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Temporary Residence - Investor

EcuadorInvestment

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What investment option or options qualify?

The route covers foreign nationals who make investments of lawfully sourced economic goods or resources to carry out productive and commercial activities, legal representation, powers of attorney and administrative posts. Six alternative qualifying investment forms are listed: (1) a dematerialised term deposit of at least 730 days with a licensed credit entity; (2) purchase of Ecuadorian real estate as sole owner; (3) shares/participation in an Ecuadorian company; (4) an investment contract with the Ecuadorian State; (5) a delegated-management agreement with central or decentralised government entities; or (6) any administrative contract with the State.

See recorded sources
  • Catalogo de Servicios, Cancilleria del Ecuador (Wayback mirror)
    A las personas extranjeras que efectúen inversiones en bienes o recursos económicos de origen lícito para realizar actividades productivas y comerciales, representación legal, apoderados y cargos administrativos.
  • Catalogo de Servicios, Cancilleria del Ecuador (Wayback mirror), qualifying investment forms (1)-(6)
    Título, póliza o certificado de depósito a un plazo mínimo de setecientos treinta (730) días, desmaterializado, emitido por una entidad crediticia reconocida por la Superintendencia de Bancos o Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria que mantenga convenio sobre desmaterialización de valores con el Banco Central del Ecuador. Escritura de compraventa de un inmueble ubicado en territorio nacional, en la cual conste el solicitante como único propietario del bien, inscrita en el Registro de la Propiedad del respectivo cantón. Documento que acredite la propiedad de acciones o participaciones en una compañía ecuatoriana, debidamente registradas en la Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros. Copia de escritura pública del contrato de inversión suscrito con el Estado Ecuatoriano, vigente. Copia de escritura de gestión delegada suscrito con entidades de los gobiernos centrales o autónomos descentralizados, vigente; o Copia del contrato administrativo de cualquier naturaleza, que sea suscrito con el Estado.

What official minimum amount, tier or threshold applies to each relevant option?

Each of the six qualifying investment forms must be for an amount of not less than one hundred (100) Salarios Básicos Unificados (SBU) of the general worker (e.g. the term deposit, the real estate purchase, or the company shares each independently need to reach this 100-SBU threshold).

See recorded sources

How long must the investment be maintained and what continuing ownership, investment or physical-presence conditions are important?

The investment must be maintained for the whole validity of the visa; failing to do so is a ground for cancellation. Shares that justified the visa cannot be transferred for the visa's validity. The investment may be replaced by another meeting the same minimum, with a period (término) of 60 days to complete the substitution. Temporary residence allows multiple entries and exits and does not limit time spent abroad; however, for continuity of stay towards permanent residence, the holder may not be absent for more than 90 days during the whole validity of the temporary residence visa.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The 90-day absence cap is stated for continuity of stay towards permanent residence (Regulation Art 84); the Law says temporary residence does not limit time abroad, so absences above 90 days affect the path to permanent residence rather than the temporary visa itself.

Which family members can be included where officially stated, and what broad residence/work rights result?

The temporary-residence holder may request dependant ('amparo') status for children, spouse or legally recognised de facto partner; the dependant's status lasts as long as the holder's visa and is renewed with it, and the holder must show an extra USD 250 monthly income for each adult child included. Foreign residents have the right to work and to social security.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Rights of dependants are taken from general LOMH/Regulation articles, not from an investor-specific text.

What status is obtained, how is it renewed, what longer-term residence/citizenship direction is officially stated, and what happens to the investment when relevant?

The status is a temporary residence visa for investors. Renewal requires only documents supporting the assets or economic resources, a valid passport (copy and original), a renewal request and the visa form. Longer term, 21 continuous months as a resident, applied for before the residence expires, can lead to permanent residence. When cancellation of the investor category is requested, the Ministry issues an official letter to the relevant authority authorising release of the investment.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The length of validity of the investor temporary residence visa is not stated in the captured sources.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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