What Documents Do I Need for Ecuador Visa?

Core Documents (All Visa Types)

1. Valid Passport

Minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay
At least 2 blank pages
Good physical condition (no damage)
Original required

2. Passport Photos

Recent (within 6 months)
White background
4cm x 3cm size
Bring 6-8 copies

3. Criminal Background Check (Apostilled)

US Citizens:

FBI Identity History Summary
Must be apostilled by US Department of State
Valid for 6 months from issue date

Canadian Citizens:

RCMP check
Authenticated by Global Affairs Canada
Legalized by Ecuador Embassy

UK Citizens:

DBS or Police check
Apostilled by FCDO

Must be original with apostille attached

4. Birth Certificate (Apostilled)

Certified copy from vital records
Must have raised seal
Apostilled by state Secretary of State (US)
Valid indefinitely but immigration prefers recent apostille

5. Marriage Certificate (If Applicable)

If bringing spouse as dependent
Certified copy
Apostilled
Translated to Spanish

6. Health Certificate

Basic physical examination
Can be obtained in Ecuador or home country
Must be within 90 days
Form provided by doctor
Original required

7. Proof of Address

Utility bill or rental agreement
From your home country OR Ecuador
Shows current residence

Additional Documents by Visa Type

Pensioner Visa

Income Documentation:

Pension verification letter (SSA benefit letter for US)
6 months bank statements showing pension deposits
Must show $1,458+/month

All documents showing monthly pension income

Professional Visa

Employment Documentation:

Employment contract with foreign company
OR Freelance client contracts
OR Business registration/incorporation

Income Proof:

6 months bank statements
Tax returns (last 2 years)
Pay stubs or invoices
Must show $1,458+/month

Investor Visa

Investment Documentation:

Property deed (if real estate)
Property appraisal (current)
Bank certificate of deposit (if CD route)
Business investment documentation (if applicable)

Must show $48,600+ investment

Rentista Visa

Investment Income Documentation:

Brokerage statements (6 months)
Dividend/interest statements
Rental income documentation
Trust income documentation

Must show $1,458+/month from passive income

Document Translation Requirements

What Must Be Translated:

✅ Criminal background check ✅ Birth certificate ✅ Marriage certificate ✅ Any document not in Spanish

Translation Requirements:

Must be certified translator
Notarized translation
Translator's credentials included
Original + translation + certification all together

Cost:

$15-30 per page typically
5-10 pages typical for visa application
Total: $75-300

Do NOT translate:

Passport (already international)
Passport photos
Bank statements (English usually accepted)

Document Checklist by Stage

Stage 1: Order 3-6 Months Before

FBI background check (2-8 weeks)
Birth certificate (if you don't have certified copy)
Marriage certificate (if bringing spouse)

Stage 2: Apostille (2-4 Months Before)

Apostille FBI check at US Dept of State
Apostille birth certificate at state Secretary of State
Apostille marriage certificate (if applicable)

Stage 3: Translate (1-2 Months Before)

Translate apostilled FBI check
Translate apostilled birth certificate
Translate any other documents

Stage 4: Gather Just Before Travel

Bank statements (must be recent - last 6 months)
Income verification letter (within 90 days)
Passport photos (recent)
Health certificate (within 90 days)

Stage 5: In Ecuador

Health certificate (if getting in Ecuador)
Proof of Ecuador address
Application forms (completed)

How Many Copies?

Bring:

Original of everything
3-4 photocopies of everything
Digital scans on USB drive (backup)

Why: Immigration may keep copies, you need copies for other steps.

Document Organization

Create a Master Folder:

Section 1: Identification

Passport (copy of ID pages)
Passport photos

Section 2: Background/Personal

Apostilled FBI check + translation
Apostilled birth certificate + translation
Marriage certificate (if applicable) + translation

Section 3: Financial

Bank statements (6 months)
Income verification letter
Tax returns (if applicable)
Employment contract / client agreements

Section 4: Health

Health certificate
Insurance information (optional)

Section 5: Housing

Proof of address
Rental agreement (if you have one in Ecuador)

Organization = faster processing

Document Validity Periods

Expires:

FBI check: 6 months from issue date
Health certificate: 90 days typically
Bank statements: Should be current (within 30 days of submission)
Income letters: 90 days

Doesn't Expire:

Birth certificate (the certificate itself)
Marriage certificate
Passport (until expiration date)

But: Immigration prefers recent apostilles even on non-expiring documents.

Common Document Issues

Issue #1: Expired FBI Check

Problem: FBI check is 6+ months old at submission Solution: Get new FBI check and apostille Prevention: Time FBI check for 2-3 months before submission

Issue #2: Missing Apostille

Problem: Have FBI check but not apostilled Solution: Send for apostille immediately (3-4 weeks) Prevention: Apostille immediately upon receiving FBI check

Issue #3: Poor Translation Quality

Problem: Used non-certified translator Solution: Get proper certified translation Prevention: Only use certified translators

Issue #4: Insufficient Income Proof

Problem: Bank statements don't clearly show $1,458/month Solution: Provide additional documentation, highlight deposits Prevention: Use account that receives pension/income directly

Issue #5: Name Discrepancy

Problem: Name variation across documents (middle initial, etc.) Solution: Affidavit explaining discrepancy Prevention: Ensure all documents match passport exactly

Digital vs. Physical Documents

Must Be Original Physical:

Apostilled documents (FBI check, birth cert)
Passport
Health certificate

Can Be Copies:

Bank statements
Employment contracts
Income letters

Digital Backups:

Scan everything
Store in cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox)
Email copies to yourself
Store on USB drive
In case originals lost

Document Preparation Services

Want help?

EcuaPass provides:

Complete document checklist for your visa type
Review of all documents BEFORE you travel
Translation coordination
Identification of missing/incorrect documents
Timeline management

Cost: $1,800 (included in visa service)

Value: Prevents rejection due to document issues (saves months)

Real Client Examples

Sarah (Pensioner Visa) - Perfect Docs:

Started FBI check 5 months before travel
Apostilled everything properly
Used certified translators
All docs reviewed by EcuaPass before travel
Result: Submitted application, approved in 4 weeks

Bob (Professional Visa) - Document Issues:

DIY application
FBI check expired (was 7 months old)
Birth certificate not apostilled
Had to return to US, get new docs, wait 2 more months
Result: Approved eventually but delayed 3 months

Carol (Rentista Visa) - Income Doc Problems:

Bank statements didn't clearly show income
Had to provide additional investment statements
Process delayed 6 weeks while gathering more docs
Result: Approved after additional documentation

Document Checklist Tool

Use this before traveling:

All checked? You're ready!

What Happens at Immigration Office

You'll submit:

Original documents (most)
Copies (they keep some)
Completed application forms
Payment for fees

They'll:

Review all documents
Verify apostilles
Check income meets requirements
Take biometrics (fingerprints, photo)
Give you receipt/tracking number

Timeline: Appointment takes 1-2 hours typically

After Submission

Keep with you:

Copy of everything you submitted
Receipt from immigration
Your passport (they don't keep it)

They'll contact you when:

Approved (4-8 weeks)
Need additional documents (2-4 weeks)

Need Help?

EcuaPass document review service:

Before you travel, we'll:

✅ Review every document
✅ Verify apostilles are correct
✅ Check translations meet requirements
✅ Confirm income documentation is sufficient
✅ Identify any issues BEFORE you spend money traveling

This prevents:

❌ Traveling with wrong documents
❌ Rejection due to technicalities
❌ Having to return home for new documents
❌ 2-4 month delays

Our 98% approval rate is largely due to getting documents right the first time.

Contact us: WhatsApp: +593-096-284-8410

Don't guess about documents. Get expert review and travel to Ecuador with confidence.

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