Minimum investment
$48,200
3 investment options
Stay
24
months, renewable
Application fee
$450
Tax
Territorial
Territorial System
Path to staying
- Residence permit24 months
- Renew24 months at a time
- Permanent residencyafter 2 years
- Citizenshipafter 4 years
- Permanent residency 2 years
- Citizenship 4 years
- Dual citizenship allowed
- Language required for citizenship
Overview
- Country
- Ecuador
- Program
- Investor Visa
- Local name
- Visa de Inversionista
- Type
- Investor visa
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 24 months
- Renewable
- Yes (24 mo)
One of the cheapest investor visas in the world at just $48,200 (100x Ecuador's minimum wage). Invest via bank CD, real estate, or company equity.
Investment options
| Type | Min amount | USD equivalent | Holding | Returnable | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank deposit | USD 48,200 | $48,200 | 1 yr | Yes | Optional |
| Real estate | USD 48,200 | $48,200 | — | Yes | Optional |
| Company capital | USD 48,200 | $48,200 | — | Yes | Optional |
Eligibility
- Criminal record check required
- Health check not required
- Health insurance required
Work rights
- Employment allowed
- Self-employment allowed
- Own a business allowed
- Work permit included
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Max child age
- 18
- Parents allowed
- No
Benefits and mobility
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare access granted
Tax
- Tax regime
- Territorial
- Regime name
- Territorial System
- Foreign income taxed
- No
- Capital gains taxed
- No
How to apply
- Method
- in person
- Processing time
- 30–60 days
- Apply from abroad
- No
Notes
2026 threshold is 100x SBU ($482 = $48,200). Threshold adjusts annually with minimum wage. No obligation to run a business — CD or real estate qualifies. Citizenship possible in ~4 years total with language and civics requirements.
Also in Ecuador
Ecuador also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers