You must have a work visa for official employment in Ecuador. In addition, Ecuador has concluded an agreement on mutual working leave with Australia - Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 can work in Ecuador for up to 12 months. For the rest of the world, visa leave is not an option.

    Ecuador offers a variety of visas for foreign nationals wishing to visit or relocate there. Ecuadorian visas are conventionally divided into two general categories: resident and non-resident. There are additional types of visas within these categories.

    Resident visas provide two more options for foreign workers:

• Professional visa, or 9-V visa: this visa allows employees with degrees from local universities to move to Ecuador to practice their profession.
• Technical visa, or 10-IV visa: this visa can be issued to technical experts who have a contract with a company based in Ecuador.

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    Resident visas are issued for an indefinite period, subject to compliance with all visa requirements:

• Passport valid for at least six months
• Two latest passport photos, which must be in color
• A copy of the applicant's resume
• Medical certificate
• Police clearance to confirm that the applicant has no criminal record in the country of residence
• Completed visa application form
• Proof of the visa fee payment.

    To obtain a comprehensive list of all required documents, it is recommended to contact the Ecuadorian embassy in the applicant's country of residence.

    More information on employment can be found on the website.

    When a person has a permanent resident visa, he/she has the right to work and receive a permanent salary.

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    The country is also open to foreign investment. Unlike most countries where 100% ownership is not allowed, in Ecuador, you can register a company that will be 100% owned by foreigners. This attracts many investors from around the world.

    The process of registering a company in Ecuador is not complicated. One director and two shareholders are the basic requirements for registering a company in Ecuador. Both the director and the shareholders can be of any nationality. To register a company, minimum share capital of $ 400 is required.

    Foreign investors who open a company in Ecuador usually set up local corporations or local branches of offshore companies. All legal entities are registered and controlled by the Company Supervision Department and are governed by the Companies Act. Starting a business in Ecuador includes: first, filing a patent application, an online process that takes up to 24 hours; second, obtaining a license for functionality that involves a fire check, which is usually conducted within 15 days of the appeal. Also at this stage of the process, the tax authority provides the company with its tax identification number (RUC).

    In addition, you need to do the following things:

• Open a corporate bank account and contribute the minimum capital of the company.
• Create an account in Superintendencia de Compañías. 
• Register the company with the Social Insurance Agency (IESS).
• Pay for a municipal patent and obtain a business license.