Working in Ecuador: a work visa with a registered contract, as self-employed, or as a nomad for abroad

If you want to work in Ecuador, you need a temporary residence visa that allows work. As a tourist you may not work (article 56 of the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana). For employment there is the trabajo visa, with an employment contract registered by the Ministry of Labour. Anyone who works as self-employed or as a consultant applies for the trabajo autónomo visa. And anyone who works for an employer or clients abroad can come as a digital nomad. Each visa costs 50 dollars for the application and 270 for the visa, and is valid for two years.

Route	What you show	Fees	Valid
Trabajo, employed	employment contract, registered with the Ministry of Labour; statement that the employer has no debts with the SRI, IESS and Superintendencia	50 + 270 dollars	2 years
Trabajo autónomo	services contract with notarised signatures, RUC or municipal licence	50 + 270 dollars	2 years
Profesional, técnico, artesano	degree with apostille, registered in Ecuador	50 + 270 dollars	2 years
Digital nomad	income from abroad of 3 basic wages a month: 1,446 dollars in 2026	50 + 270 dollars	up to 2 years
Registering a foreign degree	degree with apostille and transcript	25 dollars

How does the trabajo visa work?

Your employer draws up an employment contract, or in the public sector an appointment decision, and has it registered with the Ministry of Labour. With the application you submit that proof of registration, together with statements that the employer has no outstanding obligations with the SRI, the IESS and the Superintendencia de Compañías. The usual requirements also apply, such as a criminal record certificate with an apostille; see the residence routes.

If you are employed, your employer registers you with the IESS, the social insurance institute. Article 51 of the migration law gives a foreign resident the right to work and to social security, and says that not being affiliated is penalised. See healthcare in Ecuador.

What if you work for yourself?

Then there is the visa for trabajo autónomo, servicios profesionales, civiles o de consultoría. You show a services contract whose signatures have been acknowledged by a notary, a RUC if you are already resident, or a licence from the municipality. If you work as self-employed from your own premises, add a sworn statement with photos, or proof that you own or rent the space.

As self-employed you register with the SRI for a RUC; see registration and numbers. With the IESS you can join voluntarily as self-employed for 17.60% of an income you declare yourself, at least on the basic wage of 482 dollars.