Due to the length of the article, I did a machine translation. Nice week
Ulises
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Ecuador aims to be the first country in South America to issue visas for digital nomads
It will mainly seek to attract nomads from the United States.
The United States has about seven million people who work remotely. They work for a company, but do not work in an office, but from a laptop, from anywhere. With this work flexibility, many take advantage of the opportunity to get to know other countries.
Ecuador wants to capture a part of these digital nomads from the United States and other countries to try to obtain the foreign currency they leave when they come to a nation for a certain period.
The idea is taking shape in the Ministry of Tourism, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidency. The entities are working on a plan for Ecuador to issue visas for digital nomads.
Niels Olsen, Minister of Tourism, indicates that they hope to enable this visa in the coming weeks to make Ecuador the first country in South America to issue visas for digital nomads.
To access this type of visas, foreigners must meet a series of requirements, but Olsen says they are trying to make them more competitive with other nations.
Globally, there are 18 nations that offer visas for digital nomads. That number has grown in the wake of the pandemic because some nations see it as a way to boost their economies. Bermuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Panama are countries that have these visas.
Panama, for example, requires the visa applicant to prove that he/she has income from a foreign source of more than $ 3,000 per month or $ 4,000 per month per family, that he/she has medical insurance, an affidavit of non-acceptance of a job offer in Panamanian territory, among others.
The parameters that Ecuador will require are being refined, but in general the applicant will be required to have an income equivalent to three basic salaries in Ecuador ($ 1,350).
In addition, the nomad will be required to have a criminal record certificate, health insurance, a valid passport, be a business owner or an employee of a company domiciled outside Ecuador.
Olsen specifies that nomads will not be able to work with this visa for a company in Ecuador, but for a foreign firm during their stay in the country.
The visa for digital nomads could last between one and two years, as these types of people usually stay for a year traveling to different cities within a country and then move on to other countries.
The visa will be open to citizens of different countries, but the focus will be on the U.S. market, where corporate workers are likely to be able to travel while working.
A global survey by U.S. consulting firm Gartner found that more than 80% of 127 company leaders were willing to allow part-time remote work even when it is safe to return to the office.
Olsen points out that attracting just 1 % of U.S. nomads would generate a significant influx.
“If 70,000 come and they only have a conservative $1,000 a month spend we’re talking $70 million a month. It has huge potential to attract nomads,” Olsen asserts.
The visa for nomads will cost $400 and $50 for the form. The idea is to issue these visas digitally.
Alfredo Velazco, from the Digital Users group, says that among the benefits that Ecuador has is to have a fairly widespread and stable telecommunications network, even above the regional average.
He also believes that the use of the dollar can be an advantage for a foreigner. “The country is cheap in food and services, unfortunately not in internet, so working beyond tourism is competitive with respect to other countries in the region,” he says. (I)
The advantages of Ecuador from the perspective of a digital nomad
Galo Vargas, entrepreneur of SaaS indies start-ups and founder of Inkspired, a platform for publishing stories, is an Ecuadorian who has experienced the lifestyle of a digital nomad. This computer engineer and digital designer has traveled 71 countries. From his perspective, he believes that Ecuador has attractions that can help attract digital nomads from other countries.
He argues that a person decides to be a nomad not necessarily to save money, but so that the same money he already uses in everyday and routine things like paying a fixed income, paying electricity, TV, is used in something that brings a different meaning to his lifestyle outside of what he already lived before and in another place.
“A digital nomad in his nature seeks new experiences, and this includes traveling to exotic places, knowing places, meeting new people, leaving the comfort zone, living, experimenting and learning new things,” he says.
That is why he considers Ecuador to be an ideal option for a nomad, as it can fulfill the premise of offering new and varied experiences in four regions. If one does not take into account the prices of flights, which are high, Vargas indicates that it is relatively cheap for a foreigner and easy to move between regions.
He says the country is a more affordable rental option for many citizens of first world countries, especially compared to expensive U.S. cities.
Location is another advantage. “If you are American, Ecuador is a much more comfortable country to work in than any other because it has the same time zone as New York and Miami,” he says.
Having the dollar as currency breaks down the barriers of entry for the American digital nomad. The climate is another ideal advantage for a nomad who is used to more extreme climates (very hot or very cold).
In terms of language, Vargas considers that one should be more “friendly” in English for things or procedures that a digital nomad can frequent or use. For example, the instructions for a SIM card for a cell phone should be in English.
Ecuador has a plus point in its people and culture, which is part of the experiences a digital nomad seeks. “Without leaving aside the dangers that exist in our society, the average Ecuadorian is very friendly and open, and will try to help outsiders in any way even when there are communication barriers in between,” he says.
Vargas believes that marketing should be more open to digital nomads on a temporary basis, as there are those who think that the country is inaccessibly expensive, without really knowing it. (I)
Personal note: I will keep an eye on the ground about this.
Discover other types of long-term visas to Ecuador.