Ecuador Professional Visa — DIY Guide
Professional Residency Visa (Visa Profesional). For university-degree holders with $482+/month in income and a credential that can be registered with SENESCYT.
NEXT_PUBLIC_STRIPE_DIY_GUIDE_PROFESSIONAL_LINK in .env to enable checkout.Everything you need to file yourself
The same playbook our $1,200+ visa service uses, written for applicants who want to do it themselves.
The full 9-step process covering both SENESCYT degree registration and the visa application, in the right order.
University letter templates you can forward to your registrar so they know exactly what to write.
Document-by-document breakdown: which need apostille, which need translation, and the timing trap that costs most applicants weeks.
Common SENESCYT rejection reasons (poor scan quality, missing letters, wrong-state apostille) and how to avoid them.
A complete fee and timeline budget.
Know exactly what to request — and from whom
Valid passport
Bio page scan, color, all four corners visible. 6+ months validity remaining.
Passport photo
5cm x 5cm, white background, color, recent. No glasses.
Apostilled diploma
Your original degree certificate. The apostille MUST come from the state or country where the university is physically located — not where you live. SENESCYT does NOT require translation of the diploma; the visa application does, later.
Official transcript
From your university registrar. Signed and sealed, not a portal download. Does not need apostille or translation for SENESCYT.
+ 9 more in the full guide, including apostille/translation requirements for each document.
9 steps, in the right order
Order your apostilled diploma
Send your diploma to the Secretary of State of the state where your university is located. Plan 2-4 weeks. This is the slowest document and unblocks everything else.
Request university letters in parallel
Send your registrar the letter templates from this guide: ISCED/no-ISCED, Field of Knowledge, Modality, study dates/curriculum, accreditation, transfer-credit (if applicable). Most registrars can fulfill these in 1-2 weeks once they have a template.
Get your official transcript
Order an official, sealed transcript. PDF portal downloads are usually not accepted — request a mailed or electronic official copy.
Submit SENESCYT application
Upload all SENESCYT documents through SIAU (the SENESCYT online portal). No translation needed for SENESCYT submission. Wait for an appointment notice.
+ 5 more steps, plus the complete timeline with realistic durations.
Common mistakes that get applications kicked back
Apostilling the diploma from the wrong state. Use the state where the university is physically located, not where you live. A University of Florida degree must be apostilled by Florida, even if you live in Texas.
Translating SENESCYT documents. SENESCYT does not require translations — only the visa application does. Don't waste $200 on unnecessary translations early.
Ordering background checks too early. They expire at 180 days, and SENESCYT alone can take 3-4 months. Run the visa-stage background checks only when SENESCYT is near complete.
One-time purchase
$79
Delivered as a formatted PDF-style email within seconds of purchase. Keep it forever.
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Prefer not to DIY? Full-service visa help from $1,600.Start intake
Common questions
Does my Master's degree count, or only my Bachelor's?+
Either works. Whichever is most relevant to how you plan to use the visa (work in your professional field, mainly). Many applicants register their highest degree.
Can I work in Ecuador on this visa?+
Yes. Unlike the Pensioner or Rentista visas, the Professional Visa explicitly grants the right to work in your registered professional field. Some regulated professions (medicine, law, architecture) require additional registration with the relevant colegio profesional beyond SENESCYT.
What if my degree was online?+
It may or may not be accepted. Check the official SENESCYT list and the accreditation status of the issuing institution. If your online degree is on the restricted list, the Pensioner or Rentista visa may be a better fit.
Do I need a job offer in Ecuador?+
No. The Professional Visa does not require a job offer. It registers your credential so you can work in that field if/when you choose to.
Do I need a lawyer?+
SENESCYT is the highest-failure phase of the process. If your registrar is responsive and your documents are clean, DIY is realistic. Most people who hire help do it for the SENESCYT phase specifically — the visa application itself is straightforward once you have the registration certificate. EcuaPass charges $1,600 for the full service (paid in three milestones).
Don't want to run the process yourself?
EcuaPass handles the full Professional Visa for $1,600, paid in milestones — and only the final payment is after your visa is approved.