Ecuador work visa (temporary residence for work)

The visa is for foreigners who intend to live in Ecuador to work lawfully under an employment relationship with a public or private employer. People who work independently, provide professional, civil or consulting services, or come under a sponsorship letter use a separate temporary residence category for autonomous work and professional services.

The special requirements are the employment contract or personnel action issued by the public or private employer, a certificate that the contract is registered with the ministry responsible for labour, and certificates from the competent authorities showing that the employer has no pending obligations with the SRI, the IESS or the Superintendency of Companies.

General requirements apply too: a colour JPG photo, a passport valid for at least six months, an original criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence in the last five years (over 18, translated, apostilled or legalised, no more than 180 days old at the last entry) and proof of lawful means of support under Ministerial Agreement 70 of 2024.

Applications are filed only on the MREMH e-VISAS platform. Upload the PDFs and pay USD 50 the same day, by card until 23:55 Ecuador time or by deposit at Banco del Pacífico between 08:30 and 16:00; unpaid applications are deleted. After authorisation pay USD 270. The visa is issued through Ecuadorian missions abroad or the Zonal Directorates in Ecuador.

A spouse, registered partner and children can apply for the temporary residence visa of amparo, which lasts as long as your visa; you must show an extra USD 250 a month for each adult child you sponsor. After more than 21 continuous months of temporary residence, you can apply for permanent residence before your current status expires, paying USD 50 plus USD 225.

The fee pages for this visa grant a 50% discount to people aged 65 and over and a full exemption to people with a disability of 30% or more who hold the Ministry of Public Health disability card. Minors apply through their legal representative or an attorney-in-fact, and an applicant who is already in Ecuador must show regular status, either the Ministry of the Interior's tourist stay authorisation or a valid visa.