Investment Visa Details

In order to acquire any kind of Visa you have to have a bunch of paperwork which you must acquire before leaving Canada.

You need the following documents from Canada for any permanent Visa and Cedula:

1. Police background check no more than 180 days old from time of application
2. long-form Birth Certificate (only required for the Cedula)

• Get a notarized copy of the Birth Certificate when you get to Ecuador. You give the notarized copy to Immigrations and keep the original. You will need the original (or at least another notarized color copy) if you intend on applying for citizenship after you have been in the country for 3 years. I have also heard that you may need this in applying for an Ecuadorian Driver's License (if you should ever choose to do so).

For a Pensioner's Visa you would also need:

1. Proof of pension (at least $800 per month in US funds + $100 for each dependent)

• If you and your spouse are coming into the country it is suggested that you each apply for a separate Visa. The reason for this is so that if one of you happens to die then the remaining person does not have to all of a sudden apply for a Visa to stay in the country. This would be complicated because you would then have to acquire documentation which could be costly. However, doing it this way also means you have to prove pension income of at least $800 US for each person (rather than $800 US + $100 US for each dependent).

You may also need the following (depending on your status):

1. Marriage Certificate
2. Divorce Certificate
3. Supporting documents for dependents (for example, if you are bringing children into the country)

• If you have been married and are now divorced or your spouse died it might be best to just declare you are single (which is actually true). That way you will not need the supporting documents.

I have also heard that you might need these (but none of which I needed):

1. Latest Tax Return
2. 3 months of Bank Statements

These documents are also required (this part can all be done in Ecuador):

1. Letter in Spanish requesting the visa  (example)
2. Completed application form (Solicitud de visa de inmigrante categoría 9-II” (“Immigrant Visa Request Form – Category 9-II”))
3. A form for applying for a Cedula (ID Card) - Hoja de datos para la cédula”
4. Document of evidence of the Investment CD
5. 2 passport style photos
6. Movimiento Migratorios (details your entries and exits from Ecuador)
7. 2 copies of the picture page of your passport (in color)
8. 2 copies of your current Ecuador visa stamp from your passport (in color)

**  On the Immigrant Visa request form just put that you have basic education even if you have a degree. If you state you have advanced education you may have to present an authenticated, Ecuadorian Consulate approved copy of proof from the University.

Then to acquire my ID Card (my Cedula) I need:

1. Certificate from the visa office permitting me to apply for the cedula (Certificado de cedulación y Certificado de Empadronamiento) - you get this after you have your residency visa.
2. Birth Certificate (long form)
3. Copy of passport (in color)
4. Copy of Visa (in color)

The Proof of Pension and the long-form Birth Certificate must be authenticated by your provincial government office or DFAIT in Ottawa. The Criminal Background Check does not have to be authenticated as it is from the RCMP.

Then the Proof of Pension, the long-form Birth Certificate and the Criminal Background Check must be sent to the Ecuadorian Embassy in Canada for their approval.

The Ecuadorian Embassy in Canada may tell you that you need to have a 12-IX (180 day visa) before you land in Ecuador. This is not true.

The Consular General in the Embassy works for a different branch of the government than the people from Ecuadorian Immigration's. This means the Consular General does not always have up-to-date information.