Ecuador’s 2026 Salario Básico Unificado (SBU) is $482 per month, effective January 1, 2026. The SBU is Ecuador’s minimum wage and the basis for all residency visa income thresholds. Every visa category is calculated as a multiple of the SBU—when the SBU changes, every visa’s income requirement changes with it.
Below are the current 2026 requirements for all five main residency visa categories, plus government fees, dependent costs, and documentation guidance.
2026 Income Requirements by Visa Type
| Visa Type | Formula | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | 1× SBU | $482/mo |
| Pensioner | 3× SBU | $1,446/mo |
| Rentista | 3× SBU | $1,446/mo |
| Digital Nomad | 3× SBU | $1,446/mo |
| Investor | 100× SBU | $48,200 |
Government Fees (All Visa Types)
$320 total — $50 application fee + $270 visa grant fee. $250/month extra income per dependent (spouse or child) must be demonstrated by the sponsor.
What Changed from 2025
The 2025 SBU was $470. The $12 increase to $482 raises every visa threshold:
| Visa Type | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $470/mo | $482/mo | +$12/mo |
| Pensioner / Rentista / Digital Nomad | $1,410/mo | $1,446/mo | +$36/mo |
| Investor | $47,000 | $48,200 | +$1,200 |
The Professional Visa Advantage
The most important number in the table above is $482—the Professional Visa threshold. If you have a university degree from any accredited institution, you qualify at one-third the income requirement of every other visa category. The income can come from any lawful source—pension, savings interest, rental income, freelance work, Social Security, anything. Ecuador’s Acuerdo Ministerial No. 70 specifies “medios de vida lícitos” (lawful means of living) without restricting the income type.
The catch: your degree must be registered with Ecuador’s SENESCYT, a process that takes 3–6 months and costs $550–$1,200. But the math is clear—$482/month versus $1,446/month is a $964/month difference in required income proof. If you don’t have a degree, the Rentista, Pensioner, or Digital Nomad visas all require $1,446/month but skip SENESCYT entirely. The Investor Visa avoids both income proof and SENESCYT with a one-time $48,200 investment.
Full SENESCYT guide → · SENESCYT registration →
How to Document Your Income
Income documentation requirements vary by visa category. All visas accept international bank statements as the primary proof. The most common documentation mistake: showing only one or two months of income. Provide three to six months of consistent deposits. Immigration wants to see stability, not a single good month.
By Visa Category
Professional Visa: Any documentation showing $482/month from any lawful source—bank statements, pension letters, rental income records, investment statements, or employment contracts. The source doesn’t matter as long as it’s demonstrably legal and consistent.
Pensioner Visa: Social Security benefit verification letter or pension administrator letter, paired with bank statements showing monthly deposits.
Rentista Visa: Documentation of passive income sources—rental agreements, dividend statements, annuity contracts, trust distribution letters—plus corresponding bank deposits.
Digital Nomad Visa (Visa Nómada): Bank statements showing $1,446/month in foreign deposits, proof of foreign employment or client relationships (contracts, employer letters), and valid health insurance documentation.
Investor Visa: Property deed (escritura), bank CD certificate, or business registration—plus source-of-funds documentation and bank transfer records showing the investment.
Renewal & Existing Visa Holders
If you currently hold a temporary visa granted under previous SBU amounts, renewal requirements may depend on your specific visa category and when it was originally issued. Some visa holders report being renewed at their original income threshold; others have been asked to meet current-year requirements. This is not uniformly applied across all immigration offices. Contact the Cancillería or your visa consultant to confirm renewal requirements for your specific case before assuming you’re grandfathered in.
The surest protection: apply for permanent residency after 21 months on any temporary visa. Permanent residency has no ongoing income requirement and eliminates SBU concerns permanently.
Next Steps
The 2026 numbers are straightforward: $482 with a degree, $1,446 with pension or passive income, $48,200 as an investor. Government fees are $320 across all visa types. Dependents require $250/month extra income each. The right path depends on your income sources and whether you hold a degree.
Use our visa eligibility tool for a personalized recommendation, compare all options with the visa comparison tool, or book a consultation to review your documentation.
Related Guides
Professional Visa · Pensioner Visa · Rentista Visa · Digital Nomad Visa · Investor Visa · SENESCYT Guide · Visa Requirements Overview · Visa Comparison Tool · Retire on Social Security · Canadian Pension Guide · Cost of Living 2026 · Healthcare Costs