Ecuador Andean Community (CAN) Visa: Residency Planning for Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia

A Lower-Cost Residency Route to Verify

If you're a citizen of Colombia, Peru, or Bolivia, the Andean Community framework may provide a lower-cost Ecuador residency route. Public fee schedules have described a $50 application fee and no visa grant fee for the category, but fees, documents, translations, and the government decision must be verified against the current official procedure. Do not treat a headline total as a guaranteed all-in cost.

This is not a loophole or a special promotion. It comes from the Andean Community (Comunidad Andina, or CAN), a regional framework involving Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. CAN Decision 878 may create residence and mobility procedures for qualifying nationals, but the current Ecuador category, status, activity, document, and government-review rules still control the result.

I run an immigration services company in Cuenca, and I see Colombian and Peruvian nationals every month who came to Ecuador without knowing this option existed. Some may have a regional route worth investigating instead of assuming that a standard category, tourist stay, or border trip is the right answer. The current procedure should be checked before anyone relies on a headline fee or a short document list.

Here's how it works.

Legal Basis

The CAN Visa is governed by CAN Decision 878 (Estatuto Migratorio Andino), adopted by the Andean Community Council of Foreign Ministers. Decision 878 replaced and expanded earlier migration agreements (including Decision 545 and Decision 503) to create a comprehensive framework for free movement among CAN member states.

Under Decision 878, citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru may have rights and procedures relating to:

• Enter another CAN member state using an accepted national identity document where the current entry rules allow it; carry a passport when possible and verify the live border requirements
• Investigate residence and work procedures subject to the applicable status, activity, employer, and domestic rules
• Review whether the current Ecuador procedure offers a temporary-residence period and what renewal or conversion rules apply
• Investigate later residence options only after checking continuity, absences, documents, and the current category procedure
• Review social-security, healthcare, and labor access separately; regional mobility rules do not remove every domestic registration or activity requirement

Ecuador's domestic implementation of Decision 878 is reflected in the LOMH (Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana) and its regulations. Public summaries describe a CAN route with reduced requirements and possible fee exemptions, but the current eVISAS procedure, fee schedule, and evidence checklist must be verified before applying.

Who Qualifies

Citizenship in one of these countries may make the CAN route worth reviewing:

• Colombia
• Peru
• Bolivia

Citizenship in one of these three countries is the starting eligibility factor, not a guarantee of a granted visa. The current procedure may still require proof of identity, lawful entry, background status, translations, and other category documents; verify the complete checklist before relying on the route.

A few clarifications on eligibility:

• Dual citizens: If you hold both Colombian and US citizenship (for example), you can use your Colombian citizenship to apply under the CAN framework. You apply with your Colombian passport or cedula.
• Naturalized citizens: A Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian nationality may be relevant even if you were born elsewhere, but the identity and nationality evidence must satisfy the current procedure.
• Children: Minor children of CAN nationals may have a related family route. Each applicant's relationship and documents must be reviewed separately.

Requirements

The published requirement list may be shorter than for some other categories, but it is not a substitute for the current authority checklist. CAN Decision 878 was designed to reduce barriers to intra-regional migration; the specific Ecuador filing procedure and decision still control.

Requirements That Should Not Be Assumed Away

Some published summaries do not list the same financial or qualification tests used by other Ecuador routes. That does not mean an applicant can assume every item is waived:

• The current category may not use the same SBU income benchmark as some other routes; verify whether financial or lawful-means evidence is requested in your case
• A university degree, investment, or employer sponsorship may not be the basis of this route, but the authority can still request identity, background, relationship, translation, or other evidence
• Health-insurance, entry-status, and registration requirements should be checked against the live checklist rather than inferred from another visa category
• Do not treat a possible visa-grant-fee exemption as proof that the complete application has no cost

Cost Breakdown

• Application fee: Public summaries have cited $50; verify the current official schedule
• Visa grant fee: A waiver or exemption may apply; verify the current procedure
• Total government cost: Do not treat a historical or headline amount as a fixed current total

Additional costs to budget:

• Criminal background check from your country: $20-80 depending on country
• Apostille on background check: $10-50
• Spanish translation (if background check is not in Spanish): $15-30
• Notarization in Ecuador: $10-20

For Colombian and Peruvian nationals, many of these documents may already be in Spanish, which can reduce translation costs. An illustrative budget is not a quote: document, apostille, translation, travel, and agency costs vary, and the current official fee schedule controls.

Path to Permanent Residency

The CAN framework may also provide a path to permanent residency under favorable regional rules.

After the applicable temporary-residency period under the CAN framework, an eligible applicant may investigate permanent residency. The fee and document treatment may be reduced under the applicable rules, but must be confirmed at the time of filing. Permanent status has its own conditions and cédula process; do not treat it as an automatic or consequence-free conversion.

The timeline:

1. Year 0: Apply for CAN temporary residency ($50)
2. Year 2: Apply for permanent residency (reduced or free under CAN terms)
3. Year 3+: Eligible for Ecuadorian citizenship through naturalization (requires Spanish test, civics test, and $400 in government fees)

For a Colombian national, the government fees may be lower than some standard routes, but the actual cost depends on documents, translations, apostilles, travel, and the current fee schedule. Compare the CAN framework with other routes only after checking the same scope of costs and requirements.

How This Differs from MERCOSUR

Ecuador is not a full member of MERCOSUR, but it is an associate state. MERCOSUR's Residency Agreement covers citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru -- a much broader list than CAN's four countries.

For some Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian applicants, more than one regional framework may be relevant. The current nationality, document, and Ecuador procedure determine which route is available. Here's a planning comparison:

For eligible Colombians, Peruvians, and Bolivians, the CAN route may be preferable when its current requirements and fee treatment fit the case because:

1. It's cheaper -- the visa itself is free under CAN, while MERCOSUR may carry issuance fees
2. It's simpler -- fewer documentary requirements
3. It's faster -- processing tends to be more streamlined because the CAN framework is deeply embedded in Ecuador's immigration system
4. Permanent residency is free or reduced under CAN terms

For citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, or Venezuela -- who qualify under MERCOSUR but not CAN -- the MERCOSUR route is their equivalent option. It's not quite as cheap as CAN, but it's still significantly more accessible than standard visa categories.

Why English-Speaking Colombians and Peruvians Should Know About This

This article is written in English for a reason. There's a growing population of bilingual and English-speaking professionals from Colombia and Peru who are considering Ecuador as a base -- digital nomads, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and retirees who consume information in English and may not have encountered this visa option in their research.

Colombia has a large English-speaking professional class, particularly in Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena. Many work for international companies, in tech, or in creative industries. For these professionals, Ecuador offers dramatically lower costs of living (Cuenca is roughly 40-50% cheaper than Bogota for comparable quality), dollar-denominated stability (Ecuador uses the US dollar, eliminating currency risk), and proximity to home (Bogota to Quito is a 2-hour flight).

Peru's professional class in Lima similarly includes many English-fluent workers who are priced out of Lima's rising costs or want a change of pace. Cuenca and Quito offer them a comfortable lifestyle at lower cost, and the CAN framework means they can relocate with almost zero bureaucratic friction.

If you're a Colombian or Peruvian national reading this in English, the CAN framework may offer a lower-cost route, but your result depends on the current authority checklist and decision. Identity and background documents are a starting point; confirm entry, translations, fees, timing, work conditions, healthcare enrollment, and any additional evidence before making plans.

Document Checklist

The published document requirements for the CAN Visa may be shorter than for other categories, but the authority can update the checklist:

• Valid passport OR national ID card (cedula de identidad) from Bolivia, Colombia, or Peru
• Criminal background check from country of origin (apostilled)
• Spanish translation of background check (if not originally in Spanish)
• Passport-sized photos (4x4 cm, white background)
• Completed visa application form
• Proof of legal entry into Ecuador (entry stamp or migration record)
• $50 application fee

Do not assume that no additional document can ever be requested. Bank statements, income letters, degree certificates, health insurance evidence, translations, or other records may be relevant to the case or current procedure; confirm the checklist before filing.

Step-by-Step Process

Phase 1: Document Preparation (timing varies)

1. Obtain your criminal background check. For Colombian nationals, this is the "Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales" from the Policia Nacional, available online. For Peruvians, it's the "Certificado de Antecedentes Penales" from the Poder Judicial. For Bolivians, the "Certificado de Antecedentes Penales" from the FELCC.

2. Apostille the background check. In Colombia, apostilles are handled by the Cancilleria through their online portal. In Peru, by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. In Bolivia, by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.

3. Translate if necessary. Colombian, Peruvian, and Bolivian documents are in Spanish, so translation is usually not needed. If any document is in another language for any reason, have it translated by a certified translator.

Phase 2: Application in Ecuador (timing varies)

4. Confirm entry documents. An accepted national identity document may be sufficient under applicable regional entry rules, but entry and residence filing are separate questions. Bring a passport when possible and verify the current border instruction.

5. Visit the Coordinacion Zonal de Movilidad Humana (immigration office) in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, or other major cities. Request the CAN residency application form.

6. Submit your application with the current documents and fee treatment confirmed from the live procedure.

7. Attend your appointment for document review and biometrics.

Phase 3: Approval

8. Wait for processing. CAN visa timing depends on the application, documents, appointments, correction requests, and current government workflow. The regional framework may simplify some requirements, but it does not guarantee a 15-30-day decision.

9. Receive a decision. Confirm the current grant fee and any exemption in the live procedure; nationality and documents do not guarantee approval.

10. Obtain your cedula (Ecuador national ID card) at the Registro Civil. This is your primary identification document in Ecuador and proves your legal residency status.

Phase 4: After Approval

11. Enroll in IESS (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social) as a voluntary affiliate for healthcare coverage. Cost is approximately $85/month based on the minimum declaration.

12. Open a bank account if needed. Your cedula and visa approval enable you to open accounts at Ecuadorian banks.

13. Register with your country's consulate in Ecuador for consular services and emergency assistance.

Comparison: CAN Visa vs. Standard Ecuador Visa Categories

For Colombian, Peruvian, and Bolivian nationals who might be comparing options:

The CAN route may be attractive when its current requirements and fee treatment fit the applicant. A professional, investment, or other category may still be relevant for a particular activity or evidence profile; compare the live rules rather than treating one route as universally superior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enter Ecuador with just my national ID card, or do I need a passport?

CAN Decision 878 and related regional rules may allow qualifying citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru to use an accepted national identity document for entry in some circumstances. Entry rules and visa-application evidence are separate questions. Verify the current border instruction, and bring a passport when possible because it may simplify the residence application and later administrative tasks.

Can I work in Ecuador on the CAN Visa?

The CAN framework may provide a work-related pathway for qualifying nationals, but the activity, status, employer, registration, and domestic rules still matter. Do not treat the route as blanket authorization for every form of employment, freelancing, business activity, or remote work; confirm the current conditions before starting work.

Does my criminal background check have an expiration date?

The acceptable validity window for a criminal background check depends on the current procedure and issuing authority. Check the live document checklist before ordering the certificate, and leave time for apostille, translation, and any correction request.

Can I bring my family?

Your spouse, children, and in some cases other dependent family members may have a related route, but the relationship, nationality, identity, background, and filing requirements should be reviewed for each applicant. Do not assume that every family member follows the same procedure or fee treatment, even when applications are coordinated.

What happens after 2 years -- do I need to reapply?

After an applicable temporary-residence period, some applicants may investigate renewal or a later permanent-residency route. The current procedure can depend on continuity, absences, maintained status, documents, lawful activity, and the timing of the filing. A reduced-fee or fee-exemption rule may exist for a qualifying regional route, but do not treat permanent residency as automatic, free, or indefinite without checking the live requirements and cédula obligations.

What's Next

If you're a Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian citizen considering a move to Ecuador, the CAN route may be worth comparing with the other categories. Your nationality can be an important starting fact, but the current application channel, identity and background evidence, translations, fee schedule, residence conditions, work rules, and later-status requirements still need to be checked.

Take our visa eligibility quiz to identify routes to review, or start with the visa intake to organize your specific documents. The result is planning guidance, not a government eligibility decision or approval prediction.

Related Guides:

• Ecuador Visa Requirements 2026: Complete Overview
• Ecuador Visa Comparison: Pensionado vs. Rentista vs. Investor
• How to Get Your Cedula in Ecuador
• IESS Healthcare for Expats in Ecuador
• Best Cities for Expats in Ecuador 2026

Official sources

• Ecuador eVISAS and visa information
• Ecuador government services portal