Your Definitive Document Checklist for Ecuadorian Permanent Residency (After 21 Months of Temporary Residency)

Securing permanent residency in Ecuador is a milestone that transforms your relationship with the country from visitor to established member of the community. For temporary residents who have maintained their status for 21 months, this is the next logical step toward long-term stability. However, the transition is governed by strict legal and documentary requirements that can easily trip up the unprepared.

As an editor specializing in Ecuadorian immigration law, I've seen firsthand how minor oversights can lead to significant delays. This guide is not a generic overview; it is a meticulous, legally-grounded checklist designed to ensure your application is complete, compliant, and successful.

The Legal Framework: From Temporary to Permanent

The right to apply for permanent residency after a period of temporary residency is established by Ecuador's Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana (LOMH). Specifically, Artículo 63 outlines the conditions for permanent residents, including the requirement of having held a temporary residency visa for at least twenty-one (21) months.

The procedural specifics, including the exact documents and validity periods, are further detailed in the Reglamento a la Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana and various Acuerdos Ministeriales issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (MREMH). Understanding this hierarchy is key to preparing a flawless application.

The Comprehensive Document Checklist for Permanent Residency

An application is only as strong as its weakest document. Each item listed below is non-negotiable.

1. Official Application Form (Formulario de Solicitud de Visa):

Specific Requirement: The completed application form, available through the Ecuadorian government's online visa portal. All information must perfectly match your official documents.
Expert Insight: A common error is a mismatch between the name on the application and the name on a foreign, apostilled document. Ensure absolute consistency, including middle names or initials.

2. Valid Passport:

Specific Requirement: A high-quality color copy of your passport's bio-data page and all pages with Ecuadorian entry/exit stamps. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your application.
Expert Insight: Do not submit an application if your passport is nearing its renewal date. The process can take several months, and an expired passport mid-application will cause a complete halt.

3. Valid Cédula de Identidad y Ciudadanía:

Specific Requirement: A clear, color copy of your current, valid Ecuadorian resident ID card (cédula).
Expert Insight: If your cédula expires during the 21-month period, you must renew it at the Registro Civil before beginning your permanent residency application. An expired cédula will invalidate your application, even if your visa is still technically active.

4. Proof of Sustained Residency (The 21-Month Rule):

Specific Requirement: You must prove you have not violated the terms of your temporary residency. This is verified by the Certificado de Movimientos Migratorios, an official record of your entries and exits.
Hyper-Specific Detail #1: Under the LOMH, temporary residents must not be outside Ecuador for more than ninety (90) days in total during each year of their residency. Exceeding this limit resets your 21-month clock. You can request your own Movimientos Migratorios certificate from a Jefatura Provincial de Migración for a nominal fee (approx. $5) to verify your compliance before applying.

5. Criminal Background Checks:

Specific Requirement:
- From Ecuador: A Certificado de Antecedentes Penales. The Ministry can now often pull this directly from the national database (DINARDAP), but it is your responsibility to ensure your record is clean.
- From Abroad: An apostilled or legalized federal/national level criminal background check from your country of origin AND from any other country where you have resided for five years or more.
Hyper-Specific Detail #2: These foreign background checks are a major failure point. They must be issued within 180 days of your visa application date. For U.S. citizens, this means an apostilled FBI Identity History Summary. The lengthy processing time for this document requires you to plan months in advance.

6. Proof of Continued Economic Solvency:

Specific Requirement: You must demonstrate that the financial means which qualified you for your temporary visa are still in place.
- Retirees (Jubilados): Recent statements proving the continued reception of your qualifying pension (e.g., Social Security direct deposit statements).
- Investors (Inversionistas): An updated certificate from the bank confirming your Certificate of Deposit (Certificado de Depósito a Plazo) is still active, or an updated property deed (escritura) and municipal tax record (pago de predio urbano) if your investment is in real estate.
- Rentistas/Economic Solvency: Proof of ongoing passive income or bank statements demonstrating you meet the required threshold.
Expert Insight: The Ministry wants to see continuity. A large, recent deposit into your account is less convincing than a consistent history of income or a maintained investment.

7. Payment of Government Fees:

Specific Requirement: You must provide proof of payment for all required government fees.
Hyper-Specific Detail #3: The fee structure is typically two-part. First, there is a $50 non-refundable application fee (solicitud de visa). Upon approval, there is a second, larger fee of $400 for the visa order (orden de cedulación) that authorizes the issuance of your permanent residency visa and cédula. Always pay at the designated bank (e.g., Banco del Pacífico) and retain the original deposit slips.

The Application Process: Key Steps

Document Verification: Before starting, use this checklist to audit your own documents. Check every expiration date and apostille.
Obtain Foreign Documents: Immediately request your apostilled background checks. This is the longest lead-time item.
Complete Online Application: Fill out the Formulario de Solicitud on the official government portal, uploading digital copies of all your documents.
Schedule Appointment & Submit: Once the online submission is reviewed, you may be required to schedule an in-person appointment at a Zonal Coordination Office of the MREMH to present original documents.
Await Decision & Subsanación: After submission, the government may issue a providencia de subsanación, a formal request for clarification or additional documentation. You will have a limited time (often 10-30 days) to respond.
Approval and Visa Order: Upon approval, you will pay the final fee and receive your visa order, which you then take to the Registro Civil to be issued your new permanent resident cédula.

⚠️ Critical Scenarios Requiring Legal Counsel

While many can navigate this process independently, you must consult an experienced immigration attorney if:

You are close to or have exceeded the 90-day annual limit for time spent outside Ecuador.
Your criminal background check is not clean, or you have any prior immigration infractions.
The original source of your economic solvency has changed (e.g., your pension source is different, or you have liquidated your initial investment).
Your visa is based on a relationship with an Ecuadorian citizen or resident, and that relationship status has changed.
You have received a providencia de subsanación from the Ministry that you do not fully understand.

This transition is a legal process, not administrative paperwork. Treating it with the required diligence is the surest path to success.

Your Next Step Towards Permanent Residency

Securing permanent residency is the culmination of your commitment to making Ecuador your home. It provides security, simplifies banking and travel, and solidifies your place in the community. By following this expert checklist, you can approach the application with the confidence that comes from meticulous preparation.