Ecuador Professional Visa
Register your university degree in Ecuador and get a 2-Year Professional Visa. If you have a bachelor's degree or higher, this is almost certainly your best option. The income requirement is just $482/month.
Total service fee $900 — start today with a $600 retainer. The remaining $300 is only due after your visa is approved.
Key Requirements
University Degree
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university that can be registered with SENESCYT (Ecuador's higher education authority). Online degrees are accepted with proper documentation.
Provable Income
Documented monthly income of at least $482 USD from foreign sources. Employment contracts, bank statements, client invoices, or Social Security statements all qualify.
Background Check
FBI and state criminal record checks from your country of origin, apostilled and translated into Spanish. Must be valid within 180 days on arrival.
Official Requirements
Concesión de visa de residencia temporal de Profesional, Técnico, Tecnólogo o Artesano
Mandatory Requirements
- Color photograph in JPG format, max 1MB, 5×5 cm (2×2 inches), updated, white background, neutral expression or natural smile, both eyes open
- Valid passport with minimum six (6) months remaining validity
- Original criminal record certificate from country of origin or where you have resided in the last five years, translated, apostilled or legalized. Valid for 180 days from issuance.
- Payment of the fee set by the human mobility authority
- Prove lawful means of living per Ministerial Agreement No. 70 of June 28, 2024
Special Requirements
- Professional degree, technical or technologist title, apostilled (if from a Hague Convention country) or legalized (if not)
- Registration of the title with the competent national authority (SENESCYT)
- For artisans: registration of activity with the competent entity in Ecuador and validation by the National Board of Artisan Defense
Process & Fees
Application
Entirely virtual through the official e-VISAS platform at serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec
Government Fees
$50 application fee + $270 grant fee. No VAT. 50% discount for seniors 65+. 100% exemption for disability greater than or equal to 30%.
Validity
2 years. After 21 months of temporary residency, you may apply for permanent residency.
Every month you wait is a month you could already be living here.
The biggest delay we see is not immigration — it is applicants who overthink the document list. Pay the $600 retainer today (total service fee $900) and we will send you a personalized checklist within 24 hours. The remaining $300 is only due after your visa is approved.
Your Journey to Residency
A structured path to your new life in Ecuador.
Document Gathering
Start this immediately — do not wait until you have decided for sure. Order your FBI background check through identogo.com (2–8 weeks). Locate your original diploma. Request the specific SENESCYT letter from your university registrar. Get your State Department apostille (2–4 weeks).
SENESCYT Registration
We submit your degree to SENESCYT's online portal, attend the in-person verification appointment in Azogues (or send a proxy), and follow up aggressively with your assigned analyst. This is where having someone who knows the system saves you months.
Visa Application & Immigration
Once SENESCYT approves your degree, the visa application itself is relatively straightforward. We prepare your complete application package, schedule your immigration appointment, attend with you to translate and handle any issues, and follow up on processing.
Cédula & Final Registration
After visa approval, we help you get your cédula (Ecuadorian ID card) at the Registro Civil, complete your census registration, and guide you through IESS enrollment. You are now a legal resident of Ecuador.
The EcuaPass Service Package
More than just a filing service — we provide end-to-end relocation support.
- Document review & preparation
- SENESCYT degree-registration coordination
- Apostille guidance
- Certified Spanish translation coordination
- Cédula (ID card) appointment support
- Banking & health insurance introduction
- Direct WhatsApp communication
- Application tracking & follow-up
Ready to Start Your New Chapter?
You have the degree. You have the passport. The only thing missing is the filing order. Pay the $600 retainer now — total service fee $900 — and we will build your exact document checklist before the weekend.
Professional Visa FAQ
This is the #1 question I get. Yes, but it depends on the university. SENESCYT has gotten stricter about online degrees. They require a letter from your university specifying how many credits were earned in-person vs. online. Fully online degrees from regionally accredited US universities (like WGU, where I got mine) are generally accepted, but the documentation has to be precise. We will review your specific degree and university before you pay anything.
Absolutely — and you should. Your FBI background check, apostilles, and university documents all need to be gathered from the US. Start these 2–3 months before you plan to travel. You can enter Ecuador on a tourist visa and apply for residency from within the country.
It depends on why. If it is a documentation issue (wrong format, missing letter, unclear transcript), we fix it and resubmit. If your university genuinely is not recognized, we will discuss alternative visa pathways (Rentista or Investor) during your intake review. We assess your degree eligibility before you commit.
$482/month (1x SBU for 2026). You prove it with employment contracts, bank statements showing regular deposits, client invoices, or Social Security statements. The income must come from outside Ecuador. We will tell you exactly which documents to provide based on your income type.
Ecuador has a territorial tax system — foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed in Ecuador. However, US citizens have worldwide tax obligations regardless of where they live. Our sister company FileAbroad.com specializes in expat tax filing. We will make sure you are covered on both sides.
Your temporary visa is valid for 2 years. After 21 months, you can apply for permanent residency — which never expires and gives you full rights. We help with that transition too.