Ecuador Visa for Couples: Married, Unmarried, and Same-Sex Partners

Options for Married Couples

Married couples have the most straightforward path to joint residency in Ecuador. One spouse applies as the primary visa holder under any of the three visa categories (Professional, Retirement, or Investor), and the other spouse applies as a dependent. The dependent spouse does not need to independently qualify for a visa category.

The dependent spouse needs their own set of documents: passport, FBI background check (apostilled and translated), birth certificate (apostilled and translated), and health insurance. You also need your marriage certificate, apostilled and translated. The income requirement increases by approximately $250 per month for a dependent spouse on the Retirement Visa.

Both spouses receive their own cedulas and have identical residency rights. The dependent spouse can work, open bank accounts, and access all the same services as the primary visa holder. The only difference is that the dependent visa is tied to the primary holder's visa status.

Union de Hecho: Ecuador's Domestic Partnership

Ecuador recognizes the union de hecho (de facto union) as a legal domestic partnership equivalent to marriage for immigration purposes. This is available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples who can demonstrate a stable, shared life together. The union de hecho must be registered at a notary in Ecuador or at an Ecuadorian consulate.

To register a union de hecho, both partners must be present before a notary, provide identification, and have two witnesses. The registration is typically completed in a single visit and costs $50 to $150 depending on the notary. Once registered, the union de hecho certificate serves the same purpose as a marriage certificate for visa applications.

The union de hecho pathway is popular among unmarried couples who want to apply together without getting married. It is also used by couples whose home country marriage may not be easily documented or apostilled. The key advantage is that it can be established quickly in Ecuador, even if the couple has no prior legal relationship in their home country.

Same-Sex Couples

Ecuador legalized same-sex marriage in June 2019 following a Constitutional Court ruling. Same-sex married couples have identical rights to opposite-sex married couples for all purposes, including immigration. A same-sex spouse can apply as a dependent on their partner's visa just like any other married couple.

Same-sex couples who are not married can use the union de hecho pathway described above. Ecuador's recognition of same-sex partnerships is among the most progressive in Latin America, and immigration officials process same-sex applications without distinction.

If you were married in a country that recognizes same-sex marriage (including all US states), your marriage certificate can be apostilled and translated like any other marriage certificate. There is no additional requirement or different process for same-sex couples.

Both Partners Applying Independently

Some couples choose to have each partner apply for their own visa independently rather than using the dependent pathway. This can make sense when both partners have qualifying credentials, when the couple is not married and does not want to register a union de hecho, or when each partner wants their visa status to be independent of the other.

Independent applications mean each person goes through the full process separately: their own FBI check, their own apostilled documents, their own e-visa application, and their own appointment. The total cost is roughly double since you are paying two full sets of fees. However, each person's visa is entirely independent.

The main advantage of independent applications is flexibility. If one partner needs to leave Ecuador for an extended period or decides to move elsewhere, the other partner's visa is unaffected. With a dependent visa, if the primary holder loses their status, the dependent's status is also jeopardized.

Children and Family Dependents

Children under 18 can be included as dependents on either parent's visa application. Each child needs their own passport, birth certificate (apostilled and translated showing both parents' names), and health insurance. The income requirement for the Retirement Visa increases by approximately $250 per dependent.

For blended families or single parents, additional documentation may be required. If one parent is not applying for a visa, a notarized consent letter from the non-applying parent authorizing the child to live in Ecuador is typically needed. This consent letter should be apostilled.

Children born in Ecuador to foreign resident parents are Ecuadorian citizens by birth, regardless of the parents' nationality. This means any children born after you obtain residency will automatically be Ecuadorian citizens and receive their own cedula at birth.

Income Thresholds for Couples

For the Retirement Visa, the primary applicant must show at least $1,450 per month in pension or retirement income (2026 requirement). Each dependent spouse or child adds approximately $250 per month to this requirement. So a retired couple needs approximately $1,700 per month in combined retirement income.

The Professional Visa does not have a fixed income threshold, but couples should demonstrate proportionally higher financial stability. Bank statements showing combined income of at least $2,000 to $2,500 per month provide a comfortable margin for a couple.

For the Investor Visa, the $46,000 minimum investment is per application, not per person. One investment can support the primary applicant and all dependents. Both spouses do not each need to invest $46,000. This makes the Investor Visa potentially more cost-effective for couples compared to two independent applications.

Frequently Asked Questions