How to obtain Ecuadorian citizenship for a Russian

Pros and cons of living in Ecuador

Ecuador as a country to move to has its advantages and disadvantages. There are several more of the first, otherwise there is no way to explain the high flow of immigrants to this state. Let's consider all the pros and cons of living in Ecuador, given in the table.

If we analyze the table of advantages and disadvantages, we can conclude: the pros and cons of Ecuador balance each other. However, if a person who wants to leave here forever puts security and stability at the forefront, then he is unlikely to like the hectic Ecuadorian life.

Girls with a twist

I have heard that Ecuadorians are not nearly as open-minded people as Colombians. But my experience refutes this - in temperament they are very similar to Colombians, just as polite, friendly and welcoming. As in other countries of Latin America, Ecuadorians are keenly interested in foreigners, smile, flirt, give compliments, easily make contact - I can’t imagine why anyone would have the opposite opinion.

Outwardly, they are, of course, different. Indian blood is more clearly visible. The percentage of beautiful girls is approximately the same as in Colombia, and it is the features of the aborigines that give them a unique flavor.

Ecuador has less chaos and disorder than its neighboring countries. Good city and excellent intercity transport - buses are cheap and run on schedule, and you can also stop them with your hand when you get out on the highway. Comfortable.

The standard of living is best described with a phrase from a guidebook: “Ecuador is not the richest country on the continent, but not the poorest” - neither subtract nor add.

The situation with crime is approximately the same - Guayaquil, Quito and other large cities do not seem to be too calm (Chile and Argentina are clearly safer), but such lawlessness as in Brazil and Venezuela is not observed. You are not offered cocaine and prostitutes on every corner, like in Colombia. In general, it's relatively calm.

Ways to move to Ecuador for permanent residence

So, Russian tourists can emigrate to Ecuador no longer than 3 months from the date of entry. If you need to stay longer, you can apply for a temporary residence permit, which does not give any right to work. In order to legally reside in the country and enjoy almost all the benefits provided by the state for the indigenous population, it is necessary to obtain a visa.

An indefinite visa, which allows emigration to Ecuador, can only be issued to persons who have certain grounds for this. The methods are summarized in the table below.

Traditionally, another reason for emigrating from Russia to Ecuador is to obtain an education. There are special immigration programs under which students who are already 18 years old can go in order to continue their studies at one of the Ecuadorian universities. However, the quality of educational services here is low, and such programs are not in great demand. Many people who want to move to this state for permanent residence graduate from a university in their homeland and come with their diploma for employment.

Benefits of Immigration to Ecuador

Probably the main advantage is the country’s openness to visitors from all over the world, including from Russia. There is no need to go to the consulate, submit an application, wait for a visa. If a Russian manages to fly across half the globe, then upon arrival he will receive permission for a three-month stay. The main control occurs during check-in at the departure airport, where airline employees will check passports, solvency and the availability of return tickets to leave Ecuador.

The good news is that the Ecuadorian authorities plan to increase the permitted period of stay to six months, however, three months is enough to decide on the spot about moving and applying for one of the immigration visas. Namely visas, because they replace residence permits and permanent residence permits, which are not provided for by local legislation. If an immigrant enjoys living in Ecuador, after 3 years he will be able to obtain citizenship without giving up his citizenship.

Ecuador gets its name from the equator, which crosses the country just north of the capital Quito. Therefore, there is always one season here - summer, but all climate zones are found if you rise from the coast to the mountains. Ecuador also owns the famous Galapagos Islands - an archipelago and national park where tourists come from everywhere to look at turtles and other inhabitants of pristine nature.

Life in Ecuador is full of exotic things

Ecuador is a relatively poor country, so prices for local real estate are lower than in large Russian cities, and there are more business opportunities. Especially in Guayaquil, the largest port and urban agglomeration, home to more than 3 million people.

If you nevertheless decide to immigrate to Ecuador and you are not embarrassed by the rampant banditry in this port city and you want to establish your business, then it is better to start taking your first steps there. Guayaquil, according to unofficial data, has a population of about 4.5 million people (Quito has 1.5 million). In Guayaquil, you will be able to speak Ecuador's native language faster. There are not very many Russians in Guayaquil, about 30–40 families. Guayaquil is a city of contrasts. There are poor areas and rich ones, it doesn’t matter here with the environment, the city is very large, but, unlike Quito, life is in full swing here! It will be easier for you to set up your business; if you are a specialist, it will be easier to find a job.

Sergey Denver

https://www.alpary.net/about9.html

An Ecuadorian passport is the key to many countries where, on the principle of reciprocity, Ecuadorians enter without a visa. They also have benefits for naturalization in Spanish-speaking countries, for example, in Chile, Argentina, Mexico and Spain itself. Thus, Ecuador can become a springboard or bridge for moving to other countries for permanent residence. Including in the USA. By the way, the national currency sucre exists only in the form of coins for collectors. Ecuadorians use US dollars domestically, which is very convenient for foreigners.

In 2009, Ecuador was named the best country for American retirees.

LJ user Ecuared

https://www.factroom.ru/facts/12833

Video: legalization in Ecuador

Obtaining a residence permit in Ecuador

So, in Ecuador there is practically no separation between the concepts of “visa” and “residence permit”. All indefinite (immigrant) visas listed in the table above are permanent residence permits. When emigrating, it is obtained from the Ecuadorian Embassy in Russia or a visa center. To make an appointment at the embassy, ​​it is recommended to go to the official website rusia.embajada.gob.ec. When deciding to contact a visa center, choose the most convenient option. There are many such centers; almost every Russian metropolis has branches.

You can also apply for a visa after arriving in Ecuador at the migration service department. But at the same time, all the necessary documents must be on hand.

The authorities put forward a small list of requirements that a candidate must meet to obtain a residence permit. First, the person must not have been convicted either in his home country or in Ecuador. This point is checked especially carefully. Secondly, it is mandatory to take out medical insurance – public or private.

Necessary documents for emigration to Ecuador

Below is a general list of required papers to obtain an Ecuadorian residence permit. Depending on the grounds, additional documents will be required.

1. International passport with a copy.
2. Photos size 3.5x4.5 – 2 pieces.
3. Birth certificate and internal passport.
4. Marriage/divorce certificate (if available).
5. Certificate of good conduct in your home country.
6. Diploma or any other document confirming education.
7. Visa application.

If you plan to move with a child, then you will need:

• his birth certificate;
• international passport;
• consent of the second parent (if he remains in Russia).

All documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish (along with the apostille). In addition, translations of documents must be notarized.

Deadlines for obtaining a residence permit

The time frame for reviewing and issuing a completed document depends on its type. For example, non-immigrant visas are issued at the Ecuadorian consulate within 2 days, if no additional problems arise with the provided package of papers. Sometimes a visa (aka residence permit) is ready 7 working days after submitting the application and documents.

Investor visas (9-II and 9-III) are considered separately. Processing times vary from 20 days to 3 months. You can find out about the readiness of the document by calling the Ecuadorian Embassy (if you apply directly) or at the visa center (if the application was submitted there).

To extend a residence permit, you must contact the Ministry of Migration in advance (at least 1 month before the expiration of the document confirming legal stay in Ecuador).

Price

Registration of a permanent residence permit will cost 550 USD. Of these, $50 is the cost of filing the application, and $500 is the consular fee directly for obtaining permanent residence in Ecuador. A temporary permit will cost slightly less than a permanent residence permit.

Obtaining a residence permit and citizenship of the country

A residence permit in Ecuador is replaced by an immigration visa, for which the following are provided:

1. Foreign passport and its copies (must be valid for another 6 months after the trip).
2. Photocopies of all marked pages of the Russian passport.
3. Application form (filled out in English or Spanish).
4. 2 Photos (3.4 x 4.5 cm).
5. An invitation (work, tourist, private, university), describing the length of your stay, housing and availability of funds.
6. Certificate of employment indicating salary and position (at least $500).
7. Bank statement (minimum $1,000).
8. Insurance policy.

Before obtaining Ecuadorian citizenship, you must live in the country for three years. The next step is passing a written exam on the history and geography of the country, its legislation and regulations.

Acceptance of citizenship (naturalization process) occurs under the following conditions:

1. Citizen's capacity.
2. Owns property, works, supports himself and his family.
3. Stay in the country for three years.
4. No violations of Ecuadorian laws.
5. Proficiency in Spanish.
6. Knowledge of the politics, geography, history and culture of Ecuador.

An application for citizenship is considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador; applications are rejected if:

• criminal conviction or being under investigation;
• lack of financial security;
• the presence of acute infectious diseases;
• propaganda of ideas prohibited in Ecuador;
• engaging in activities prohibited in Ecuador.

How to obtain Ecuadorian citizenship

From the point of view of visa-free stay in the territory of other countries, Ecuadorian citizenship is not considered the most liquid: with it you can come to Latin America, China, Russia, and to enter the Schengen countries, the USA and Canada you will have to apply for a visa. Nevertheless, many Russians seek to obtain second citizenship here. The undoubted advantage of this procedure is that there is no need to renounce Russian citizenship. It turns out that as a result you can have two different citizenships.

Every candidate seeking to obtain an Ecuadorian civil passport must meet the following requirements:

• live in Ecuador legally for at least 3 years without leaving the country (you can only leave during the first year of your stay for a period not exceeding 90 days);
• know the state language (Spanish) at an intermediate level;
• have a certificate of good conduct in Ecuador;
• undergo special testing for knowledge of history, geography, and current laws of the country.

The list of required documents to obtain citizenship in 2021 is relatively short.

1. Internal passport of the Russian Federation and international passport.
2. Certificates of good conduct: in the Russian Federation and in Ecuador.
3. Medical examination from an Ecuadorian hospital.
4. Account book with the candidate’s migration history.
5. Photos 3x4 – 6 pieces.
6. For men - military ID.

A child born in Ecuador automatically becomes a citizen of this country, regardless of the citizenship of the parents. By the way, the birth of a child significantly speeds up the process of obtaining Ecuadorian citizenship of the parent. This applies to immigrant men who have at least one child born in a legal marriage to an Ecuadorian citizen. Then the standard terms are reduced by 1 year. If 2 or more children were born in a family, the spouse can become a citizen within 1 year. In these situations, when applying for citizenship, the list of required documents is supplemented with the original birth certificates of the children.

After receiving a second citizenship, you must inform the migration service about the presence of a second citizenship. Theoretically, Ecuador does not recognize any nationalities other than its own. But a pure formality - renunciation of Russian citizenship outside the territory - has no force in Russia. Therefore, everyone who has received an Ecuadorian passport continues to remain citizens of the Russian Federation. Thus, it is possible to maintain your citizenship and acquire a new one.

Citizenship programs

You can obtain a residence permit and citizenship in a given state using special programs. The main ones are the following: for those getting married, citizens of retirement age, for business immigration, a work visa and for political asylum. Let's look at each in more detail.

Marriage visa

If a person from another country marries an Ecuadorian, then after two weeks it will be possible to apply for citizenship. Moreover, in this case you don’t even have to pass a Spanish language test.

For pensioners

This program is available to people who are already pensioners in their home country. It will require the following documents:

• Marriage certificate;
• A document confirming no criminal record;
• Certificate of income for each month (must be certified at the Ecuadorian Consulate).

A pensioner cannot get a job or conduct his business until he receives an Ecuadorian passport.

Business immigration

This type of immigration is possible when starting your own business or investing in an ongoing business, shares, or real estate. Investment amounts are quite modest and start at 25,000 USD.

Through employment

A work visa can be granted to people who have entered into an employment contract with an employer from Ecuador. As a rule, to do this you need to be a highly qualified specialist in some sector of the economy and speak Spanish at the proper level.

Granting political asylum

Foreign citizens have the right to receive political asylum or register as refugees for up to 90 days. Moreover, this status can be confirmed every three months, if necessary. After one year of refugee status, a person can get a job and open a bank account.

Such a program is available only to those individuals who have been oppressed in their country of residence due to politics, race, religion, or nationality. The most famous example of granting political asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London is the shelter of Julian Assange, which lasted 7 years.

How Russian emigrants live and work in Ecuador

Almost all Russian emigrants, judging by reviews, are satisfied with life in Ecuador, which means that they have enough financial resources. It is not difficult to find a job in the country; there is quite a lot of it, not only in popular professions, but also for people with the most ordinary professions. The most popular areas are:

• oil production;
• IT technologies;
• medicine;
• mechanical engineering;
• Agriculture;
• tourism.

The highest salaries are received by highly qualified specialists with work experience and knowledge of Spanish and English.

Below are approximate salaries depending on the type of work activity.

In the absence of qualifications and a diploma, the average salary will be 400-500 USD. Petroleum specialists receive the highest salaries – about 4,000 USD.

The following sites are recommended for finding jobs and employers:

• m.multitrabajos.com;
• www.computrabajo.com.ec;
• www.opcionempleo.ec/mobile.

Many Russians in Ecuador prefer not to work in existing companies, but to open their own business. Some are trying to open restaurants, stalls, and shops, but the most promising areas are the oil industry, trading in bananas and cut flowers. In the latter case, we mean the import of flowers to other countries, for example, to Russia. To do this, it is enough to buy the flower plantation (they say that renting is considered unprofitable and does not generate income).

Those who do not want or cannot, for financial reasons, open their own business, and do not have enough qualifications for a well-paid job, usually engage in freelancing and work remotely.