Visa de Residencia Temporal de Inversionista (Temporary Resident Investor Visa)

Year establishedPublished

2017

Governing lawPublished

Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana (2017, reformed 2021 and 2025) and its Reglamento

Responsible authorityPublished

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (Cancillería del Ecuador)

What the program providesPublished

Two-year Ecuadorian residency from a modest US-dollar investment in property, a bank deposit or a local company, with a route to permanent residence

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Minimum ageUnknown

Unknown

Clean criminal record requiredPublished

Yes

Local health insurance requiredPublished

Yes

Nationality restrictionsPublished

No

Basic eligibilityPublished

Investment of at least 100 unified basic salaries (US$48,200 in 2026) in a 2-year bank deposit, registered Ecuadorian real estate, or shares in an Ecuadorian company

Generational limitPublished

Not applicable

Family sponsorshipPublished

Yes

Spouse includedPublished

Yes

Children includedPublished

Yes

Child age limitUnknown

Unknown

ChildrenPublished

Spouse/partner and minor children are covered as dependants of the investor (each files a dependant visa application with its own fees); adult dependent relatives may qualify as dependants.

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Processing timePublished

4.3–8.7 weeks

Can apply without travelingPublished

Yes

How you applyPublished

Online via Cancillería e-VISAS platform

Required in-person stepPublished

Enter Ecuador and register the visa / obtain the cédula at the Registro Civil

What the processing time measuresPublished

About 1-2 months from filing to approval (law-firm estimate; no official figure)

Official application routePublished

https://serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec/

Minimum investmentPublished

$48,200

Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published

$48,200

Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Processing feePublished

$270

Application feePublished

$50

Total cost to applyPublished

$320

Monthly income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly pension income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly rental income requiredPublished

None required

Savings requiredPublished

None required

Proof of sufficient fundsPublished

Yes

Local bank deposit requiredPublished

No

Minimum local bank depositPublished

None required

Minimum investment as published (Sept 2026)Published

USD 48,200 (100 x 2026 SBU of USD 482)

Other investment routes (Sept 2026)Published

Any one of: certificate of deposit of 730+ days at a recognized Ecuadorian financial institution; registered Ecuadorian real estate; shares/participations in an Ecuadorian company; or an investment/delegated-management/administrative contract with the State. Each at 100 SBU or more.

Fees paidPublished

Before approval

Cost notesPublished

US$50 application fee paid on filing; US$270 visa fee paid when the visa is authorized. 50% discount for applicants 65+; waived for persons with 30%+ disability. Each dependant files and pays separately.

Stay required to keep statusPublished

275 days/year

Physical presence requiredPublished

Yes

In-country visit requiredPublished

Yes

Move-in windowPublished

0 months

Length of residencyPublished

24 months

Residency is lifetimePublished

No

RenewablePublished

Yes

Maximum durationUnknown

Unknown

Maximum duration is lifetimePublished

No

Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published

Temporary residents may be absent no more than 90 days per year (accumulable over the visa's validity); exceeding it is a migration infraction and breaks continuity for permanent residence

Tax residency rulePublished

Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents

Personal income taxPublished

range between 5%-37%

Time to permanent residencyPublished

1.75 years

Time to citizenshipPublished

3 years

Work for a local employerPublished

Yes

Start a businessPublished

Yes

Remote or freelance workPublished

Yes

Local healthcare accessPublished

Yes

University accessPublished

Yes

Can buy landPublished

Yes

Local bankingPublished

Yes

Permanent residence timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Citizenship timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Investment note (Sept 2026)Published

Threshold is indexed to the SBU (minimum wage), so it rises each January (US$47,000 in 2025, US$48,200 in 2026). Ecuador uses the US dollar.

Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published

2-year temporary residence; permanent residence can be requested after 21 months, citizenship after 3 years of legal residence. The 90-day yearly absence cap is a real stay rule (about 275 days a year in Ecuador); the list claim of 185 days was not confirmed.

Official program websitePublished

https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/residencia-temporal-inversionista/

Investment source (Sept 2026)Published

https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesion-visa-residencia-temporal-inversionista | https://ecuapass.com/es/blog/ecuador-sbu-2026-visa-income-thresholds

Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published

https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesion-visa-residencia-temporal-inversionista | https://myecuadorvisa.com/investment-visa/ | https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2021.05.14_ley_organica_de_movilidad_humana_-_lomh.pdf

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.