Document Checklist Ecuador
| 📋 Document Checklist for Ecuador | |
|---|---|
| For Visitors | Passport, return ticket |
| For Residents | Cédula, residency visa card |
| For Property Buyers | Cédula, tax certificate, more |
| For Business Owners | RUC, SRI registration |
| Key Document | Cédula (for residents) |
ECUAWIKI › HOW-TO GUIDES › DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
This checklist covers the key documents you'll need for common activities on the Santa Elena Peninsula, whether visiting, establishing residency, buying property, or running a business.
Arriving as a Tourist
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity recommended)
- Return or onward ticket (may be requested at immigration)
- No visa required for most Western countries for stays up to 90 days
- Travel insurance recommended (not mandatory)
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from certain countries
Applying for Residency
For Temporary Residency or Permanent Residency, documents typically needed include:
- Valid passport
- Apostilled background check from your home country (see Apostilles & Document Legalization)
- Apostilled birth certificate
- Proof of income (bank statements, pension letters, rental income documents)
- Medical certificate from an authorized Ecuadorian doctor
- Passport photos
- Completed visa application form from Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Requirements vary by visa category. See an immigration lawyer for specific visa documentation.
After Getting Residency: Cédula
Once your residency visa is stamped:
- Apply for your Ecuadorian cédula at Registro Civil
- Needed: passport with visa stamp, photos, application form
- The cédula becomes your primary ID for daily life — see Using your cédula
Opening a Bank Account
- Cédula (or passport if no cédula)
- Proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement)
- Minimum initial deposit (varies by bank)
- See Opening a Bank Account for details
Buying Property
- Cédula or passport
- Certificado de gravámenes (title search) from Registro de la Propiedad
- Certificate of no outstanding municipal debts
- Notary presence
- See Buying Process Ecuador for the full process
Running a Business
- RUC or RISE registration (see RUC & RISE)
- SRI electronic billing setup
- Municipal operating permit (patente municipal) from GAD
- IESS registration if employing staff
Driving
- Ecuadorian driver's license (or valid foreign license for short stays)
- Vehicle matrícula (registration)
- SOAT (mandatory insurance)
- See Drivers Licenses and Car Insurance Ecuador
Key Places to Manage Documents
- Registro Civil — cédula, birth/marriage certificates
- Notarías — notarized contracts, wills, powers of attorney
- SRI — tax registration (RUC/RISE)
- ANT — vehicle registration and driver's licenses
- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — visa applications