The residence routes to Ecuador: jubilado, rentista, investor or digital nomad

You move to Ecuador on a temporary residence visa, which you apply for online at the Cancillería, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. Anyone who is retiring usually ends up with the jubilado visa. It requires a pension from abroad of at least three basic wages a month, and health insurance that covers you in Ecuador. The visa is valid for two years. After 21 months of continuous residence you can apply for permanent residence.

The basic wage is called the SBU in Ecuador, the salario básico unificado. The Ministerio del Trabajo set it at 482 dollars a month from 1 January 2026. Ecuador uses US dollars. Every threshold below moves with the basic wage of the year in which you apply.

Route	What you show	In 2026	Fees
Jubilado	pension from abroad of at least 3 basic wages a month	1,446 dollars a month	50 application + 270 visa
Rentista	regular income of at least 3 basic wages a month, such as rent or interest	1,446 dollars a month	50 + 270
Digital nomad	income from abroad of 3 basic wages a month over the last three months, or 36 a year	1,446 dollars a month or 17,352 a year	50 + 270
Inversionista	a deposit, a house or shares in Ecuador of at least 100 basic wages	48,200 dollars	50 + 270
With jubilado, rentista and digital nomad: each partner or child moving with you	250 dollars of extra income a month per person
Permanent residence	21 months of continuous temporary residence		50 + 225

If you are 65 or older, the Cancillería gives a 50% discount on the fees.

Which route suits you?

The jubilado. You show an official document from your pension provider confirming the monthly payment of your pension, with an apostille. Whether your AOW and your occupational pension may be counted together is not stated on the Cancillería's page. Ask before you have the documents prepared.

The rentista. You show income in your own name, such as a rental contract or investments, from abroad or from Ecuador, of at least three basic wages a month.

The digital nomad. You work remotely for an employer, client or your own company abroad and show your income with foreign bank statements. Anyone coming for an Ecuadorian employer needs a different visa; see working in Ecuador.

The investor. You place at least 100 basic wages in a deposit of at least 730 days with a recognised bank, you buy a house of that value that is entered in the property register, or you take shares in an Ecuadorian company. See buying a house in Ecuador.

What does every application require?

A passport that is valid for at least six more months, a digital photo, and a criminal record certificate from every country where you lived in the last five years, with an apostille and translation. That certificate counts for 180 days, from the date of issue to your last entry into Ecuador. You also show lawful means of support. Ecuador is a party to the Apostille Convention.

For the jubilado, the rentista and the nomad, health insurance comes on top, Ecuadorian or foreign, for the whole term of the visa. A foreign policy must state that it covers Ecuador; see healthcare in Ecuador.

Do not have your criminal record certificate made too early. The 180 days run from the date of issue to the day you enter Ecuador, not to the day you apply.