Ecuador's eVISA System: How to Apply for Your Visa Online in 2026
Ecuador's eVISA portal now handles all visa applications online since July 2024. Step-by-step guide to applying, document formats, and processing times.
Ecuador's visa process is now online.
On July 5, 2024, Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (Cancilleria) launched the eVISAS electronic visa system. The platform moved all visa applications - initial filings and renewals - to a single online portal. In-person submissions at the Cancilleria are no longer accepted (Fragomen, 2024).
This is a significant shift. Before July 2024, applicants walked into the Cancilleria office with a folder of documents and filed everything in person. That option no longer exists. Whether you are applying for a retirement visa, an investment visa, a digital nomad visa, or any other residency category, the process starts online.
We have been filing Ecuador visas for over 25 years. Here is what the new system means in practice.
What the eVISA Portal Covers
The eVISAS system handles all visa categories available under Ecuadorian immigration law. That includes:
- Retirement / Pensioner Visa (Jubilado)
- Investment Visa (real estate, bank deposit, or business)
- Professional / Work Contract Visa
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Rental Income Visa (Rentista)
- Temporary Mercosur Visa
- Permanent Residence applications
- Tourist visas for nationalities that require them
- Visa renewals
All of these must now be submitted through the portal at serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec (EY Global, 2024; BAL, 2024).
Step-by-Step: How to Apply Online
1. Create an Account
Go to serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec and register with your email address. You will receive a verification email to activate your account.
2. Select Your Visa Category
Once logged in, choose the visa type that matches your situation. The portal lists all available categories. Each one shows the specific documents required for that visa.
3. Fill Out the Application Form
Enter your personal information, passport details, and travel or residency details. The form varies by visa type. Take your time here - errors in the application can cause delays or rejections.
4. Upload Your Documents
This is the most critical step. You will upload scanned copies of all required documents directly into the portal. Common documents across most residency visa types include:
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity), biodata page scan
- Passport-sized photograph (5 x 5 cm / 2 x 2 inches, white background, neutral expression, both eyes open, ears uncovered)
- Apostilled criminal background check
- Proof of income or financial means (varies by visa type)
- Health insurance certificate
- Additional category-specific documents (pension statement, property deed, employment contract, etc.)
File format requirements: Passport photos must be in JPG format, maximum 1 MB. Passport scans accept JPG, JPEG, or PNG, with a maximum size of 200 KB. Other documents are typically uploaded as PDF files. Scan everything clearly at a reasonable resolution - blurry or illegible uploads will be rejected.
All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator before upload.
5. Pay the Application Fee
The government charges a $50 USD non-refundable application fee at the time of submission, payable by credit or debit card through the portal. This fee is charged regardless of whether your visa is approved or denied (EcuaPass, 2026).
6. Submit and Wait
After submission, the Cancilleria reviews your application. You will receive status updates through the portal and by email.
7. In-Person Appointment
This is the part many people miss: the eVISA system is not fully remote for residency visas. The portal handles document submission, but you will still need to appear in person in Ecuador for biometrics capture, physical document verification, and your cedula (national ID) appointment at the Cancilleria (Fragomen, 2024).
8. Visa Approval and Grant Fee
Upon approval, you pay the $270 USD visa grant fee. Applicants aged 65 and older receive a reduced grant fee of $135 USD. Total government fees for a temporary residency visa: $320 USD (or $185 USD for seniors).
Processing Times: Online vs. the Old In-Person System
This is where the transition has created friction. Under the old in-person system, visa applications were typically processed within 10 calendar days. The move to online-only processing has increased that timeline significantly.
Current processing times for online applications average around 30 business days - roughly six weeks - according to practitioners tracking the system (Fragomen, 2024). Some applications take longer, particularly during periods of high volume or when the portal experiences technical issues.
| Old In-Person System | Current eVISA System | |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | Walk into Cancilleria office | Online portal only |
| Typical processing | Under 10 calendar days | ~30 business days (~6 weeks) |
| In-person required? | Yes (for everything) | Yes (biometrics + cedula only) |
| Available from abroad? | No | Yes (initial filing) |
The tradeoff is clear: you gain the ability to start your application from anywhere in the world, but the government processing time is longer than it was under the old system.
Advantages of the Online System
Apply from anywhere. You no longer need to be physically present in Ecuador to file your initial application. This is a meaningful benefit for applicants who are still planning their move and want to get the process started before arriving.
No office visits for submission. Under the old system, filing required visiting the Cancilleria - sometimes multiple times if documents were missing or needed corrections. The portal eliminates that.
Track your application status. The portal provides status updates so you can see where your application stands without calling or visiting the office.
Apostille services too. The same platform also provides electronic apostille and legalization services, with verification through QR codes (Cancilleria, 2024).
Limitations and Practical Concerns
Longer processing times. As noted above, online processing currently takes roughly three times longer than in-person processing did. The government has acknowledged this is partly due to the system being new, and processing times may improve over time.
Technical issues. The portal has experienced significant technical problems since launch, including upload failures, timeout errors, and slow page loads. These issues are being addressed but remain a source of frustration (Fragomen, 2024).
You still need to come to Ecuador. For residency visas, the in-person biometrics appointment and cedula issuance are mandatory. The online system handles paperwork, not the entire process.
No in-person alternative. The Cancilleria no longer accepts walk-in applications. If you have trouble with the portal, you cannot simply go to the office to file in person. This is the single biggest practical change.
Document preparation matters more than ever. Because you cannot hand documents to a clerk who might catch an issue on the spot, your uploaded documents need to be correct the first time. A rejected upload means re-scanning, re-uploading, and potentially restarting parts of the process.
Practical Advice
Prepare your documents before you touch the portal. Get everything apostilled, translated, and scanned to the correct specifications before creating your application. Trying to gather documents while the application clock is running leads to delays.
Use high-quality scans. Poor image quality is one of the most common reasons for document rejection. Scan at 300 DPI minimum. Make sure text is legible and stamps are clearly visible.
Keep file sizes within limits. The portal enforces size limits (200 KB for passport scans, 1 MB for photos). Compress files if needed, but do not sacrifice legibility.
Save copies of everything you upload. The portal does not always let you re-download your submitted documents. Keep your own organized folder of exactly what you submitted and when.
Work with an attorney. The shift to online processing has not made the process simpler - it has changed where the complexity lives. Document preparation, correct visa category selection, and knowing how to handle portal issues are all areas where professional guidance prevents costly mistakes.
2026 Income Thresholds
For income-based visas filed in 2026, the minimum income requirement is three times Ecuador's basic salary. With the 2026 basic salary at $482 USD, the minimum monthly income threshold is $1,446 USD for retirement, digital nomad, and rental income visas (EcuaPass, 2026).
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Need help with your eVISA application? Schedule a consultation or call 651-621-3652.