What is Ecuador's Pensioner Visa Income Requirement?

Quick Answer

$1,458 USD per month minimum for 2026.

This is based on 3x Ecuador's Basic Income Unit (SBU), which is $486 in 2026.

How the Requirement is Calculated

Ecuador ties visa income requirements to the SBU (Salario Básico Unificado):

2026 SBU: $486 Pensioner visa requirement: 3x SBU = $1,458/month

Historical Context:

Year	SBU	Pensioner Requirement (3x)
2024	$460	$1,380/month
2025	$475	$1,425/month
2026	$486	$1,458/month

The requirement increases slightly each year as Ecuador adjusts the SBU.

What Qualifies as "Pension Income"

Qualifying Sources:

✅ US Social Security retirement benefits ✅ US Social Security disability benefits (if permanent) ✅ Government pensions (military, civil service, teachers) ✅ Private company pensions (401k distributions as annuity) ✅ Defined benefit pensions from employers ✅ Annuities from retirement accounts ✅ Foreign government pensions (UK, Canada, etc.)

What Does NOT Qualify:

❌ Investment income (dividends, interest) - use Rentista visa instead ❌ Rental income - use Rentista visa ❌ Employment income - use Professional visa ❌ One-time distributions from retirement accounts ❌ Irregular IRA withdrawals - must be structured as ongoing annuity

How to Prove Your Income

Required Documents:

1. Pension Verification Letter

From pension source (SSA, pension administrator) stating:

Your monthly benefit amount
That it's permanent/ongoing
Official letterhead
Authorized signature
Dated within 90 days

For US Social Security: Request "Benefit Verification Letter" at SSA.gov

2. Bank Statements (6 Months)

Showing:

Regular pension deposits
$1,458+ per month consistently
Account receiving pension directly

3. Additional Proof (Sometimes Requested)

Tax returns showing pension income
Award letters
Payment history

What If Your Pension is Exactly $1,458?

It works, but it's risky.

Why:

Immigration sometimes scrutinizes borderline cases more
Any documentation issues more likely to cause problems
No buffer if income temporarily dips

Better: Have $1,600-1,800/month for comfortable margin.

If your pension is $1,300-1,400:

Consider waiting until it increases
Or look into Investor visa ($48,600 investment)
Or combine with spouse's income

Combining Income (Married Couples)

Good news: Household income can be combined.

Examples:

Scenario 1:

You: $1,000/month pension
Spouse: $600/month pension
Combined: $1,600/month
Qualifies!

Scenario 2:

You: $1,200/month Social Security
Spouse: $400/month pension
Combined: $1,600/month
Qualifies!

How it works:

Primary applicant shows combined income
Spouse applies as dependent
Both need $1,458 total (not each)

Currency Exchange

Ecuador uses US Dollar as official currency.

If your pension is in another currency:

Convert to USD:

UK pension: £1,200/month = ~$1,500 USD (depending on exchange rate)
Canadian pension: C$2,000/month = ~$1,460 USD

Use average exchange rate over 6 months for documentation.

What If Your Pension Increases/Decreases?

If It Increases:

No problem. More income is always better.

Update documentation to show new amount.

If It Decreases:

Problem if it drops below $1,458.

Options:

Wait until it increases again
Apply for permanent residency if you've been resident 21+ months (no income requirement)
Supplement with other qualifying income
Consider different visa type

Cost of Living vs. Income Requirement

Can You Live on $1,458/Month in Ecuador?

Yes, but tight.

Realistic budgets:

Minimum: $1,400-1,600/month (very budget-conscious)
Comfortable: $2,000-2,500/month
Comfortable with travel: $2,500-3,000/month

If your pension is exactly $1,458:

You'll qualify for visa
But budget will be tight
Consider if you have savings to supplement

For Couples: Do We Both Need $1,458?

No!

Primary applicant needs $1,458 total. Spouse is added as dependent with no additional income requirement.

Example:

Primary: $1,800/month pension
Spouse: $0 pension
Both qualify (total household = $1,800)

Costs:

Primary visa fees: $450
Spouse addition: $450
Professional help: $1,800 + $500 spouse
Total: ~$3,200 for couple

Income Documentation by Country

US Citizens (Most Common):

Social Security:

Log into SSA.gov
Request "Benefit Verification Letter"
Print letter (shows monthly amount)
Provide 6 months bank statements

Private Pension:

Contact pension administrator
Request official income letter
Provide payment statements

UK Citizens:

State Pension:

Get letter from Department for Work and Pensions
Show regular payments
Convert to USD ($1,458 = ~£1,160 depending on exchange)

Canadian Citizens:

CPP/OAS:

Get letter from Service Canada
Show bank deposits
Convert to USD ($1,458 = ~C$2,000)

What If I Don't Have Pension Yet?

Under Retirement Age:

Option 1: Professional Visa

If working remotely
Show $1,458/month employment income
Different visa type, same income requirement

Option 2: Investor Visa

$48,600 investment
No income requirement
Use if you have capital but no pension

Option 3: Wait

Delay Ecuador move until pension starts
Visit on tourist visa until then

Option 4: Rentista Visa

If you have investment income
Show $1,458/month from investments

Required Income for Visa Renewal

After 2 Years:

Must still show $1,458+/month to renew.

If pension stops:

Can't renew
May need to leave Ecuador
Or apply for different visa type

Permanent Residency (Better Option):

After 21 months, apply for permanent residency.

No income requirement for permanent residency!

Once permanent, you don't need to prove ongoing income.

This is why most people get permanent at 21 months.

Verification Process

At Immigration Appointment:

Officer will:

Review pension verification letter
Check bank statements
Verify deposits match stated amount
Confirm income is ongoing (not one-time)
Calculate average monthly income

They're looking for:

Consistency (income every month)
Sufficiency ($1,458+ average)
Legitimacy (from real pension source)

Common Issues:

❌ Bank statements don't clearly show pension deposits

Solution: Highlight deposits, provide pension letter matching

❌ Income varies month to month

Solution: Show 6+ month average exceeds $1,458

❌ Unclear what income source is

Solution: Clear documentation linking letter to bank deposits

Future Income Increases

SBU typically increases 2-5% per year.

This means income requirement grows:

Projected:

2027: ~$1,500/month
2028: ~$1,545/month
2029: ~$1,590/month

If your pension has COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments):

Social Security increases with inflation
You'll stay above requirement

If your pension is fixed:

May eventually not qualify for renewal
Apply for permanent residency before this is an issue

Special Cases

Disability Pension:

Qualifies IF permanent disability.

Must show:

Disability is permanent (not temporary)
Monthly payment amount
Ongoing nature

Survivor Benefits:

Widow/widower receiving spouse's pension:

Qualifies as long as:

Benefit is ongoing
Meets $1,458 threshold

Early Retirement Distributions:

May qualify if structured as annuity:

Regular monthly payments
Ongoing for life
Not lump sums

Consult tax advisor on how to structure distributions.

Documentation Checklist

Before applying, ensure you have:

Pension verification letter (within 90 days)
6 months bank statements showing deposits
Letter shows at least $1,458/month
Bank deposits match letter amount
Income is from qualifying pension source
Documentation in order (original + copies)

Need Help?

EcuaPass can help verify:

Your income qualifies
Documentation is sufficient
Bank statements are clear
Everything is properly prepared

We'll review BEFORE you travel to prevent issues.

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

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