Every Ecuador visa application requires apostilled documents—and the apostille process is where most people’s timelines get derailed. The good news: it’s not complicated, just time-sensitive. Here’s the quick version for each country. For the full step-by-step with troubleshooting, see our comprehensive apostille guide.
Which Documents Need Apostilles
Three documents need apostilles for most visa applications: your criminal background check (FBI Identity History Summary for US citizens), your birth certificate, and your marriage certificate if you’re including a spouse. Documents that do NOT need apostilles: bank statements, employment letters, pension letters, tax returns, and your passport.
US Citizens: The FBI Check
Order your FBI Identity History Summary through identogo.com (FBI-approved channeler, $50–100, results in 3–5 business days) or directly from the FBI at fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks ($18, 8–12 weeks). I always recommend the channeler route—the time savings are worth the extra cost, especially since your FBI check starts its 6-month validity clock the day it’s issued. Every week it sits on your desk is a week less you have to complete the rest of your application.
Once you have the FBI results, mail them to the US Department of State Authentications Office for apostille. Include the completed DS-4194 form (download from the State Department website), a $20 fee by check or money order payable to “US Department of State,” and a prepaid return envelope. Processing takes 3–4 weeks. If you need it faster, private apostille expediting services can compress this to 5–10 business days for $100–250.
US Citizens: Birth Certificate
Order a certified copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office of the state where you were born—not your current state of residence. It must be a certified copy with a raised seal; photocopies won’t be accepted. Send it for apostille to the Secretary of State of your birth state. Every state has a different process and fee ($2–50), and turnaround varies from 1–4 weeks. Search “[your state] Secretary of State apostille” for specific instructions.
Canadian Citizens
Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024, replacing the old authentication-and-legalization process. Get your RCMP criminal record check, then have it apostilled through the designated competent authority—Global Affairs Canada handles federal documents. Provincial documents like birth certificates go through your provincial authority. The process is now simpler, faster, and cheaper than the old three-step system that required the Ecuador Embassy in Ottawa. See our Canadian retirement visa guide for Canada-specific details.
UK Citizens
Get your DBS check (or ACRO police certificate if you’ve been living abroad), then send it to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for apostille. The FCDO offers an online service at gov.uk/get-document-legalised. Cost is approximately £30–50, turnaround 1–3 weeks.
Australian Citizens
Get your AFP (Australian Federal Police) check, then have it apostilled through DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Online applications are available at dfat.gov.au. Cost is approximately $80–150 AUD, turnaround 2–3 weeks.
Common Mistakes
The four mistakes I see most often: sending your FBI check to your state’s Secretary of State instead of the US Department of State (federal documents need a federal apostille), letting the FBI check sit for weeks before apostilling it (the 6-month clock is already running), trying to apostille a photocopy instead of a certified original, and sending a birth certificate to your current state of residence instead of your birth state. Each of these costs you 2–4 weeks minimum.
Timeline Planning
On a conservative timeline, budget 4–5 months from ordering your FBI check to having all apostilles in hand. On an aggressive timeline using expedited services throughout, you can compress this to 3–5 weeks—but everything has to go perfectly. I recommend starting 5–6 months before your planned travel date to build in a comfortable buffer. The worst outcome is having everything else ready for your visa application while you wait on a single apostille.
Need the Full Guide?
For country-specific resources, troubleshooting for rejected apostilles, and exact mailing addresses, see our complete apostille requirements guide. If you want your documents reviewed before you submit, book a consultation—catching a problem before you mail anything saves weeks.