Given its astonishing biodiversity, Ecuador is one of the most spectacular tourist destinations in the world. The historical and cultural richness competes with sumptuous breathtaking landscapes. It is particularly renowned for the incredible Galapagos Islands where unique biodiversity evolves.
However, this Latin American country is not not yet a priority on the radar of digital nomads. This may well change in the months to follow as he prepares to make a significant change. In fact, Ecuador announced the creation of a specific visa for facilitate the installation of international teleworkers. Through this measure, this South American state will join a progressive list including multiple neighboring countries including Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia.
In order to know everything about the Rentista visa and its particularities, continue reading.
A change synonymous with rebirth
This visa offers digital nomads the opportunity to carry out their professional activity from the capital Quito or the city of their choice, for a period ranging up to 2 years. It must be emphasized that this is a measure which aims primarily to boost the economic sector. A regular influx of teleworkers is equivalent to substantial sums which will be gradually injected into the national economy.
To support this new vision, the Ecuadorian tourism minister spoke, as part of the World Travel Market which took place recently in London, on the real desire to offer digital nomads an authentic and memorable experience. The pandemic was the trigger for a new approach to revive the tourism sector in the country. Niels Olsen also highlighted the multiple advantages of living in Ecuador, namely, the diversity of infrastructure, optimized connectivity and above all, low cost of living compared to major European cities.
Although the country is not yet an essential reference for remote workers, you should know that it provides you with all the required equipment for that. If you plan to settle in the capital, or in large cities like Guayaquil and Cuenca, you have nothing to fear. These cities have many coworking spaces where you can expand your professional network. Moreover, the internet connection is optimal so you can receive your zoom calls without interruption.
If, on the contrary, you are looking for small towns like Olon to telework by the beach, or in a chalet in the heart of the mountains, don't expect to have the high-speed wifi connection of large cities.
What are the measures to follow?
Obtaining a visa for teleworkers wishing to settle in Ecuador is accompanied by a fairly simple procedure. First, make sure your passport is valid for at least the next 6 months.
Also, you must have a monthly income greater than or equal to 1,266 euros (around $1,275). It should be noted that this sum represents the triple the Ecuadorian SMIG. Subsequently, you must prove your professional status by providing either a document affirming the ownership of a company based abroad, or a document which proves that the candidate is indeed a employee in said company. Likewise, the Ecuadorian government requires that the teleworker who submits their application have a clean record. Finally, it is important to subscribe to a health insurance covering the entire duration of the stay and which is valid locally.
The costs of this service are estimated at 460 euros. Know that you have to go to the official platform of the virtual consulate of Ecuador to begin the application process.
However, you should be aware that the processing of your request by the department concerned will require between 4 and 16 weeks. Therefore, the digital nomad visa for Ecuador is not recommended if you are in an emergency to leave.
Restrictions to note
The Rentista visa is unfortunately not not accessible to all nationalities. In fact, several countries do not have the right to make a request to telework from Ecuador. At the top, we will mention Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran. This also includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria but also Ethiopia, Pakistan and India.
Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam will be added to this list. It is intriguing to point out that nationals of Latin American countries like Cuba and Venezuela are not able to take advantage of this digital nomad visa.
Teleworking visa: What are your options in Latin America?
It is possible to apply for multiple teleworking visas to have a unique experience. So, working remotely from Ecuador does not prevent you from submitting your application for the visa for digital nomads offered by Brasil. The duration of this special visa is one year. The condition is to have a monthly salary of $1,500 or to provide a bank statement with at least $18,000.
This is also the case for Colombia whose digital nomad visa is valid for 24 months provided they have at least $684 in income per month. Finally, we can cite Costa Rica which has also joined the countries offering a teleworker visa. In this case, the conditions are a little strict since the country requires a minimum monthly income of $2,500.