Life in Ecuador simpler and more affordable, we use the American dollar as our currency, and the weather is nice almost all year. Thousands of people have traded life in their home countries for living in Ecuador.
A friend who lives outside Ecuador asked me if it is true that visitors to Ecuador can receive a free, six-month tourist visa. By way of explanation, upon arrival in Ecuador a visitor receives a 90-day tourist visa (90 days, not three months, so I always encourage my friends to count the days)! And, yes, this visa is free.
When this first visa expires, you can leave the country or extend the tourist visa for 90 additional days through a pretty simple process at the “Migration Police Office.” The cost is approximately $150.57 per person, included the bank fee. If a visitor leaves the country before the first 90-day visa expires, the “immigration clock” stops, and the remaining days are available for a subsequent visit within the year. Each year at the time of the first arrival, a person will again be eligible to receive a new 90-day visa.
As for residency visas…
There are many available visas to become a legal resident of Ecuador. The most popular is the retirement visa, based on one’s Social Security or pension income. An investor visa is available by depositing $45,000.00 in an Ecuadorian certificate of deposit or by buying a property of at least that value (plus $250 per dependent). A professional visa is available, based upon the approval of a university degree from another country. For all these visas, extra steps are required to process and receive the visa.
All these visas are temporary, valid for 24 months; however, after 21 months a visa holder can apply for a permanent residency visa.
With any visa, a holder can receive a Cédula (Ecuadorian ID card). This extra step makes it easier to do business in Ecuador and brings some benefits for those who are 65 years or older. These benefits include 50 percent discounts on bus and domestic airline tickets (before taxes), refunds of certain Value Added Taxes paid, discounts on immigration costs, and others.
Seniors in Ecuador are people 65 years and older, or “Tercera Edad” (third age or seniors).
The picture above, is one of the few sunrises in that color, normally, in Loja, the sunsets are orange.
I am so grateful for your expertise and kindness. Thank you, Ulises!
Good evening, I would like to know the requirements and process in getting the tourist visa for FILIPINO’S that wants to visit Ecuador. Thank you in advance.
Hi
my apologies, i missed this message, my apologies, my personal email address is ulisesacostac@gmail.com
ulises
Damn, the best explanation of the Ecuador situation I have ever seen.
blessings to you Ulysses.
If we can just get the government past covid, we can return to paradise.
Expatriated 13 years ago and never looked back.
blessings Ulysses
the best explanations of the paths to paradise i have ever seen.
expatriated 13 years ago and never looked back. Some realize this is paradise when they get here, others realize it when they leave.
aVerage Iq in ecuador is 83, once we get these folks past covid, we are back in paradise.
Recommendation for Ulises Acosta, visa facilitator
I will preface by saying this was my second time applying for a visa in Ecuador. My first experience was just terrible. It took months. I constantly got hustled for more money, and I was frustrated beyond measure.
I learned of Ulises through a community Email in EC. He responded to all my questions in a timely manner with accurate information. Accurate information is very important as the immigration laws change frequently and without notice.
We did my application through the Azogues office and I found the staff to be highly professional and polite. From application to visa took just one month.
Ulises knows the system and will tell you exactly what you need for your category of visa, which will yield a smooth process, and not a nightmare.
In conclusion, I don’t normally write recommendations, albeit I wanted to save some expats the time and trouble of using the wrong facilitator.
You can contact Ulises Acosta at: ulisesacostac@gmail.com
Saludos.
Address: Cuenca
Contact information: nickchrist74@gmail.com