Ecuador Professional Work Visa 2026: Legal Requirements, Costs, and Process

Ecuador's professional visa - the Visa de Residencia Temporal de Profesional, Tecnico, Tecnologo o Artesano - is one of the least expensive paths to legal residency in Ecuador. It requires only 1x SBU ($482/month) in income, far below the 3x SBU required for pensioner or rentista visas. But it comes with the highest documentation burden of any temporary residency category, because your foreign degree must be validated by Ecuador's higher education authority before (or shortly after) the visa is granted.

This post covers the full legal basis, credential recognition process, employer requirements, government fees, and step-by-step application process for 2026.

Legal Basis

Ecuador's professional visa is authorized under the Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana (LOMH), the country's primary immigration statute. The key provisions are:

• Article 60 of the LOMH defines the categories of temporary residency (residencia temporal). The professional visa falls under the category for persons who enter Ecuador to exercise a profession or technical, technological, or artisanal activity. Article 60 was amended by the February 2021 reform (R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021), which expanded temporary residence to be renewable on multiple occasions rather than just once.

• Article 41 of the Reglamento a la LOMH (Decreto Ejecutivo 111, later replaced by the 2023 Reglamento) sets the specific requirements for the professional category. It requires presentation of a professional, technical, or technological degree - issued and legalized or apostilled by the competent authority in the country of origin - and mandates that the degree be registered with the competent Ecuadorian authority within three months of the visa being granted.

• The October 2025 LOMH reform introduced stricter absence rules. Temporary residents who exceed 90 days outside Ecuador per calendar year risk losing their residency status. Permanent residents cannot be absent for two or more continuous years without automatic revocation.

Who Qualifies

You qualify for the professional visa if you hold a degree equivalent to one of Ecuador's recognized academic levels:

• Tercer nivel tecnico/tecnologico - Technical or technological degree (roughly equivalent to an associate's degree or technical diploma)
• Tercer nivel de grado - Bachelor's degree (four-year undergraduate degree)
• Cuarto nivel - Graduate degree (master's or doctorate)

The degree must come from an accredited institution in your home country. SENESCYT - Ecuador's Secretaria de Educacion Superior, Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion - will verify the accreditation status of your institution as part of the recognition process.

Artisan qualifications also fall under this visa category. If you hold an artisan credential, you must register the activity with the competent authority in Ecuador and validate it before the Junta Nacional de Defensa del Artesano.

There is no age requirement, no minimum investment, and no employer sponsorship needed at the application stage. However, you must demonstrate lawful means of livelihood - at minimum, 1x SBU ($482/month for 2026).

Credential Recognition Through SENESCYT

This is the step that separates the professional visa from every other category. Your foreign degree must be recognized by SENESCYT before you can practice your profession in Ecuador - and you have a strict three-month deadline after receiving your visa to complete this registration.

What SENESCYT Requires

According to the official SENESCYT portal, you need:

1. Valid identification - Passport or cedula (the digital version from the Gob.ec app is accepted)
2. Original degree - Apostilled under the Hague Convention, or with consular legalization if your country is not a Hague member
3. Academic transcript - Original or certified copy showing the duration of studies, issued in your name
4. Official translation - If documents are not in Spanish or English, a certified Spanish translation is required
5. Institutional contact information - A valid institutional email and contact details for the university that issued your degree

SENESCYT Fees and Timeline

The 30-45 business day processing window is the official estimate. In practice, if your university is well known and accredited in international databases, it can go faster - as quickly as 15 days. If SENESCYT has difficulty verifying your institution, it can take longer.

Critical Deadline

Once your professional visa is granted, you have three months to complete the SENESCYT registration. After registration, you have two business days to notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (Cancilleria) and obtain a cedulacion order. Missing this deadline can result in visa revocation.

Our strong recommendation: start the SENESCYT process while you are still on your 90-day tourist entry, before applying for the visa. This gives you a head start and reduces the risk of hitting the three-month deadline.

Employer Requirements

The professional visa does not require employer sponsorship at the time of application. You apply based on your professional qualifications, not a job offer. This is a key distinction from the separate work visa (visa de trabajo), which requires a registered employment contract.

However, if you plan to work for an Ecuadorian employer after receiving your professional visa, both you and the employer must comply with Ecuador's Labor Code:

• Employment contract must be in writing and registered with the Ministry of Labor
• IESS registration is mandatory. The employer contributes 11.15% of your salary to IESS (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social), plus a separate 1% CCC (Contribucion de Fomento de Capacidades y Conocimientos Ciudadanos) for a total employer burden of 12.15%. Employee contribution is 9.45% deducted from your pay
• Reserve fund - After one year of employment, the employer must contribute an additional 8.33% to a reserve fund
• Ecuadorian hiring preference - Companies hiring foreign workers must present a training agreement (convenio de capacitacion) committing the foreign worker to train at least three Ecuadorian employees. This is rarely a barrier for specialized professional roles, but it is a legal requirement

You may also work independently as a freelancer or consultant under this visa, provided you are exercising the profession for which your degree qualifies you.

Document Checklist

Here is the complete list of documents required for the professional visa application, based on the official government portal:

Identity and background:

• [ ] Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
• [ ] Passport-sized color photo (white background, no accessories, hair tied back, no smiling)
• [ ] Criminal background certificate from your country of origin or any country where you resided during the last 5 years - apostilled and valid for 180 days from issuance
• [ ] Proof of current legal status in Ecuador (tourist entry stamp or valid visa)

Professional credentials:

• [ ] Original professional degree - apostilled (Hague Convention countries) or with consular legalization
• [ ] Academic transcript showing duration of studies - apostilled or legalized
• [ ] SENESCYT recognition certificate (if already completed before application)
• [ ] Official Spanish translation of all documents not in Spanish or English

Financial:

• [ ] Proof of lawful means of livelihood - at minimum 1x SBU ($482/month)
• [ ] Bank statements or income documentation for the last 3-6 months

Application:

• [ ] Completed visa application form
• [ ] Payment receipts for application fee

Government Fees

These are government fees only. They do not include legal representation, apostilles, translations, or travel costs. Apostille costs vary significantly by country - in the US, expect $15-$20 per document through the Secretary of State; in other countries, fees vary.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Prepare Documents in Your Home Country

Before traveling to Ecuador, get all documents apostilled (or legalized) in your country of origin. This includes your degree, academic transcript, and criminal background certificate. The background check must be recent - it expires 180 days from issuance, so time this carefully.

If any documents are not in Spanish or English, have them officially translated before or after arrival.

Step 2: Enter Ecuador on a Tourist Visa

Most nationalities can enter Ecuador visa-free for 90 days. Use this time to begin the SENESCYT process and gather local requirements.

Step 3: Start SENESCYT Registration

Submit your degree for recognition through the SENESCYT online portal. Pay the $25 fee and provide your institutional contact information. Processing takes 30-45 business days.

Step 4: Register in the Cancilleria Appointment System

Create an account in Ecuador's Human Mobility Services appointment system. You can also apply through the eVisa portal if the professional category is available online.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Pay the $50 application fee and submit all required documents. If applying in person at a Coordinacion Zonal, bring originals and copies of everything.

Step 6: Wait for Processing

The Cancilleria reviews your application. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks, though delays are common during high-demand periods.

Step 7: Pay the Visa Grant Fee and Receive Your Visa

Once approved, pay the $270 grant fee ($135 if 65+). An appointment will be scheduled for in-person visa delivery, where you present original documents.

Step 8: Complete SENESCYT Registration (If Not Done)

You now have three months to finish the SENESCYT title recognition. If you started in Step 3, it may already be complete.

Step 9: Obtain Cedulacion Order and Cedula

Within two business days of SENESCYT registration, notify the Cancilleria. Pay $10 for the cedulacion order and $10 for the census registration. Then visit the Registro Civil in Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca (the only three cities that process foreign cedulas) and pay $5 for your national ID card.

Timeline

If you start the SENESCYT process immediately upon arrival in Ecuador, the credential recognition and visa application can overlap, potentially shortening the total timeline. If you wait until after the visa is granted to begin SENESCYT registration, add 30-45 business days to the total.

Rights and Limitations

What You Can Do

• Work for an Ecuadorian employer in your professional field, with a registered employment contract
• Work independently as a freelancer, consultant, or in private practice
• Access IESS social security including healthcare, once enrolled through an employer or voluntary contribution
• Open bank accounts, sign contracts, and conduct business in Ecuador with your cedula
• Travel freely in and out of Ecuador, subject to the 90-day annual absence limit
• Include dependents - spouse and children under 18 can apply for dependent visas ($250 per dependent added to your income threshold)

What You Cannot Do

• Work outside your professional field without proper authorization - your visa is tied to the profession for which your degree qualifies you
• Exceed 90 days outside Ecuador per calendar year - unused days do not roll over, and exceeding this limit puts your residency at risk under the October 2025 LOMH reform
• Vote in national elections - only citizens can vote, though permanent residents can vote in some local elections
• Practice a regulated profession (medicine, law, engineering) without first completing any additional local licensing requirements beyond SENESCYT registration

Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

The professional visa starts the clock toward permanent residency and, ultimately, citizenship.

Permanent Residency: After 21 months of physical presence in Ecuador as a temporary resident, you are eligible to apply for permanent residency. Government fees for permanent residency are $275 ($50 application + $225 issuance), with a 50% discount for applicants 65 and older. During the 21-month period, you must stay within the 90-day annual absence limit - if you travel excessively, the clock does not advance.

Citizenship: After 3 years as a permanent resident, you can apply for Ecuadorian citizenship through naturalization. The naturalization process requires passing a Spanish language and civics test (20 questions, 90% passing score), a criminal background check, and approximately $400 in government fees. Ecuador allows dual citizenship - you do not need to renounce your current nationality.

Full timeline: Temporary residency (21 months) + permanent residency (3 years) = approximately 5 years from your first visa to citizenship eligibility.

Common Mistakes

Starting SENESCYT too late. The single most common problem we see. Clients apply for the visa, receive approval, and then realize they have only three months to complete a process that takes 30-45 business days - with no margin for complications. Start SENESCYT registration the week you arrive in Ecuador.

Not apostilling documents before leaving home. You cannot apostille a US degree from Ecuador. If you forget, you will need to mail documents back to your home country or hire a service to do it for you - adding weeks and significant cost.

Confusing the professional visa with the work visa. The professional visa (Article 60, LOMH) is based on your credentials. The work visa requires an employment contract registered with the Ministry of Labor and employer sponsorship. They are separate categories with different requirements. If you already have a job offer in Ecuador, discuss with us which category is the better fit.

Ignoring the 90-day absence rule. Many clients plan to split time between Ecuador and their home country. Under the October 2025 LOMH reform, exceeding 90 days outside Ecuador in a calendar year during your temporary residency can jeopardize your status and reset your path to permanent residency. Plan travel carefully.

Assuming any degree qualifies. SENESCYT requires that your institution be accredited in your country of origin and that the degree be comparable to one of Ecuador's recognized academic levels. Unaccredited institutions, certificate programs, and some vocational diplomas may not qualify. Verify before you apply.

Keep reading:

• Ecuador Visa Requirements 2026: Updated Income Thresholds
• Corporate Relocation to Ecuador
• Ecuador Digital Nomad Visa 2026

Need a work visa for Ecuador? Contact us or call 651-621-3652.