visitors planning on heading into the Ecuadorian Amazon, it’s highly recommended to get a yellow fever vaccination at least ten days before you arrive. The relevant provinces include Napo, Pastaza, Orellana, Sucumbíos, Zamora-Chinchipe, Morona-Santiago and parts of Esmeraldas. 

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for anyone arriving from regions where the disease is prevalent, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. This also applies to Ecuadorian nationals.

Want to stay longer? Get a work visa for Ecuador

To work in Ecuador officially, you must have a work visa. Unless you’re self-employed, basing yourself in bigger cities like Quito or Guayaquil and teaching English is the most viable option for many. Ecuador has also established a reciprocal working holiday agreement with Australia – Aussie nationals aged 18 to 30 may work in Ecuador for up to 12 months. For the rest of the world, working holiday visas are not an option.

Depending on your skill set, several non-resident visas can be acquired in Ecuador. Along with the usual documentation such as passport and visa application, student visas require proof of admission or enrolment in an accredited Ecuadorian educational institution. Once approved, the visa costs around US$130. A work visa under the general categories of "professional, technical, technological or artisanal" activities (the 12-VI visa) also costs US$400 upon approval.

If you plan to stay beyond 90 days, come prepared with two extra passport photos, proof of full health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay (two years for approved work visas), a translated and certified criminal record from your home country, and any educational or professional certifications you may need for the application process.

Immigration policies are subject to change, so always contact the nearest Ecuadorian embassy or consulate in your home country if you have questions about current requirements. Details on the various types of work visas can be found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (in Spanish only).

This article was first published Jan 5, 2022 and updated Jul 29, 2023.

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The Visa Project

A place for your visa experiences and more

Ecuador Visa Types, Requirements, Fees, Overstay, Extension

The great thing about Ecuador is that it has one of the most lenient visa policies, which means citizens of most countries don’t need to apply for a visa prior to their entry into Ecuador.

However, there are still people who need to get a visa from an Ecuadorian mission before visiting Ecuador. And, even if you don’t need a visa to enter Ecuador as a tourist, you might need to extend it or convert it, should you want to stay there for more than 90 days.

This visa guide will cover Ecuador visa requirements, extension, overstay and everything else you need to know about Ecuador visas.

Table of Contents

Who Needs a Visa for Ecuador

The short answer is that, most countries don’t need a visa for Ecuador. Here is a map to explain that.

If you are from one of the countries marked in grey in the map, you need to apply for an Ecuador tourist visa at an Ecuadorian mission, and you can enter Ecuador only if you get a visa. The countries that need a T-3 visa prior to their entry to Ecuador are:

You can check whether you need a visa for Ecuador on the website of Ecuador’s foreign ministry .

Who is Visa Free for Ecuador?

There are many nationalities who are visa exempt for Ecuador. This means that you simply showed up at the border or landed at the airport, and they stamped your passport with an entry date and the number of days.

You didn’t have to show any hotel reservations or anything else. It’s a tourist stamp or visa waiver issued at the border. This means

• You didn’t get a sticker visa on your passport.
• You just got an entry stamp on your passport. As simple as that.
• You get 90 days in a rolling 365 period.

What Does Ecuador Entry Stamp Look Like?

However, if you want to stay for longer than 90 days, then you can either extend your visa in Ecuador or get a visa from an Ecuadorian mission before coming to Ecuador.

Nationals of most countries including EU, USA, Australia, Canada would fall into this category.

Where Can You Apply for Ecuador Visa?

Ecuador has embassies all over the world. Depending on where you are, see if there is an Ecuadorian embassy . If there is no diplomatic representation of Ecuador in your country, check out the one that’s closest and see if they can process your visa application.

Once you are in Ecuador, you can extend or convert your existing visa as well as apply for a new visa in a zonal coordination office of Migraciones Ecuador .

Types of Ecuador Visas

There are 32 types of Ecuador visas which can be subdivided into 2 different categories: non-resident visas, temporary resident visas and permanent resident visas.

Non-Resident Visas

1. tourist visa or 12-ix visa.

A tourist visa or 12-X visa is for foreigners who want to visit Ecuador for tourism purpose, for up to 90 days in a year.

2.Special Tourist Visa

Nationals who are visa-exempt for Ecuador can apply for the 180-day Ecuador special tourist visa from an Embassy or Consulate of Ecuador abroad. You can only receive the 180-day Ecuador tourist visa once every five years.

Temporary Resident Visas

The resident visas allow the holder to stay in Ecuador for 2 years, and get them renewed after that.

Read Valerie’s experience here on getting Ecuador residency visa for U.S. citizen in Quito.

1. Work Visa or 12-VI Visa for Ecuador

An Ecuadorian work visa allows the holder to legally work in Ecuador, if he/she is employed for an Ecuadorian employer.

2. Retirement/ Rentista visa : 9-I visa

A foreigner can retire in Ecuador as a pensioner, by proving a monthly income of at least $800. If accompanied by family, he/she needs to justify $100 more per dependent. This income can be generated from investments in countries other than Ecuador or from social Security, a prior Public Employer, or past Private Employer.

Here is how to get an Ecuador retirement visa in detail.

3. Investor visa : 9-II & 9-III

A foreign citizen can get an Investor visa by investing a minimum of $40,000 in Ecuador in various sectors such as real estate, industrial, etc.   

4. Scientist/ Investigator/ Academic visa

Foreigners dedicated to carrying out scientific, research or academic activities in Ecuador can get this visa.

5. Athlete/Artist/Cultural Visa

This visa is for foreigners involved in sports, academic purposes, science, technology, innovation, art. It allows them to stay in Ecuador for 180 days, and can be renewed multiple times.

6. Religious or 9-IV Visa

Foreigners who want to carry religious activities or religious volunteering that are not linked to the Convention of the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference, can get a religious visa.

7. Episcopal Conference Visa

Foreigners wanting to carry out duties on behalf of the Ecuadorian Religious Episcopal Conference can get this visa.

8. Volunteer/12-VII visa

Foreign nationals who want to volunteer in Ecuador through a registered NGO other registered organizations can get this visa.

9. Student visa or 12-V visa

Foreigners who want to pursue their studies in the undergraduate or graduate level can get a student visa from an Ecuadorian diplomatic mission or zonal coordination office.

10. Professional/9-V Visa

A foreigner wanting to perform professional, technical, technological or artisan activities in Ecuador can apply for this visa. The best thing about an Ecuador professional visa is that it gives you the freedom of being a digital nomad without worrying about jobs.

11. Convention Visa

Foreign nationals working for international organizations affiliated with Ecuador can get this visa to perform their official duties.

12. Mercosur Visa

Foreign nationals belonging to Mercosur countries, can live, do business, and work in Ecuador legally. Diplomatic missions of Ecuador or Zonal Coordination offices in Ecuador can issue this.

13. Unasur Visa

Foreign nationals belonging to South America, can live, do business, and work in Ecuador legally. Diplomatic missions of Ecuador or Zonal Coordination offices in Ecuador can issue this.

14. Commercial Activity Visa

Foreigners arriving in special, commercial, or industrial vessels that enter the country to carry out activities on such vessels. This type of visa has no time limits abroad and will allow its holder multiple admissions to the country.

Permanent Resident Visas

Permanent resident visas authorize a foreigner to stay indefinitely in Ecuador. The main requirement for this is to reside in Ecuador with a Temporary Residence Visa for a minimum of 21 months.

Permanent residents can be out of the country for a period of no more than 180 days in each year during the first 2 years; after these first 2 years they can be absent up to 5 years.

Eventually permanent residents can become citizens.

Amparo/Family Visa : 9-VI Visa

Amparo visa is a family visa that allows foreigner who are married to an Ecuadorian Citizen or Ecuadorian Permanent Resident to live in Ecuador. Foreigners whose other immediate family member (i.e. parent or child) is already an Ecuadorian Citizen or Ecuadorian Permanent Resident, can get this too.

Once the temporary residency is obtained, you can enroll in the social security system or other private health insurance.

Temporary residents can be out of the country for a maximum of 90 days each year.

Jump to the complete guide on Ecuador Amparo Visa .

Ecuador Visa Requirements: Documents Checklist

You need to submit the Ecuador visa application form and provide the following documents as per the Ecuador visa requirements .

Tourist Visa for Ecuador

• Roundtrip flight tickets
• Hotel reservations for your stay
• Certificate of Financial Responsibility to prove that the applicant has the sufficient funds for expenses while in Ecuador
• Bank statements that show that you are making more than 600$ per month
• Travel insurance Tourists entering Ecuador must have proof of insurance that will cover them during their stay in the case of a medical emergency.  The law says this can be insurance from private or public companies. Travel insurance is commonly purchased for this purpose.
• 2 x 2 Color Passport-size pictures in white background, without any headgear
• Police clearance certificate
• A signed cover letter from the Applicant stating the reasons of travel, as well as mentioning whether you are self-employed or have a job.

For minors:

• Birth certificate.
• If travelling unaccompanied: Letter of consent from the parent/s or legal guardian/s.

If invited :

• Letter of Invitation to attend an event or seminar, conference etc.

Ecuador Retirement Visa

• Proof of “Guaranteed Pension” for life that is issued or provided by either Social Security, a prior public/private Employer.
• Proof of income receiving from abroad through investments.

Ecuador Work Visa

• Employment contract with the public/ private company.
• Registration certificate from Ecuadorian ministry.
• Proof that the employer has no outstanding obligations with SRI ( Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador) and IESS (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social).
• Résumé (CV) of the applicant, proving professional experience.
• Copies of academic degrees

Ecuador Professional Visa

• Transcripts from a university authorized by SENESCYT Ecuador , the degree approving institution.
• Bank statements for the last 6 months.
• Proof of recurring income of $400.

Ecuador Visa Fees

The visa fees for Ecuador frequently change. It’s best to contact the Ecuadorian consulate in your country to double-check the fees before applying for a visa. Here are the latest fees.

Can You Leave Ecuador When Your Visa is Under Process?

If you leave Ecuador while your visa is being processed, you would have to submit a new migration certificate and start the process again. Basically, you will lose your application status and have to start over.

However, if you have a valid visa already and can come back before that visa runs out, then you will be fine.

How Long Can You Stay in Ecuador as a Tourist

As per Ecuador visa requirements, the longest you can stay in Ecuador is 180 days in a Calendar year. It’s the same for people entering on a tourist visa and for people who are visa exempt.

It can be a continuous stay or various visits during the period of one calendar year. You can make multiple entries, as long as you are only in the country for 90 days total. Entry and exit days count as full days.

However you must know that you will only get 90 days visa-free in a Calendar year. The 90 days are divisible. For example: 40 days stay in Ecuador, travel to Peru, and then reenter Ecuador for another 50 days possible.

You will get 90 more days visa-free after 9 months of the day your first 90 days are consumed.

That being said, If you want more than 90 days after entering Ecuador, you need to extend your stay in Ecuador.

Ecuador Tourist Visa Extension

If you want to stay in Ecuador for longer than 90 days, you can extend your stay in a Migraciones office of Ecuador , in a city that has a regional city center. You can extend your visa for 90 days more.

It’s called the ‘Visitante Temporal’ or VT visa. You may obtain this once ever in a calendar year, after you consume the 90 days.

If you still want to stay as a tourist after these two 90-day periods and not yet apply for a resident visa, you may apply and pay for the ‘Visa Especial de Turismo’ which will allow you to stay in Ecuador for another 180 days.

This 180-day visa can only be obtained after you have received the T-3 stamp and have applied, paid for and received the VT stamp. 

Ecuador Tourist Visa Conversion

Although, not every country allows you to convert your tourist visa while you are inside the country, Ecuador does. Should you find a job or become a volunteer or study in Ecuador, you can convert your tourist visa to an appropriate visa by submitting the required documents and paying the fees.

Ecuador Visa Overstay Fines

When it comes to overstay, Ecuador doesn’t cut you slack. To decide your penalties, they use two methods.

1. Minimum Overstay

If you have overstayed, you could go to a migraciones office within the first 30 days of your overstay and ask them for an extension.

It’s very much possible that you will receive an extension as mentioned above, and wouldn’t get a ban or fine when you leave. So effectively, you are given a full 30 days grace period to go get an extension on a 90-day initial stay. 

2. Maximum Overstay

If you overstay beyond 120 days, there is no grace period. You need to pay the fine (that’s 2 X the basic wage= $788 ), and get the paid extension and go to exit before 180 days.

And then you need to apply for a consulate visa outside of Ecuador if you want to return.

All these things might vary a little depending on the immigration officer’s mood. Be polite, apologetic and patient. But the bottomline is that the overstay depends on how long you have overstayed.

And if you want to return any time within those 2 years, you will have to go to a consulate outside of Ecuador to get a special consulate visa or special tourist visa that will still require the $788 fine be paid and $450 or more for this special visa.

Note:- If the basic wage goes up, your fine goes up as well.

All that being said, I would never recommend anyone to overstay. It’s always a slippery slope. You never know how and when it can come and bite you.

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