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Ecuador and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Ecuador expressly exempts naturalised citizens from renouncing their previous citizenship, and Russia allows a second one. Both passports can lawfully be kept; you only need to notify Russia's Interior Ministry on time. Children born in Ecuador are citizens from birth.

In short

Yes. Article 8 of Ecuador's Constitution does not require a naturalised citizen to renounce their previous citizenship, and Ecuadorian citizenship is not lost on acquiring another passport.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basisArticles 6 and 8 of the Constitution of Ecuador
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Both countries allow a second citizenship, so your Russian passport stays with you after the Ecuadorian one. The key point on the Ecuadorian route is not renunciation but time: first permanent residence, then at least 3 years in the country, an exam and an interview.

What Ecuador requires on naturalisation

Under Ecuador's Constitution citizenship is not lost through marriage or acquiring another passport, and Article 8 exempts naturalised citizens from renouncing their previous one. The Human Mobility Law allows a foreigner with permanent residence who has lived lawfully in Ecuador for at least 3 years at the date of application to naturalise.

Besides the time requirement you need a lawful means of living, Spanish, knowledge of Ecuador's history, geography and culture, no debts to the state, and an interview explaining why you want citizenship. The decision, the naturalisation letter, is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Enter visa-free - Russian citizens need no visa for up to 90 days.
  2. Get a temporary visa as a retiree, investor, professional or digital nomad, then permanent residence after 21 months. Parents of a child born in Ecuador get permanent residence straight away.
  3. Live in Ecuador for at least 3 years with permanent residence and keep proof of residence and income.
  4. Prepare for the exam on Ecuador's history, geography and culture and for the interview in Spanish.
  5. Apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with birth, police clearance and means-of-living documents.
  6. Notify Russia's Interior Ministry of Ecuadorian citizenship within 60 days.
  7. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Russia's Interior Ministry must be notified not only of the citizenship but also of Ecuadorian permanent residence: within 60 days of receiving it, and separately after citizenship. Fees for permanent residence through a child are $50 for review and $175 for issue.

What happens to children

A child born in Ecuador is an Ecuadorian citizen by birth under Article 7 of the Constitution, whatever the parents' passports and visas, and with Russian parents usually a Russian citizen too. A child of an Ecuadorian citizen born abroad is also Ecuadorian by birth. More on our page on Ecuadorian citizenship by birth.

Taxes and military service

You become an Ecuadorian tax resident after 183 days in a year. A resident is taxed on worldwide income at up to 37%, but a newcomer can pay only on Ecuadorian income for 5 years by investing at least $150,000 or proving foreign income of $2,500 a month within the first 120 days. The double tax treaty with Russia is in force. More on our page on taxes in Ecuador.

Military service in Ecuador has been voluntary since 2008. A Russian citizen's military obligation remains while you hold a Russian passport.

Common mistakes

  • Counting from the first entry. The 3 years for naturalisation run from permanent residence.
  • Long absences. You must actually live in the country, not just keep the status.
  • Going into the exam and interview in Spanish unprepared: that is where most refusals happen.
  • Missing the 120 days for the newcomer tax relief.
  • Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notices of permanent residence and citizenship: the deadline is 60 days.

How to get Ecuador citizenship

The fastest route to permanent residence is a child born in Ecuador: the parents receive indefinite status straight away. Everyone else starts with a temporary visa. All stages are on our page on Ecuadorian citizenship by birth for children and parents.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Ecuador citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risk is the exam and interview in Spanish

The law does not stop you applying for Ecuadorian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: counting the time from the wrong date, long absences, unproven means of living, an unprepared exam, missed Russian Interior Ministry notices. We obtain the visa and permanent residence, track deadlines, gather residence and income documents, prepare you for the exam and interview and file for the naturalisation letter.

The cost of support depends on the stage and family size; our consultant in the chat will calculate it.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Ecuador and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. Article 8 of Ecuador's Constitution does not require a naturalised citizen to renounce their previous citizenship, and Ecuadorian citizenship is not lost on acquiring another passport.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Ecuador citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Ecuador allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Ecuadorian citizenship is not lost on acquiring another passport, and naturalised citizens need not renounce their previous one.
Can you hold Ecuadorian and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. You only need to notify Russia's Interior Ministry of permanent residence and of Ecuadorian citizenship, each within 60 days.
How many years do you need to live in Ecuador for citizenship?
At least 3 years with permanent residence at the date of application. You need Spanish, an exam on history and geography and an interview.
Does a child born in Ecuador get citizenship?
Yes, automatically, under Article 7 of the Constitution. The parents receive permanent residence straight away.
Is there a double tax treaty between Russia and Ecuador?
Yes, it is in force and has not been suspended by Russia. Tax paid in one country can be credited in the other.
Do you have to serve in Ecuador's army?
No, military service in Ecuador has been voluntary since 2008.

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