Required Documents and Information

  1. Passport: your original passport, a color copy of the page with your personal data, and a color copy of the page with your last entry stamp. You can only apply for a visa in Ecuador if you have entered Ecuador legally. The entry stamp in your passport should show this. A visa can only be issued if you have at least 6 more months of validity left on your passport at the moment of the issuance of the visa. The visa system cannot register visas with less time left.
  2. Passport photos: two color passport sized photos (2 x 2 inches or 5cm x 5cm) with a white background.
  3. Stay permit extension: only if you apply for your visa in Ecuador. If you have an stay authorization extension, you must bring the pdf that has been sent to your e-mail address.
  4. Certificate of migratory movements: only if you apply for your visa in Ecuador. See How to obtain a certificate of migratory movements to learn how you can obtain this document.
  5. Criminal background check: from the country or countries where you have lived during the last five years before your arrival in Ecuador. Background checks cannot be older than 180 days from the date of issue until your last arrival in Ecuador. The date of issuance is taken into account, not the date of apostillization or legalization. If you are younger than 18 years, you don't need to show a criminal background check. Criminal background checks that were not issued in Ecuador have to be apostilled or legalized. They need a notarized translation if they are not in the Spanish language. USA citizens need two criminal background checks: (1) a federal criminal background check from the FBI (must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC), and (2) a state criminal background check (must be apostilled by the State of Department in the corresponding state).
  6. Proof of income: copies or prints of foreign bank statements that show (1) an income of USD 1,350 per month during the three months prior to the visa application, or (2) an income of USD 16,200 for each year of the the duration of the visa.
  7. Proof of work: documents which show that 1) you work for or deliver services to an employer, client, or foreign company, based outside of Ecuador, and that (2) this work is autonomous, professional work, or dependent work in the form of working remotely, digitally or by telecommuting. An example is a letter or certificate from the company or companies for which you work. If you work for your own company, you have to proof that (1) you are the owner of the companey and that (2) the company is registered and located abroad. If the documents were not issued in Ecuador, they have to be apostilled or legalized. If not in the Spanish language, they need in Ecuador notarized translations.
  8. Proof of health insurance: a certificate or contract from an Ecuadorian or foreign insurance company. The health insurance has to be valid during the duration of the visa. In case of a healthcare insurance from a foreign health insurance company, the certificate or contract has to state that the insurance has coverage in Ecuador. If the certificate or contract was not issued in Ecuador, it has to be apostilled or legalized. If not in the Spanish language, it needs an in Ecuador notarized translation.
  9. Proof of legal stay if you apply for the visa from a country other than your home country, you need to provide proof of legal stay in that country. This can be for example an entry permit or a visa.

Required documents for spouses and children

  • In the case of a child as dependent visa applicant: a birth certificate. If from abroad: apostilled or legalized. US citizens: apostille from the Secretary of State in the state in which the birth certificate was issued. If not in the Spanish language: notarized translation in Ecuador.
  • In the case of a spouse as dependent visa applicant: a marriage license. If from abroad: apostilled or legalized. US citizens: apostille from the Secretary of State in the state in which the birth certificate was issued. If not in the Spanish language: notarized translation in Ecuador.