Issue · September 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador runs a dedicated remote-work residence, the Visa Nómada, alongside the older rentista, professional and investor temporary residences, all filed online for a flat USD 320 in state fees and all valid for two years. It suits salaried remote employees and freelancers who can show three months of foreign income above USD 1,446 a month, the 2026 threshold set by the basic salary. Most Western passports also get 90 visa-free days plus a paid 90-day extension, but Indian and Chinese nationals have needed a visa since 2025.

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The routes

Researched 8 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Nomad visa

    Visa Nómada (digital nomad visa)

    Visa de residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto / Temporary rentista residence visa for remote work

    Remote employees, freelancers and owners of foreign companies who serve employers or clients based outside Ecuador and want a two-year base without a local job.

    Income floor
    Foreign-source income of at least three basic unified salaries (SBU) a month, shown over the three months before filing, or 36 SBU a year; with the 2026 SBU of USD 482 that is USD 1,446 a month or USD 17,352 a year, plus USD 250 a month per dependant.
    Duration
    2 years; reported by immigration firms as renewable once for a further 2 years, after which permanent residence is the usual next step.
    Cost
    USD 50 application fee plus USD 270 visa issuance fee (Consular Tariff, Acuerdo Ministerial 0000026 of 2023); 50 per cent discount for applicants aged 65 or over, full exemption for a disability of 30 per cent or more. The USD 450 figure still quoted on some sites was the 2022 tariff.
    Processing
    No statutory time is published on the official page; immigration firms and applicants report four to six weeks after submission and around three months end to end including document preparation.
    Eligibility
    Open to all nationalities; must own a foreign company or work remotely for one or more natural or legal persons domiciled abroad; clean criminal record; health insurance valid in Ecuador; passport valid at least six months; if applying in-country the tourist stay must still be valid.
    Work rights
    Remote work for foreign employers or clients only; local employment is prohibited, as the official page states.
    Dependants
    Spouse or partner and children can be included; the principal must show an extra USD 250 a month of income per dependant.
    Leads to
    Yes: temporary residents can apply for permanent residence after 21 months, provided absences did not exceed 90 days in each year, per the Human Mobility Law as reported by immigration firms; naturalisation is a separate later route under the same law.
    Apply
    Entirely online on the Foreign Ministry's e-Visas platform (serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec), from abroad or from inside Ecuador while the tourist stay is valid; consulates abroad also receive applications.

    Documents Passport valid for at least six months · Colour passport photo (JPG, max 1 MB, 5x5 cm) · Criminal-record certificate from the country of origin or of residence over the last five years, apostilled or legalised, no older than 180 days · Proof of employment or self-employment with a foreign employer or clients for remote work (contract, company documents, client agreements) · Bank statements showing foreign-source income of at least three SBU a month for the preceding three months · Health insurance, national or international, covering Ecuador for the visa period · Completed online application form on the e-Visas platform

    Official page →

  2. Long stay

    Rentista visa (passive income)

    Visa de residencia temporal de rentista / Temporary residence visa for persons of independent means

    People living on dividends, rent, annuities or investment income from abroad rather than active remote work, including nomads who prefer not to document an employer.

    Income floor
    Income from abroad of at least three SBU a month, USD 1,446 in 2026, per the Human Mobility Law regulation; sites specialising in Ecuadorian visas add USD 250 a month per dependant.
    Duration
    2 years, as for all temporary residences; permanent residence possible after 21 months.
    Cost
    Consular tariff for temporary residence: USD 50 application plus USD 270 issuance, the same schedule the official investor and nomad pages publish.
    Processing
    Not published as a statutory period; firms report several weeks to a few months.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; stable, lawful passive income from abroad; the regulation requires national or foreign health insurance valid for the whole visa period; criminal-record certificate.
    Work rights
    Designed for income from abroad; it does not authorise local employment, and remote work is not what the category is written for.
    Dependants
    Spouse and children may be included on proof of family ties and the additional income per dependant.
    Leads to
    Yes: permanent residence after 21 months as a temporary resident with absences under 90 days a year.
    Apply
    e-Visas platform online, Ecuadorian embassies and consulates abroad, or the Foreign Ministry's zonal coordinations in Ecuador.

    Documents Passport valid for at least six months · Apostilled criminal-record certificate from the countries of residence over the last five years · Evidence of the source and amount of the passive income (rental contracts, pension or investment statements) plus bank statements · Health insurance valid in Ecuador for the visa period · Online application form and photo

    Official page →

  3. Temporary stay

    Visa-free tourist stay with 90-day extension

    Visitante temporal turista / Temporary visitor, tourism (Human Mobility Law, article 56) with prórroga

    Nomads passing through for up to six months in a year, or scouting before filing a residence application from inside the country.

    Income floor
    none
    Duration
    90 days per year on entry, extendable once by up to 90 days for a total of 180 days in a 12-month period; the extension must be requested between day 80 and day 90 of the stay.
    Cost
    Entry is free; the extension costs one third of the SBU, about USD 161 in 2026.
    Processing
    Extension is issued by the Interior Ministry's migration service on presentation of passport, form and bank payment slip; the transit visa for listed nationalities must be requested at least 20 days before travel.
    Eligibility
    Nationals not on the visa-required list; passport validity; since 1 September 2025 nationals of 45 countries including India and China need a visa before travel.
    Work rights
    The tourist category is for non-remunerated activities; remote work for foreign employers on a tourist entry is not expressly authorised and is widely practised without published enforcement.
    Dependants
    Each family member enters and extends on their own passport.
    Leads to
    No, but time in tourist status can be used to file a residence application online from inside Ecuador.
    Apply
    Entry at the border; extension at Interior Ministry migration offices (Ministerio del Interior) via gob.ec.

    Documents Passport · Extension request form and original bank payment receipt (for the prórroga)

    Official page →

  4. Long stay

    Professional visa

    Visa de residencia temporal profesional / Temporary residence visa for professionals

    Degree holders who want the right to work locally as well as remotely, including nomads who may take Ecuadorian clients or employment later.

    Income floor
    None published; the requirement is a university degree registered with SENESCYT, the higher-education secretariat; the official gob.ec page was unavailable at the time of research so figures could not be re-verified.
    Duration
    2 years, renewable; permanent residence after 21 months.
    Cost
    Consular tariff for temporary residence, USD 50 plus USD 270, per the schedule published on the Foreign Ministry's other temporary-residence pages.
    Processing
    Not published; firms report similar timings to the nomad visa.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; a recognised degree registered with SENESCYT; criminal-record certificate; passport validity.
    Work rights
    Authorises professional activity in Ecuador, so local clients and local employment are allowed as well as remote work.
    Dependants
    Family members can be included under the family-amparo rules.
    Leads to
    Yes: permanent residence after 21 months.
    Apply
    e-Visas platform, consulates abroad or zonal coordinations in Ecuador.

    Documents Passport valid for at least six months · Degree registered with SENESCYT · Apostilled criminal-record certificate · Online application form and photo

  5. Investor

    Investor visa

    Visa de residencia temporal inversionista / Temporary residence visa for investors

    Remote workers with capital who would rather park a deposit or buy property than document monthly income; used by a minority of nomads.

    Income floor
    Investment of at least 100 SBU, USD 48,200 in 2026, in a term deposit of 730 days or more, registered real estate, shares in Ecuadorian companies or state investment contracts.
    Duration
    2 years; permanent residence after 21 months.
    Cost
    USD 50 application plus USD 270 visa authorisation; 50 per cent discount over 65, exemption for disability of 30 per cent or more.
    Processing
    Not published; online platform runs 24 hours and payment must be completed the same day by 23:55 Ecuador time.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; lawful origin of funds; investment must remain for the visa period; criminal-record certificate.
    Work rights
    Permits productive and commercial activity linked to the investment, legal representation and administrative posts, as the official page describes.
    Dependants
    Minors apply through a legal representative; family members can be included.
    Leads to
    Yes: permanent residence after 21 months.
    Apply
    Online only via the Foreign Ministry's e-Visas platform.

    Documents Passport valid for at least six months · Proof of the investment (deposit certificate, property registration or share registration) · Apostilled criminal-record certificate · Online application form and photo

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / Switzerland90 days per year, extendable by 90 days for a fee of one third of the SBURemote work for foreign employers on a tourist entry is not expressly authorised; widely practised, treated as grey, no published enforcement cases.
  • United Kingdom90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysSame grey position; the nomad visa can be filed online from inside Ecuador while the tourist stay is valid.
  • United States90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey; tourist status is for non-remunerated activities, local employment is prohibited.
  • Canada90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • Australia90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • IndiaVisa required since 1 September 2025; the USD 80 transit visa covers only transit up to 30 days, so a consular tourist visa is neededIndia is on the 45-nationality list added under the National Solidarity Law; working remotely requires a residence visa in practice.
  • Brazil90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • South Africa90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • Japan90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • Turkey90 days per year, extendable by 90 daysGrey, as above.
  • ChinaVisa required: the reciprocal exemption was suspended from 1 July 2024 and China is on the September 2025 listA consular visa is needed before travel; remote work needs a residence visa.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
Tax residence under article 4.1 of the Internal Tax Regime Law arises after 183 calendar days of presence, consecutive or not and counting sporadic absences, in one fiscal year or in any 12-month window spanning two fiscal years; presence counts full days including the day of entry but not the day of departure. Residence also arises when the main centre of economic activities or interests is in Ecuador, directly or indirectly. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Special regime
None for newcomers or nomads; the Visa Nómada carries no tax exemption, so a holder who crosses 183 days is an ordinary resident taxed on worldwide income at the progressive personal rates.
Social security
No published obligation for remote workers paid by foreign employers; the IESS offers voluntary affiliation to foreigners who hold a cédula, are 18 or over and have no arrears, giving access to public health and pension cover. Ecuador has few bilateral social-security agreements, so certificates of coverage are rarely available.
Treaties
Conventions in force with Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom (applying from 2025) and Uruguay, plus Andean Community Decision 578 with Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, and a transport-only agreement with Argentina. No treaty with the United States, Australia, India or South Africa, so a remote worker from those countries who becomes Ecuadorian tax resident relies on domestic foreign-tax credits.

Practicalities

Identity card and address
Temporary residents obtain a cédula from the Civil Registry after the visa is granted; the cédula is the key that unlocks banks, IESS and most contracts. There is no separate municipal address registration for foreigners.
Bank account
Ecuador uses the US dollar. Banks generally require a cédula, so accounts open after residence is granted; on a tourist stay applicants report relying on foreign cards and cash.
Health insurance
Mandatory at application for the nomad and rentista visas: a national or foreign policy covering Ecuador for the full visa period. Voluntary IESS affiliation is available once a cédula is held.
Tax number
The RUC is issued by the SRI to anyone carrying on economic activity in Ecuador; a remote worker serving only foreign clients does not need one unless they become resident and must file.
Overstay penalty
Figures conflict: the Interior Ministry's migration page sets the fine for failing to regularise status at two basic unified salaries, while a 2022 applicant reported paying USD 212.50 for two days over, which was half that year's basic salary. The October 2025 reform lets a fined person re-enter after paying provided they hold a consular visa or have stay time left.
Tourist extension
Requested between day 80 and day 90 of the stay at a migration office with passport, form and bank receipt; the fee is one third of the SBU, about USD 161 in 2026.

Ecuador: a dollar economy with a cheap two-year nomad visa priced at three minimum salaries

Where nomads base and why

Ecuador's pull is structural rather than promotional: the economy runs on the US dollar, so there is no exchange risk on foreign income, and the state fees for a two-year residence total USD 320. Quito and Cuenca draw the longest stays, the first for connectivity and the second for its established foreign community and lower rents, while Guayaquil and the coast see shorter stints.

The income floor is pegged to the basic unified salary rather than fixed in law, so it rises each January. For 2026 it is USD 1,446 a month, or USD 17,352 a year, shown for the three months before filing. That is low by regional standards and is the main reason the Visa Nómada competes with Colombia's and Brazil's remote-work permits.

Security is the counterweight. The October 2025 reform of the Human Mobility Law and the September 2025 visa list for 45 nationalities were both framed by the government as border-control measures, and applicants from listed countries now face a consular process before they can even scout the country.

What applicants report about the process

Early applicants in 2022 filed in person in Quito, paid USD 450 and described the experience as chaotic, with the Foreign Ministry and Migration disagreeing about whether an interview froze the tourist clock; one paid a USD 212.50 fine for two days over while waiting. Since the move to the e-Visas platform the same applicant says that specific chaos has gone.

Current reports put the decision at four to six weeks after submission, with three months a realistic end-to-end figure once the apostilled criminal-record certificate and translations are added. The record certificate expires 180 days after issue, which is the document most often cited as timing out.

Informal translations of income proofs have been accepted according to applicant accounts, and proof of income can be platform payouts or client invoices rather than a payslip. Fees still vary between sources: the official page lists USD 50 plus USD 270, while some agency pages carry the older USD 450.

Banking and daily money

The dollar removes the currency question but not the access one. Banks generally want a cédula, which arrives only after a residence visa is granted, so people on a tourist stay run on foreign cards and cash. Once resident, a bank certificate is also what the IESS asks for when a foreigner joins voluntarily.

Tax residence follows 183 days in a fiscal year or in any 12 months spanning two years, or the centre of economic interests, and there is no special regime for visa holders. Nationals of the United States, Australia, India and South Africa have no treaty to fall back on; British residents gained one applying from 2025.

What is changing

The reform law of October 2025 required a new implementing regulation within 90 days, and immigration firms expect it to touch entry checks and residence procedures during 2026. The thresholds will move again on 1 January 2027 when the next basic salary is fixed.

The visa list is the live variable for non-Western passports: India and China moved from visa-free to visa-required within 15 months, and the transit visa created for them does not permit a tourist stay, so a residence visa filed from abroad is the practical route for those nationals.

Researched from gob.ec · gob.ec · trabajo.gob.ec · sri.gob.ec · sri.gob.ec · migracion.gob.ec · migracion.gob.ec · gob.ec · iess.gob.ec · fragomen.com · the authority