Ecuador Visa Costs 2026
Here's what Ecuador residency actually costs — government fees, document preparation, and professional assistance — broken down by visa type with no surprises. All government fees are sourced from Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (gob.ec) and current as of 2026.
Government Fees by Visa Type
The standard government fee for most Ecuador visa types is $320 — a $50 application fee paid when you submit, plus a $270 visa grant fee paid upon approval. This applies to the Professional Visa, Pensioner Visa, Rentista Visa, Investor Visa, and Digital Nomad Visa. For dependents, the sponsor must demonstrate an additional $250/month in income per dependent.
But government fees are only part of the picture. Each visa type has a qualifying income threshold that determines whether you're eligible — and for most people, this is the number that actually matters when budgeting for Ecuador residency.
Professional Visa
Requires $482/mo foreign income + SENESCYT-registered degree
Pensioner Visa
Requires $1,446/mo pension income (3× SBU)
Rentista Visa
Requires $1,446/mo passive or investment income
Investor Visa
Requires $48,200 one-time investment (100× SBU)
Digital Nomad Visa
Requires $1,446/mo foreign employer + health insurance
Dependent Visa
linked to primary applicant
Source: Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), gob.ec. Fees are paid in two installments — $50 at application and $270 upon approval. For dependents, the sponsor must show $250/month extra income per dependent. Fees are subject to change; verify at your immigration appointment.
What Document Preparation Actually Costs
“Document costs” is the vaguest line item on most visa cost breakdowns. Here's what it actually includes for a US applicant:
FBI Background Check
$18 via FBI.gov (standard, 3–5 weeks) or $50–$100 through an approved channeler for expedited processing (1–2 weeks)
$18–$100
Federal Apostille
US Department of State apostille for federally-issued documents (FBI check, diploma from some states). Processing takes 4–8 weeks standard or 2–3 weeks expedited
$20/document
State Apostille
For birth certificates, marriage certificates, and state-issued documents. Cost varies significantly by state — some are free, others charge up to $50
$2–$50/document
Certified Spanish Translations
At $15–$30 per page, you'll typically need 8–15 pages translated depending on your visa type. Includes FBI check, birth certificate, diploma, income proof, and supporting documents
$120–$450
Total realistic document budget (US applicant)
$200–$500
EcuaPass Service Fees
A page that promises “no hidden fees” should include our own. EcuaPass charges $1,200–$1,750 depending on visa type and complexity. This includes document review, translation coordination, application preparation, immigration appointment scheduling and attendance, and follow-up through approval.
You pay government fees and document preparation costs separately — those go directly to the issuing agencies, not to us. Our fee covers the expertise and time that keeps your application from stalling.
Professional Visa
$1,800
Pensioner Visa
$1,200
Rentista Visa
$1,500
Investor Visa
$1,750
Digital Nomad Visa
$1,400
Dependent Add-On
$300–$500
per dependent
Total Realistic Budget
Here's what you should realistically budget for Ecuador residency, combining government fees, document preparation, and optional professional assistance:
$520–$820
Government fees ($320) plus document preparation ($200–$500). You handle everything yourself — SENESCYT, translations, immigration appointments, and follow-up.
$1,720–$2,570
Government fees ($320) plus documents ($200–$500) plus EcuaPass service fee ($1,200–$1,750). We handle document review, SENESCYT, immigration, and everything through your cédula.
Note for Investor Visa applicants
The Investor Visa requires a qualifying investment of $48,200 (100× the SBU) in addition to the costs above. This is an investment, not a fee — you retain ownership of the asset (real estate, certificate of deposit, business equity, etc.). It does not require monthly income proof.
Get a Quote for Your Situation
Every visa case is slightly different. Tell us about your situation — degree, income source, family size — and we'll give you an exact cost breakdown within 24 hours. Free consultation, no commitment.
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