Moving to Ecuador in 2026

Moving to Ecuador: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Russian citizens need no visa for trips to Ecuador of up to 90 days a year, and the term can be extended by another 90 days. Long-term living requires temporary residence through the Foreign Ministry: the 2-year digital nomad visa with foreign income from $1,446 a month, and separate categories for retirees and investors. Ecuador's currency is the US dollar, so no conversion is needed.

1. Before the trip. A criminal record certificate with an apostille and Spanish translation, income statements.
2. Days 1-30. An online visa application, fees of $50 for review and $400 for issue, a lease.
3. Days 30-90. After the visa is issued, a foreigner identity card at the civil registry, a bank account and health insurance.

Cuenca and smaller towns are cheaper than the capital, while coastal rents rise in the holiday season. A family budget depends on its size and category; we calculate it in the chat.

Ecuador at a glance

Ecuador is a country in north-western South America on the equator with about 18 million residents. It holds four different worlds: the Pacific coast, the Andes, the Amazon rainforest and the Galápagos Islands. The capital is Quito at about 2,850 metres, and the largest city and port is Guayaquil. The language is Spanish. Since 2000 the official currency has been the US dollar, so there is no currency risk for dollar incomes.

The economy rests on oil, bananas, of which Ecuador is the world's largest exporter, shrimp, cocoa, flowers and tourism.

Who the move suits

• remote workers with foreign income from $1,446 a month, who have a 2-year nomad visa;
• retirees who value the dollar, affordable living and a spring-like mountain climate;
• families planning a birth: the child is a citizen from birth and the parents get permanent residence straight away;
• those who want citizenship in a few years, as dual citizenship is allowed.

It is harder for those not ready to learn Spanish or who struggle with Quito's altitude.

Entry rules and visas

Russian citizens need no visa for trips of up to 90 days a year, and this can be extended by another 90 days. For long-term living you obtain temporary residence through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, and after the visa an identity card for foreigners from the Civil Registry Service.

Residence options

• The digital nomad visa - temporary residence for 2 years with foreign income from $1,446 a month, three times Ecuador's basic wage; fees of $50 for processing and $400 for issue.
• Retirees and investors - separate temporary residence categories.
• Birth of a child - the child is a citizen from day one under Article 7 of the Constitution, and parents get permanent residence straight away, with fees of about $225 per person.

After 21 months of temporary residence you can apply for permanent residence. Citizenship by naturalisation comes after 3 years of permanent residence, with an exam on Spanish, history and the constitution. We choose the category, prepare apostilled documents translated into Spanish and handle the application.

Taxes

Unlike Panama and Costa Rica, Ecuador taxes residents worldwide: the 0% to 37% scale also covers foreign rent and dividends. The tax-free threshold is $12,208 a year. You become a resident after 183 days in a tax year. Corporate tax is 25%, VAT is 15%, and transferring money abroad carries a 5% tax. Non-residents pay 25% withholding on Ecuadorian income. More in taxes in Ecuador.

Cost of living in Quito

All prices are in dollars. Life is cheaper in Cuenca and smaller towns, while coastal rent rises in the holiday season.

Where to live

• Quito - González Suárez and La Carolina, and the Cumbayá and Tumbaco valley, warmer and with houses with gardens.
• Cuenca - a colonial city with a mild climate, popular with retirees.
• Guayaquil - the business centre and port, with the new districts of Samborondón and La Puntilla.
• The coast - Salinas, Manta and Montañita for living by the ocean.

Property for foreigners

Foreigners buy property on the same terms as citizens, and deals are in dollars. A purchase above a set amount can serve as the basis for an investor visa. The main markets are Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and the Pacific coast. We find the property, check the documents and close the deal.

Safety and daily life

Since 2023-2024 drug-related crime has risen in Ecuador, hitting Guayaquil and the coastal provinces hardest. Quito is calmer, but pickpocketing and street robbery happen, so in the evening people use ride-hailing taxis. In Quito the altitude can cause breathlessness in the first days, and the climate is spring all year, 18-22°C by day. We help with company registration, a business account and a personal account.