Ecuador residence and citizenship
The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Ecuador is $48,200, for the Visa de residencia temporal - Inversionista. Ordinary naturalisation in Ecuador needs 3 years of legal residence.
Partly checked — So far the automated review covers employee temporary residence visa only (sources read 10 November 2026). Everything else on this page is provisional.
Residence routes in Ecuador
Investment, own-income, remote-work and permanent routes. Scroll across the table to see every column.
| Route | Kind | Minimum | Processing | To citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa de residencia temporal - Inversionista* | Residence by investment | $48,200 | — | 5 years |
| Visa de residencia temporal - Jubilado* | Retirement or own income | income $17,352/yr | — | 5 years |
| Visa de residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto (Visa Nómada)* | Remote work | income $17,352/yr | — | — |
"Minimum" is a cited investment threshold in its stated currency. A USD figure appears only when a supported conversion is on file; "—" means no supported amount is on file, not that it is free. "To citizenship" counts the years of residence before a naturalisation application. A zero-year entry states no residence wait; citizenship still needs a separate decision.
Work, family, study and other routes (1)
| Route | Kind | Minimum | Processing | To citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee temporary residence visa | Work | — | — | — |
* Provisional — not yet verified by the automated source check. Visa de residencia temporal - Inversionista: from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026. At least 100 SBU in a 730-day bank deposit, Ecuadorian real estate or company shares. 2-year visa. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Acuerdo MDT-2025-195, per NMS Law). Visa de residencia temporal - Jubilado: from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026. Pension of at least 3 SBU a month (USD 1,446). 2-year visa. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Acuerdo MDT-2025-195, per NMS Law). Visa de residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto (Visa Nómada): from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026. Foreign income of at least 3 SBU a month (36 SBU a year), +USD 250/month per dependant. Up to 2 years, renewable once. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Acuerdo MDT-2025-195, per NMS Law). Years to naturalisation: from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026. 3 years of regular residence on a permanent residence visa; max 180 days abroad per year in those years. Dual citizenship: from Constitute Project (Constitution of Ecuador, arts. 6, 8), read 10 November 2026. People who acquire Ecuadorian nationality need not renounce their nationality of origin.
Each route's conditions and sources
Employee temporary residence visa
The official procedure lists a USD 50 application and USD 270 issuance stage. Senior and disability exemptions can apply; the full personalized cost is not modeled.
Sources: Temporary employee residence-visa service (Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility)
Citizenship in Ecuador
- Years of residence before naturalisation: 3 years*
- Years before permanent residence: not stated
- Dual citizenship allowed: Yes*
What is the cheapest residence visa in Ecuador?
The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Ecuador is $48,200, for the Visa de residencia temporal - Inversionista. Provisional — from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026; not yet verified. At least 100 SBU in a 730-day bank deposit, Ecuadorian real estate or company shares. 2-year visa. SBU 2026 = USD 482 (Acuerdo MDT-2025-195, per NMS Law). Routes for people living on their own income or working remotely (Visa de residencia temporal - Jubilado; Visa de residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto (Visa Nómada)) ask for proof of income, not an investment.
How many years to citizenship in Ecuador?
Ordinary naturalisation in Ecuador needs 3 years of legal residence. Provisional — from Government of Ecuador (Cancillería), read 10 November 2026; not yet verified. 3 years of regular residence on a permanent residence visa; max 180 days abroad per year in those years.
Does Ecuador allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Ecuador lets a new citizen keep another nationality, subject to the other country's rules. Provisional — from Constitute Project (Constitution of Ecuador, arts. 6, 8), read 10 November 2026; not yet verified. People who acquire Ecuadorian nationality need not renounce their nationality of origin.
Tax and residence days
A residence permit and tax residence are different tests. See the Ecuador tax rates, count your days with the Ecuador day test and see what changed in the data, day by day.
Sources
The Ecuador profile cites 1 source, 1 of them from a government or a statute. Data as of 2026-Q4.
- Temporary employee residence-visa service · Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, official, read 10 November 2026
Rules, fees and minimums change, and many routes have conditions not shown here. Did you find an error? Tell us, with the source.
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