Ecuador Permanent Residency Visa 2026
Convert 21+ months of temporary residency into indefinite permanent residency in Ecuador.
Eligibility & What You Need
21+ months of temporary residency
You must accredit at least 21 months of continuous temporary residence in Ecuador immediately before applying.
Valid passport
Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining at the time of application.
Color photo
Passport-style color photo (5 x 5 cm, white background, JPG under 1 MB).
Ecuador criminal record
Certificate of criminal record from Ecuador (antecedentes penales) for applicants 18 and older.
Proof of original temporary visa
Documentation showing the basis for your original temporary residency (professional, retirement, rentista, etc.).
Lawful means of life
Proof of lawful means of support as required by Acuerdo Ministerial No. 70 of 28 June 2024.
Government fees
$50 visa application + $225 visa grant = $275 total.
5 emails that will save you months of waiting.
The same breakdown I give paying clients on our first call — distilled into 5 short emails over 9 days. No PDF. No 60-minute webinar. Just the real Ecuador permanent residency playbook, sent by hand from Cuenca.
- 1
The 21-month rule
How to count your 21 months of temporary residency and when to start the application.
- 2
The 3 mistakes that get applications denied
Gaps in residence, missing Ecuador criminal certificate, and expired temporary visa — and the exact fix for each.
- 3
What the retainer actually delivers
The 7 specific things I handle — line by line — so you don't have to.
Ready to skip the roadmap? Start the retainer instead.
Chip Moreno
Founder & Lead Visa Consultant
I went through Ecuador's immigration system myself and now help others do the same from Cuenca. Permanent residency is the finish line most clients are aiming for — but the 21-month rule and the Ecuador criminal certificate trip people up. The intake form helps us map your exact timeline before anything gets filed.