Ecuador Retirement Visa 2026: What the Law Says, What It Costs, and How to Apply

Ecuador's Pensioner Visa - formally the Visa de Residencia Temporal de Jubilado - is the most popular residency path for retirees from the United States and Canada. If you receive at least $1,446 per month in pension income, you qualify. There is no age minimum. The visa is valid for two years, renewable once, and opens a clear path to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. We have processed hundreds of these applications over 25+ years. This guide covers the full legal basis, every required document, the exact government fees, and the mistakes that delay or derail applications.

Legal Basis

Ecuador's retirement visa is governed by two primary sources of law:

Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana (LOMH) - Ecuador's organic law on human mobility, originally published in the Official Registry No. 938 on February 6, 2017, with subsequent reforms in 2023, June 2024 (Official Registry Supplement 582), and October 2025.

The key LOMH articles:

• Article 59 defines a "residente" (resident) as any foreign person who has obtained a migratory category for temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador.
• Article 60 establishes temporary residence as a migratory condition authorizing a two-year stay, renewable once. It lists the qualifying categories, including the jubilado (retiree) - defined as a person who receives a retirement pension from abroad in an amount sufficient to cover their living expenses.
• Articles 46-48 establish the rights of foreign residents, including the right to social participation and organization (Art. 46), access to justice and due process (Art. 47), and integration protections for foreign children and adolescents (Art. 48).

Reglamento a la Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana - the implementing regulations, most recently updated in 2023.

• Article 34 of the Reglamento specifically addresses the jubilado category. It requires an official document from the competent foreign institution certifying monthly pension payments equal to or greater than three times the Salario Basico Unificado (SBU) of general workers.

The official government procedure page at gob.ec references Articles 59 and 60 of the LOMH as the statutory authority for this visa.

Who Qualifies

The Pensioner Visa is for anyone who receives a stable, recurring pension from a foreign source. There is no minimum age. We have processed retirement visas for clients in their 40s and 50s who receive military pensions or permanent disability benefits.

Qualifying income types:

• US Social Security retirement benefits (including early retirement at 62)
• US Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - if permanent and ongoing
• Military pensions (all branches), including VA disability compensation
• Federal and state government pensions (FERS, CSRS, state teacher retirement, police and fire pensions)
• Corporate defined-benefit pensions paying a fixed monthly amount
• Structured annuity payments with guaranteed, regular monthly payouts
• Foreign government pensions (UK State Pension, Canadian CPP/OAS, etc.)

What does NOT qualify:

• Irregular 401(k) or IRA withdrawals (you control the amount and timing, so these are not a "pension")
• Rental income
• Freelance or self-employment income
• Investment dividends or interest
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - this is a needs-based welfare program, not a pension, and cannot be paid outside the US
• Lump-sum retirement distributions

If your only income falls in the non-qualifying category, we would steer you toward Ecuador's Investment Visa or Rentista Visa instead.

Income Requirement Breakdown

The threshold is set by law at 3x the SBU. The Ministry of Labor set the 2026 SBU at $482/month through Ministerial Agreement MDT-2025-195, effective January 1, 2026.

3 x $482 = $1,446/month

This is a household threshold, not per-person. If both spouses receive qualifying pension income, you can combine benefits on a single application. For example, if you receive $900/month from Social Security and your spouse receives $600/month, your combined $1,500 exceeds the threshold.

Dependents: Each additional dependent (spouse without their own pension, or child under 18) adds approximately $250/month to the income requirement.

For context, the average US Social Security retirement benefit is approximately $1,976/month. Most American retirees clear the bar without difficulty.

Document Checklist

Every document issued outside Ecuador must be apostilled (if from a Hague Convention country, which includes the US, Canada, and the UK) or legalized (if from a non-Hague country). All documents in a language other than Spanish must be accompanied by a certified translation.

1. Valid passport - original and copy, with at least 6 months validity remaining
2. Pension verification letter - official document from the issuing institution (Social Security Administration, military branch, pension fund, etc.) confirming your name, benefit type, and monthly payment amount. For US Social Security, this is the Benefit Verification Letter from ssa.gov. Must be apostilled and translated.
3. Criminal background check - from your country of origin and/or from every country where you have lived during the past five years. Must be apostilled, translated, and valid for only 180 days from issuance to last entry into Ecuador. Timing this document correctly is critical.
4. Health insurance policy - national or foreign health insurance with total coverage, valid for the full two-year visa period. Must be presented within 30 days of visa approval. For renewal applications, health insurance is mandatory at the time of filing.
5. Passport-size photographs - white background, current
6. Application form - completed through Ecuador's e-visa portal
7. Payment receipts - for the application fee ($50) and visa grant fee ($270)

For US applicants, the criminal background check is an FBI Identity History Summary. You can request it through the FBI's website and then have it apostilled by the US Department of State. The apostille process currently runs 4-6 weeks by mail, or you can use an expediting service.

Government Fees

Government fees have not changed for 2026. All amounts are in US dollars (Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency).

These are government fees only. They do not include legal representation, apostilles (approximately $20 per document through the US Department of State), certified translations ($150-$250 depending on volume), or the FBI background check ($18 plus apostille).

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Gather and authenticate documents (4-8 weeks)

Order your pension verification letter, FBI background check, and any other required documents. Have each document apostilled through the US Department of State (or the relevant authority in your country). Arrange certified Spanish translations.

The FBI background check has the tightest timeline constraint - it is only valid for 180 days. Order it early enough to have time for the apostille, but not so early that it expires before your application is processed.

Step 2: Submit application online

Create an account on Ecuador's e-visa portal at serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec. Upload scanned copies of all documents and pay the $50 application fee. You can submit from anywhere in the world.

Step 3: In-person appointment in Ecuador

After initial online review, you will be scheduled for an in-person appointment at a Cancilleria Zonal Directorate in Ecuador. You can also apply through an Ecuadorian embassy or consulate abroad, but most of our clients apply from within Ecuador. At this appointment, you present original documents, provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), and complete the physical document verification.

Step 4: Adjudication

The Cancilleria reviews your application. If documents are complete, expect approval within 2-4 weeks of the in-person appointment. If the Cancilleria requests additional documentation or clarification, the clock resets.

Step 5: Pay the visa grant fee and receive your visa

Upon approval, pay the $270 visa grant fee ($135 if you are 65+). Your visa is stamped or issued electronically.

Step 6: Obtain your cedula

After visa issuance, you schedule an appointment for your cedula (Ecuadorian national ID card) at the Registro Civil. The cedula costs $15 and is the document you will use for daily life in Ecuador - opening bank accounts, signing leases, accessing senior discounts, and more.

Timeline

The most common cause of delays is document issues - an expired background check, a pension letter that does not state the monthly amount clearly, or a missing apostille. We review every document before submission to catch these problems early.

Rights of Visa Holders

Temporary residents with a Pensioner Visa have the following rights in Ecuador:

• Live and travel freely within Ecuador for the full two-year visa term
• Open bank accounts at Ecuadorian financial institutions
• Purchase and own real estate in your own name
• Access Ecuador's public healthcare system (IESS) - once you register and pay monthly contributions
• Work is restricted - the temporary residence visa does not authorize employment in Ecuador. If you want to work, you need a separate work authorization or a different visa category.
• Drive with your foreign license for a limited period, then obtain an Ecuadorian driver's license
• Import household goods duty-free (one-time benefit within the first year)

Senior benefits (tercera edad) apply automatically at age 65, regardless of nationality, once you have your cedula. These include 50% off domestic airline tickets, 50% off public transportation, discounts on cultural events and entertainment, and utility bill reductions up to certain thresholds. These are among the most generous senior benefits in Latin America.

Tax treatment: Foreign pension income is generally not subject to Ecuadorian income tax. Ecuador taxes residents on worldwide income, but Social Security benefits and most foreign pension income receive favorable treatment. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation - we recommend reading our post on Ecuador tax advantages for US retirees.

Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

The Pensioner Visa is a temporary visa, but it is the first step in a well-defined progression:

Temporary Residency (2 years): Your initial visa. During this period, you cannot be absent from Ecuador for more than 90 days per calendar year. Unused days do not roll over.

Permanent Residency (after 21 months): After 21 months of physical presence in Ecuador - with no more than 90 cumulative days absent - you can apply to convert your temporary visa to permanent residency. The permanent visa has no expiration date, but the October 2025 LOMH reform introduced a rule: if you remain outside Ecuador for two or more continuous years, your permanent residency is automatically revoked. During your first two years as a permanent resident, you can be outside Ecuador for up to 180 days per year.

Citizenship (after 3 years of permanent residency): Approximately five years from your initial visa, you become eligible for Ecuadorian citizenship through naturalization. Ecuador allows dual citizenship - Americans, Canadians, and most other nationals do not need to renounce their original citizenship.

Citizenship requirements include basic Spanish proficiency (you must complete the interview in Spanish), knowledge of Ecuador's national symbols (flag, coat of arms, anthem), and a statement of your reasons for seeking citizenship. If you cannot conduct the interview in Spanish, you will almost certainly be denied.

Common Mistakes

We see the same problems repeatedly. Avoiding these will save you weeks or months:

1. Expired criminal background check. The FBI Identity History Summary is valid for only 180 days. If your application processing takes longer than expected, the check expires and you must order a new one - plus a new apostille. Time the order carefully.

2. Pension letter that does not state a monthly amount. Ecuador requires proof of a specific monthly pension amount equal to or greater than $1,446. If your Social Security letter shows only an annual figure, or if your pension statement is ambiguous about the monthly payment, the Cancilleria will reject or delay your application. Make sure the letter clearly states the monthly benefit.

3. Missing apostille or legalization. Every foreign document must be apostilled (Hague Convention countries) or legalized (non-Hague countries). We have seen applications delayed by months because a single document was missing its apostille.

4. Arriving in Ecuador without health insurance. Health insurance with total coverage for the visa period must be presented within 30 days of approval. For renewals, it must be in hand at filing. Do not wait until after approval to shop for a policy - have it lined up in advance. See our guide to health insurance as a visa requirement.

5. Exceeding the 90-day absence limit. If you leave Ecuador for more than 90 days in a calendar year during your temporary residency period, you lose eligibility for permanent residency. Track your travel days carefully. Many clients use a simple spreadsheet.

6. Using 401(k) withdrawals instead of a structured pension. A 401(k) balance or ad-hoc withdrawals do not qualify as pension income. If a 401(k) is your primary retirement income, consult a financial advisor about converting it into a structured annuity with fixed monthly payments before applying. The annuity payments can qualify where the raw withdrawals cannot.

7. Applying with documents in English only. All non-Spanish documents require certified translation. Submitting untranslated documents will result in immediate rejection of your application.

Keep reading:

• Does My Social Security Check Qualify for Ecuador's Retirement Visa?
• Ecuador Visa Requirements 2026: Updated Income Thresholds
• Ecuador Citizenship Guide 2026

Planning your retirement move to Ecuador? Contact us or call 651-621-3652.