Moving to Ecuador from the USA

Ecuador uses the US dollar and has one of the most accessible residency routes in the Americas — but the absence rules in the first two years are strict.

• Choose your visa: pensionado, rentista, inversionista, or professional

  Must

  Pensionado requires around USD 1,410/mo of guaranteed pension income (3x the unified basic salary); rentista is similar with proven rental or annuity income.

• Apostille your FBI background check and, if applicable, marriage certificate

  Must

  Must be issued within the previous 6 months at the time of filing.

• Get certified Spanish translations done in Ecuador

  Must

  Translations must be done by a translator recognised locally and are often notarised. Budget USD 20–40 per document.

• Understand the 90-day absence limit

  Must

  During the first two years of temporary residency you may not spend more than 90 days per year outside Ecuador or you lose the visa.

• Plan for permanent residency at 21 months

  You apply after 21 months of temporary residency, before the 2-year visa expires.

• Apostilled FBI Identity History Summary (under 6 months old)

  Must

• Apostilled pension award letter or notarised proof of recurring income

  Must

• Apostilled birth certificate for dependants and marriage certificate for spouses

  Must

• Passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival

• Pet paperwork: USDA-endorsed certificate plus AGROCALIDAD import permit

  No quarantine from the US; the permit is usually arranged by an agent.

• No currency risk — Ecuador is fully dollarised

  You spend the same currency you earn, which removes the exchange-rate friction of every neighbouring country.

• Open an account at Banco Pichincha, Produbanco, or a cooperativa like JEP once you have a cédula

  Cooperativas often pay 6–8% on term deposits, which many retirees use for income.

• Expect a cash-heavy economy outside major supermarkets

  Carry small bills — change for a $20 is a daily problem.

• Get a RUC with the SRI only if you'll earn locally

• Budget USD 1,400–2,000/mo for a comfortable couple's life in Cuenca

• Rent for 3–6 months before buying — Cuenca, Quito, and Salinas are radically different climates

• Search Plusvalía, OLX Ecuador, and local Facebook groups

  The best long-term rentals are often advertised only on a sign in the window.

• Expect one or two months' deposit and a straightforward contract

  Ecuador does not use the guarantor system common elsewhere in the region.

• Check hot water and heating

  Cuenca sits at 2,560m and gets cold at night; most homes have no central heating.

• Expect USD 400–700/mo for a furnished 2BR in central Cuenca

• Enrol voluntarily in IESS, the public system

  Must

  Voluntary affiliation costs roughly USD 85–100/mo per person and covers hospital care and medication with no age or pre-existing-condition exclusion.

• Consider a private plan (Salud S.A., BMI, or Confiamed) alongside IESS

  USD 70–150/mo buys quick access to private hospitals like Mount Sinai in Cuenca.

• Keep travel insurance for the 3-month IESS waiting period

  Must

  IESS benefits do not begin the day you enrol.

• Expect low costs: a specialist visit is USD 30–50, an MRI USD 150–300

• Bring documentation for any complex prescription

  Pharmacies dispense most medications without a prescription but brand availability varies.

• Register your visa and get your cédula at the Registro Civil

  Must

  Do this within 30 days of visa issuance.

• Enrol in IESS once your cédula is in hand

  Must

• Get a SIM from Claro or Movistar (cédula required for postpaid)

• Set up utilities — electricity and water bills are paid at the bank or by app

• Exchange your US licence at the ANT

  Ecuador converts US licences with a medical exam and fee; do it before your first year ends.

• Register with the US Embassy in Quito (STEP) and note earthquake/volcano advisories