Visa Nómada

Ecuador's Visa Nómada is a temporary residence visa under the rentista category that allows foreign nationals to live in Ecuador while working remotely for employers, clients, or companies located outside the country. Established under the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana 2023 and administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, the program targets remote workers, freelancers, and business owners who earn their income from foreign sources. First introduced in April 2022 and officially promoted in September 2022, it offers one of the longer initial durations among Latin American digital nomad visas at 2 years, with the possibility of renewal for a total stay of 4 years.

• Must work remotely for a foreign employer or client, or own a company registered and domiciled abroad
• Minimum monthly income of USD 1,446 (3 SBU) from foreign sources, demonstrated via international bank statements for the 3 months prior to application
• Additional USD 250/month per dependant
• Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
• Valid health insurance with coverage in Ecuador for the duration of the visa
• Criminal background certificate from country of origin or countries of residence in the last 5 years (apostilled or legalised, translated into Spanish, valid for 180 days)
• Documentation proving remote employment, freelance work, or foreign business ownership
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required

1. Register an account on the Ministry's digital services portal (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec) using your passport number and email
2. Complete the online visa application, selecting the "Rentista Trabajador Nómada" category
3. Upload all required documents in PDF format
4. Pay the USD 50 non-refundable application fee through the portal
5. The Ministry reviews the application; if documents are incomplete, you have 10 business days for corrections
6. Upon approval, pay the USD 270 visa issuance fee (total cost: USD 320)
7. After arrival in Ecuador, obtain an Ecuadorian identity card (cédula de identidad) from the Civil Registry in Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca

Applications can also be submitted in person at Zonal Directorate offices within Ecuador or at Ecuadorian embassies and consulates abroad. A 50% discount applies for applicants aged 65 and over, and a full fee exemption is available for persons with disabilities of 30% or more.

The visa is valid for 2 years. It can be renewed once for an additional 2-year period, for a maximum total stay of 4 years under this visa category. The full application process and documentation must be submitted again for renewal. Holders wishing to stay beyond 4 years must transition to another visa type or apply for permanent residency.

Temporary residence holders who have maintained their visa for at least 21 continuous months and have not spent more than 90 days outside Ecuador during that period may apply for permanent residency.

Dependants including a spouse and children may be included in the application. For each dependant, the applicant must demonstrate an additional USD 250 per month in foreign-source income. Dependants are subject to the same documentation requirements including passport, photographs, and health insurance. Minors must apply through their legal representatives.

Ecuador taxes residents on worldwide income. Individuals present more than 183 days in a fiscal year become tax residents with progressive rates from 0% to 37%. However, a temporary tax residency regime effective January 2024 allows qualifying new tax residents to pay income tax only on Ecuadorian-source income for a five-year term. Since Visa Nómada holders are restricted to foreign-source income, this regime may effectively shield their earnings from Ecuadorian income tax for the first five years.

Holders may only work remotely for entities outside Ecuador. Working for Ecuadorian companies or earning income from Ecuadorian sources is strictly prohibited under this visa category.