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Services / Visa & Immigration

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Visa & Immigration.

Temporary and permanent residency, dependents, renewals, and the path to Ecuadorian citizenship. 200+ visas filed across every common pathway. Quoted at a fixed fee. Filed in person by a licensed attorney.

Lead attorney
Sabrina Candela
Visa coordinator
Betsy Prado
Typical timeline
6 – 14 weeks
Engagement
Fixed fee · 50/50 payment
01 — Visa pathways

Six routes. We will tell you in 15 minutes which fits.

Each pathway has its own requirements. The free first-touch call determines which fits in under 15 minutes.

01

Pensionado

USD 1,410+/mo pension

For retirees with a permanent pension. The most common path for North-American and European clients. Permanent from day one.

02

Investor

USD 47,300+ investment

Real estate, certificate of deposit, or company capital. Maintain the investment for 21 months. Permanent residency at month 21.

03

Professional

Apostilled degree

For holders of a university degree apostilled in the country of issue. No income requirement. Two years to permanent.

04

Rentista

USD 1,410+/mo passive

For verifiable passive income — rental income, dividends, royalties. Bank statements over 24 months.

05

Dependents

Spouse · children · parents

Family members of a primary visa holder. Filed alongside or after the primary visa. Same period of validity.

06

Naturalisation

After 3 years permanent

The path to Ecuadorian citizenship. Spanish-language interview, civics exam, and an in-person ceremony at the registro civil.

02 — How we run a visa

From first call to cédula in hand.

A typical visa runs 6–14 weeks end-to-end. We walk it with you the whole way.

  1. 01

    Free 15-min call

    We confirm which pathway fits and quote a fixed fee in writing within 24 hours of the call.

  2. 02

    Engagement & first 50%

    You sign the engagement letter and pay the first 50%. We send your personalised document checklist.

  3. 03

    Document gathering

    You gather US/UK/EU documents and have them apostilled. We handle Ecuadorian-side paperwork, translations, and notarisations.

  4. 04

    Filing

    Sabrina or Wolfram files in person at the Ministry. You receive the stamped intake the same day.

  5. 05

    Follow-through

    We respond to any requirements from the Ministry, often within hours. Approval typically lands in 6–14 weeks.

  6. 06

    Cédula appointment

    We accompany you to the registro civil for the cédula appointment, or pick it up on your behalf if you're abroad.

  7. 07

    Close & final 50%

    We deliver the original documents in a portfolio. Your matter file stays open at ELG — we expect to file your renewal in 21 months.

03 — Our pricing approach

Quoted in writing. Fixed. Paid in halves.

We do not publish per-matter prices because no two visas are identical — dependents, document state, and timeline change the work. What we promise is a written fixed-fee quote before any work begins, a 50/50 payment structure, and no hourly surprises.

  • 01 Free 15-min call to scope the matter
  • 02 Written quote within 24 hours
  • 03 Fixed total — apostille / translation costs itemised separately
  • 04 No hourly billing, ever
  • 05 50% on engagement, 50% on completion
  • 06 Government fees and apostille fees billed at cost, with receipts
04 — Visa FAQ

Before you book.

01 How long does a Pensionado visa take?

From engagement to approval, typically 8–14 weeks. The variable is how quickly you can apostille your home-country documents. We have closed visas in under 6 weeks for clients whose paperwork was already apostilled.

02 Can I start the visa from abroad?

Yes — most clients start with us before arriving. You enter Ecuador on a tourist stamp, we file within your first 30–60 days, and you remain legally present throughout.

03 Do I have to be physically present in Cuenca to file?

Yes, for the in-person filing day and the cédula appointment. The rest can be handled remotely with apostilled powers of attorney.

04 What happens if my visa is rejected?

Rejections are uncommon when we have done a Tier-three document review beforehand. If a rejection does occur, we file the appeal at no additional fee within the original engagement.

TIER 01 — FREE

Book a free 15-min call

Calendar in your timezone. A licensed attorney calls you back.

Pick a time →
ASYNC — 1 DAY

Send a written intake

Two minutes of context. We reply within 1 business day, EN or ES.

Open intake form →