If your company is planning a global expansion, you might be drawn toward Ecuador’s diverse landscape and developing economy, and you likely won’t have trouble recruiting a team of employees who are willing to move to this tropical nation. The real challenge will come when you have to learn how to get a work visa in Ecuador on top of all the other responsibilities that come with managing a successful business.
Types of Work Visas in Ecuador
Ecuador offers a variety of visas to foreign nationals who wish to visit or move there. Ecuadorian visas are divided into two general categories: resident and non-resident visas, and there are additional types of visas within these categories.
The right visa for your employees might vary based on the nature of the work they’ll be doing for your company in Ecuador and how long they intend to live in the country. For non-resident visas, foreign workers will generally need a Work Visa, otherwise known as a 12-VI Visa. This visa applies to foreign nationals who are traveling to Ecuador for business or other professional purposes.
Resident visas present two more options for foreign workers:
- Professional Visa, or 9-V Visa: This visa lets workers with degrees from local universities move to Ecuador to practice their profession.
- Technician Visa, or 10-IV Visa: This visa can be issued to technical experts who are under contract with a company that’s established in Ecuador.
Resident visas are issued for an indefinite amount of time on the condition that all visa requirements are being met.
Requirements to Obtain Ecuador Work Visas
The requirements for an Ecuadorian visa will vary depending on the type of visa the applicant needs. The general requirements included for each visa, however, follow:
- A passport that’s valid for a minimum of six months
- Two recent passport photos, which should be in color
- A copy of the applicant’s CV
- A medical certificate
- A police background check to prove that the applicant has no criminal record in their country of residence
- A completed visa application form
- Proof of payment of the visa application fee
For a comprehensive list of all required documents, we recommend getting in touch with the Ecuadorian embassy in the applicant’s country of residence.
Application Process
For foreign nationals who intend to live and work in Ecuador, the first step is to get in touch with the Ecuadorian embassy in their country of residence. Applicants should confirm the list of necessary documents with the embassy and gather all of them for submission.
After submitting all of the required documents, applicants should remain in their country of residence while awaiting the decision of the Ecuadorian officials. Upon approval, they may travel to Ecuador to begin working.
Other Important Considerations
Some employees may plan to bring family members along with them to Ecuador. The procedure for doing so will depend on the type of visa they hold — once again, it’s best to check with the Ecuadorian embassy for specific requirements and procedures.
Family members of foreign workers who hold resident visas may be issued Economic Dependence Visas, or 9-VI Visas, which is another type of resident visa. The application process and requirements for acquiring this visa are similar to those of other resident visas.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
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