Ecuador's investment route, officially the Visa de Residencia Temporal de Inversionista, is governed by the Ley Organica de Movilidad Humana and its regulations. It is distinctive among the countries in this cluster for accepting three separate investment vehicles at an identical threshold, and for being the only Ecuadorian residency category that requires no ongoing monthly income proof at all.
The 2026 number: USD 48,200
100 times the 2026 SBU of USD 482. This threshold moved from USD 47,000 in 2025 and will rise again in 2027, so applicants close to the line have a genuine incentive to apply sooner rather than later.
Three qualifying investment vehicles, one threshold
| Vehicle | 2026 minimum | Supporting documents |
|---|---|---|
| Bank certificate of deposit | USD 48,200 | CD certificate from a recognized Ecuadorian financial institution |
| Real estate | USD 48,200 | Property deed and appraisal, lien registration |
| Company shares | USD 48,200 | Share purchase and business registration documentation |
What the Investor Visa avoids, and what it does not
It avoids ongoing income proof entirely, the only Ecuadorian category to do so, which extends to dependents; a spouse and minor children attach without triggering their own income requirement. It does not avoid standard documentation: an apostilled criminal background check, certified translations, passport photos, and the full E-Visa application are required exactly as with every other category. Government fees add approximately USD 320 (a USD 50 application fee plus a USD 270 grant fee) on top of the investment itself.
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The honest comparison
A holder of any bachelor's degree, from any country, qualifies for the Professional Visa at USD 482 a month in income from any lawful source, for a total cost close to USD 2,100 including professional fees, a difference of roughly USD 46,000 against the Investor Visa for functionally similar residency status. The Investor Visa earns its cost primarily for applicants with capital but limited provable monthly cash flow, or those without a qualifying degree or pension.
From investment to permanent residency and citizenship
The Investor Visa grants 2 years of temporary residency, after which holders become eligible to apply for permanent residency, generally at the 21-month mark under LOMH Article 63. From there, the naturalization clock described in the Ecuador Citizenship guide applies.
Investing in Ecuador: company formation, registration and real estate
This section covers Ecuador as an investment destination on its own terms: company formation and the general investment climate, independent of any residency visa. If the question is instead about the Investor Visa and its residency requirements, that content lives in the Ecuador residency section's Golden Visa guide; this page will not repeat it.
Company formation: three structures, one clear winner for most founders
| Structure | Best for | Shareholders | Formation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAS (Sociedad por Accion Simplificada) | Most foreign founders: sole ownership, flexible governance, fully online formation | 1 or more (sole ownership permitted) | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Cia. Ltda. (Compania de Responsabilidad Limitada) | Small to medium businesses with a defined group of partners | 2 to 15 | 2 to 4 weeks, including Superintendencia review |
| S.A. (Sociedad Anonima) | Larger operations seeking outside investment or planning to issue shares broadly | Minimum 2, no maximum | 2 to 4 weeks, including Superintendencia review |
Why the SAS has displaced the Cia. Ltda. for most foreign founders
Before the SAS existed, the Cia. Ltda. was Ecuador's default small-business structure, but its governance is largely fixed by law and transferring ownership requires unanimous partner consent executed via public deed, a poor fit for anyone planning to bring in investors or exit later. The SAS instead permits complete contractual freedom in the bylaws, shares that are freely negotiable, and, crucially, genuine single-shareholder ownership, formed through a private document filed entirely online with the Superintendencia de Companias, Valores y Seguros (SCVS) rather than through a notary, unless real estate is being contributed as capital.
Registration steps
Reserve the company name, draft bylaws (an SAS can do this largely online; Cia. Ltda. and S.A. require a notary), file with the SCVS, register with the Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI) for a RUC and set up electronic invoicing, and obtain the municipal business license. Foreign shareholders and beneficial owners holding 25 percent or more of a company must be disclosed under Ecuador's beneficial ownership framework, administered by the SRI.
The dollarization advantage
Every contract, salary, tax threshold, and investment figure in Ecuador is denominated in US dollars, with no central bank currency risk since dollarization in 2000. For a foreign investor comparing Ecuador against Colombia, Peru, or Chile, all of which carry local-currency thresholds that move with exchange rates, this is a genuine, structural planning advantage rather than a marketing point.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ecuador have a Golden Visa?
Not officially. What is marketed as the Ecuador Golden Visa is the Visa de Residencia Temporal de Inversionista, requiring a one-time investment of 100 times the SBU (Ecuador's monthly minimum wage), approximately USD 48,200 in 2026.
What counts as a qualifying investment in Ecuador?
Three vehicles qualify at the same threshold: a bank certificate of deposit with a recognized Ecuadorian financial institution, real estate purchased in Ecuador, or shares in an Ecuador-domiciled company. All three currently require the same 100x SBU amount.
Is the Ecuador Investor Visa worth it compared to other routes?
It depends on the applicant's asset profile. The Investor Visa substitutes a one-time lump sum for ongoing income proof, useful for those with capital but limited monthly cash flow. Degree holders with modest monthly income are usually better served by the far cheaper Professional Visa; those with a qualifying pension or passive income are usually better served by the Pensioner or Rentista route.
Do I need health insurance to apply for the Ecuador Investor Visa?
Not at the application stage. Under LOMH regulation, health insurance is a post-grant obligation for investor visas, meaning applicants affiliate with IESS or obtain private insurance after approval, unlike the Rentista, Pensioner, and Digital Nomad categories, which require proof of insurance at the time of application.
Is the Investor Visa covered here?
No, by design. Ecuador's Investor Visa grants legal residency, so its full requirements live in the Ecuador residency section's Golden Visa guide. This section covers the underlying investment market itself: company formation and the general investment climate, without repeating the visa's requirements.
What is the easiest company structure for a foreigner to use in Ecuador?
The SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada), Ecuador's newest structure, is generally the most flexible: it permits sole ownership, requires no minimum capital paid upfront, and can be formed almost entirely online through the Superintendencia de Companias' portal, faster and cheaper than the traditional Cia. Ltda. or S.A.
Can a single foreign investor own 100 percent of an Ecuadorian company?
Yes, through the SAS structure specifically, which explicitly permits a sole shareholder (sociedad unipersonal). The older Cia. Ltda. structure caps membership at 15 partners and, in practice, is less suited to a genuine solo foreign founder; the S.A. requires a minimum of 2 shareholders.
Does Ecuador's dollarized economy actually change anything for a foreign investor?
Yes, meaningfully. Every threshold, contract, and financial projection in Ecuador is denominated in US dollars with no currency conversion risk, unlike Colombia, Peru, or Chile, where local-currency thresholds shift with exchange rate movements. This is a genuine planning advantage for a foreign investor budgeting in USD.
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme terms are set by the relevant government and can change; confirm any figure with the authority, or with us, before acting on it.
