Ecuador CAN Visa 2026: Free Residency for Colombia, Peru & Bolivia Citizens

The Cheapest Residency Visa in Ecuador -- And Most People Don't Know It Exists

If you're a citizen of Colombia, Peru, or Bolivia, Ecuador will grant you residency for $50. Not $50 plus fees. Not $50 as a deposit. Fifty dollars total. The visa itself is free. The only cost is the $50 administrative application fee.

This isn't a loophole or a special promotion. It's the result of the Andean Community (Comunidad Andina, or CAN) -- a trade and migration bloc that has bound Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia together since 1969. Under CAN Decision 878, the Estatuto Migratorio Andino, citizens of any member state have the right to reside and work in any other member state with minimal documentation and virtually no cost.

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. They've been living on tourist renewals, paying for visa runs to the border, or spending hundreds of dollars on standard visa categories when they qualified for a process that costs $50 and a few documents they already had.

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 have the right to:

Enter any CAN member state using only their national ID card (cedula) -- no passport required for entry
Reside and work in any CAN member state
Obtain temporary residency for 2 years, renewable
Progress to permanent residency under the same favorable terms
Access social security, healthcare, and labor rights on equal terms with nationals

Ecuador's domestic implementation of Decision 878 is reflected in the LOMH (Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana) and its regulations, which create a specific visa category for CAN nationals that operates with reduced requirements and zero visa issuance fees.

Who Qualifies

You qualify for the CAN Visa if you are a citizen of:

Colombia
Peru
Bolivia

That's it. No income requirements. No degree requirements. No employer sponsorship. No minimum age. No investment threshold. If you hold citizenship in one of these three countries, you are eligible for residency in Ecuador under the Andean Community framework.

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: If you were born elsewhere but naturalized as a Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian citizen, you qualify. The requirement is citizenship, not birth.
Children: Minor children of CAN nationals qualify under the same framework. Families can apply together.

Requirements

Requirement	Details
Citizenship	Bolivia, Colombia, or Peru
Identification	Passport OR national ID card (cedula de identidad)
Criminal background check	From country of origin, apostilled
Application fee	$50
Visa grant fee	FREE
Total cost	$50
Duration	2 years temporary, renewable

The simplicity of this requirement list is not a typo. CAN Decision 878 was designed to eliminate barriers to intra-regional migration. The philosophy is that citizens of member states should move as freely as possible within the Andean region.

What You Don't Need

To emphasize how different this is from standard Ecuador visa categories, here's what the CAN Visa does NOT require:

No proof of income (no SBU threshold)
No bank statements
No university degree
No employer sponsorship
No employment contract
No health insurance proof (though enrolling in IESS once you have residency is advisable)
No investment or property ownership
No visa grant fee ($0)

Cost Breakdown

Application fee: $50
Visa grant fee: $0 (free)
Total government cost: $50

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 are already in Spanish, which eliminates translation costs. A realistic all-in budget is $80-150 for the entire process -- making this far and away the cheapest residency visa in Ecuador.

Path to Permanent Residency

The CAN framework doesn't just offer cheap temporary residency. It offers a path to free permanent residency as well.

After holding temporary residency for 2 years under the CAN framework, you can apply for permanent residency. Under the Estatuto Migratorio Andino, the permanent visa for CAN nationals is also issued at reduced or zero cost. The permanent visa is indefinite -- no expiration, no renewal required (though you update your cedula periodically).

The timeline:

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

For a Colombian national, the total cost from first entry to permanent residency can be as low as $50-100. Compare that to a US citizen using the Professional Visa path: $320 for temporary, another $320 for permanent renewal, plus hundreds in document preparation. The CAN framework is orders of magnitude cheaper.

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.

If you're Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian, you technically qualify under both CAN and MERCOSUR frameworks. Here's how they compare:

Feature	CAN (Decision 878)	MERCOSUR Residency Agreement
Eligible countries	Bolivia, Colombia, Peru	Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru
Visa cost	$50 application, visa FREE	$50 application + visa fee (varies)
Requirements	ID + background check	ID + background check + may require additional docs
Income proof	None	None
Duration	2 years temporary	2 years temporary
Path to permanent	Yes, free/reduced	Yes
Legal basis	CAN Decision 878	MERCOSUR Residency Agreement

For Colombians, Peruvians, and Bolivians, the CAN route is almost always preferable because:

It's cheaper -- the visa itself is free under CAN, while MERCOSUR may carry issuance fees
It's simpler -- fewer documentary requirements
It's faster -- processing tends to be more streamlined because the CAN framework is deeply embedded in Ecuador's immigration system
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, here's the bottom line: you can become an Ecuador resident for $50, with nothing more than your ID and a background check. There's no income requirement, no degree requirement, and no waiting period. You can work, start a business, enroll in healthcare, and build a life here with the same rights as any other legal resident.

Document Checklist

The document requirements for the CAN Visa are intentionally minimal:

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

That's it. No bank statements, no income letters, no degree certificates, no health insurance documentation (though getting IESS after approval is strongly recommended).

Step-by-Step Process

Phase 1: Document Preparation (1-2 weeks)

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.
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.
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 (1-2 weeks)

Enter Ecuador. CAN nationals can enter Ecuador with just their national ID card -- no passport required. However, having your passport simplifies the visa application process.
Visit the Coordinacion Zonal de Movilidad Humana (immigration office) in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, or other major cities. Request the CAN residency application form.
Submit your application with all documents and pay the $50 application fee.
Attend your appointment for document review and biometrics.

Phase 3: Approval

Wait for processing. CAN visa applications are typically processed within 15-30 days -- faster than most other visa categories because the requirements are simpler and the legal framework is well-established.
Receive your visa approval. There is no visa grant fee to pay.
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

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

Feature	CAN Visa	Professional Visa	Pensioner Visa	Rentista Visa
Cost	$50	$320	$320	$320
Income required	None	$482/mo	$1,446/mo	$1,446/mo
Degree required	No	Yes (any level)	No	No
Duration	2 years	2 years	2 years	2 years
Permanent path	Yes (free)	Yes ($320)	Yes ($320)	Yes ($320)

There is essentially no scenario in which a CAN national should choose a standard visa category over the CAN route, unless they specifically want to be classified under a professional or investment category for personal reasons. The CAN route is cheaper, simpler, and provides the same residency rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

CAN Decision 878 and the related Decision 503 allow citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru to enter Ecuador using only their national ID card (cedula de identidad). No passport is required for entry. However, having your passport with you simplifies the visa application process and is useful for other administrative tasks in Ecuador. If you plan to apply for residency, bring your passport.

Can I work in Ecuador on the CAN Visa?

Yes. The CAN framework grants you the right to work in Ecuador on equal terms with Ecuadorian nationals. You can be employed by an Ecuadorian company, freelance, start a business, or work remotely. There are no restrictions on the type of work. This is one of the most significant benefits of the CAN framework -- full labor market access from day one.

Does my criminal background check have an expiration date?

Yes. Criminal background checks are typically accepted within 6 months of issuance. If your background check is older than 6 months when you submit your visa application, you'll likely need to obtain a new one. Plan your timing accordingly.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Your spouse, children, and in some cases other dependent family members can apply under the same CAN framework. Each family member needs their own ID and background check, and each pays the $50 application fee individually. Family applications can be submitted together.

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

After 2 years of temporary residency, you have two options: renew your temporary visa for another 2-year period, or apply for permanent residency. Under the CAN framework, permanent residency for Andean Community nationals is issued at reduced or zero cost. Permanent residency is indefinite and does not expire, though you update your cedula periodically. Most CAN nationals transition to permanent residency after their first 2-year temporary period.

What's Next

If you're a Colombian, Peruvian, or Bolivian citizen considering a move to Ecuador, the CAN Visa makes the immigration process almost trivially simple. Fifty dollars, a background check, and your ID card -- that's the entire barrier to entry. No income proof, no degree, no investment, no employer. And permanent residency is free.

Take our visa eligibility quiz to confirm your options, or book a free consultation to discuss your specific situation. For CAN nationals, the conversation is usually short -- your path is clear and the process is straightforward.

Related Guides:

Ecuador Andean Community (CAN) Visa: Free Residency for Colombian, Peruvian, and Bolivian Citizens