Ecuador's Visa Nómada is a temporary residence visa under the rentista category that allows foreign nationals to live in Ecuador while working remotely for employers, clients, or companies located outside the country. Established under the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana 2023 and administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, the program targets remote workers, freelancers, and business owners who earn their income from foreign sources. First introduced in April 2022 and officially promoted in September 2022, it offers one of the longer initial durations among Latin American digital nomad visas at 2 years, with the possibility of renewal for a total stay of 4 years.
Applications can also be submitted in person at Zonal Directorate offices within Ecuador or at Ecuadorian embassies and consulates abroad. A 50% discount applies for applicants aged 65 and over, and a full fee exemption is available for persons with disabilities of 30% or more.
The visa is valid for 2 years. It can be renewed once for an additional 2-year period, for a maximum total stay of 4 years under this visa category. The full application process and documentation must be submitted again for renewal. Holders wishing to stay beyond 4 years must transition to another visa type or apply for permanent residency.
Temporary residence holders who have maintained their visa for at least 21 continuous months and have not spent more than 90 days outside Ecuador during that period may apply for permanent residency.
Dependants including a spouse and children may be included in the application. For each dependant, the applicant must demonstrate an additional USD 250 per month in foreign-source income. Dependants are subject to the same documentation requirements including passport, photographs, and health insurance. Minors must apply through their legal representatives.
Ecuador taxes residents on worldwide income. Individuals present more than 183 days in a fiscal year become tax residents with progressive rates from 0% to 37%. However, a temporary tax residency regime effective January 2024 allows qualifying new tax residents to pay income tax only on Ecuadorian-source income for a five-year term. Since Visa Nómada holders are restricted to foreign-source income, this regime may effectively shield their earnings from Ecuadorian income tax for the first five years.
Holders may only work remotely for entities outside Ecuador. Working for Ecuadorian companies or earning income from Ecuadorian sources is strictly prohibited under this visa category.
In October 2025, a major reform to the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana was enacted, restructuring deportation procedures, introducing migration infraction classifications, and requiring criminal clearance certificates and security assessments for all temporary and permanent residency applications. The Salario Básico Unificado was raised to USD 482 for 2026 (from USD 460 in 2024), increasing the effective minimum income threshold to USD 1,446/month. Core programme parameters — duration, fee structure, and application channels — remain unchanged.