Becoming Ecuadorian

Naturalisation by carta needs three years domiciled in Ecuador while holding permanent residence - which in practice means about four years and nine months from arrival, because permanent residence itself takes 21 months to earn. The tests are a general knowledge examination on Ecuadorian history, geography, culture and current affairs, spoken and written Spanish, lawful means of support, being up to date with the State, and an interview about your motives. A degree completed in Ecuador in Spanish excuses both the knowledge test and the language test; being over 65 excuses the knowledge test but not the language. Marriage is a separate and much shorter route: two years, with a statutory ninety-day deadline on the decision. Recognised refugees and stateless people qualify after two years.

Verified with official sourceStable2026-09-21

At a glance

Residence needed: 3 years domiciled in Ecuador on a permanent residence visa
Realistic total from arrival: About 4 years and 9 months^CALC (calculated by us, not published)
Our arithmetic, and neither instrument states the total: twenty-one continuous months of residence to reach permanent residence, from article 63 numeral 1 of the Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, plus the three years of permanent residence article 71 numeral 1 requires. Both are quoted on this record. It assumes no gap between the two stages and no absence long enough to break continuity.
Refugees and stateless people: 2 years in the country
Through marriage: 2 years from the marriage, or from its registration in Ecuador
Decision deadline, marriage route: 90 days from filing
Knowledge and language tests: Both waived for a degree or postgraduate completed in Ecuador in Spanish
Over 65: Knowledge test waived, Spanish still required
Where it is filed: Inside Ecuador only
Discretion: A sovereign and discretionary act of the Executive

Figures marked CALC are our arithmetic, not a figure in any instrument. Where the law states a threshold as a multiple of something else, the amount shown is that multiple applied - and it moves when the underlying figure does.

Requirements

Three years domiciled in Ecuador, lawfully, holding a permanent residence visa, at the date the application is filed
An apostilled or legalised document from your country of origin showing your place of birth and parentage
To be over 18, or the consent of those holding parental authority if younger
General knowledge of Ecuador's history, geography, culture and current affairs
Speaking and writing Spanish
Lawful means of support in the country
To be up to date with your obligations to the Ecuadorian State
An interview setting out why you wish to acquire Ecuadorian nationality
Filed and processed inside Ecuador

In detail

Count from permanent residence, not from arrival

The article asks for three years domiciled in Ecuador while holding a permanent residence visa. Permanent residence itself is earned after 21 continuous months as a resident. Added together that is four years and nine months from the first temporary visa, and only if the 21 months were genuinely continuous - the regulation allows no more than 90 days outside Ecuador across the whole life of the temporary visa. The marriage route ignores all of this and runs on its own two-year clock.

The exam is real, and so is its exemption

Naturalisation requires general knowledge of Ecuadorian history, geography, culture and current affairs, plus spoken and written Spanish, and the Regulation is left to set the assessment methods. A university degree or postgraduate completed in Ecuador and taught in Spanish is written into the article as an exemption from both - though the same paragraph closes with a sentence saying Ecuadorian degrees do not exempt, which reads as a drafting mistake the consolidated text has never had corrected. Applicants over 65 are excused the knowledge test but still have to speak and write Spanish.

Exceptions by origin

No exceptions recorded

Nothing we have read treats any nationality differently for this topic. The rule above applies to everyone.

What the law says

Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 71, as substituted by art. 48 of the Ley s/n R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021 · Artículo 71, numeral 1

«Las personas extranjeras que ostenten visa de residencia permanente y se encuentren domiciliadas en el Ecuador de forma regular al menos por tres años, a la fecha de ingreso de la solicitud; y,»

Our translation - not official

Foreign persons who hold a permanent residence visa and are domiciled in Ecuador lawfully for at least three years, at the date the application is filed; and,

Three years of permanent residence, not three years in the country. The 21 months of temporary residence needed to obtain permanent residence in the first place are additional to it.

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About this source

The state's regulations registry. Hosts consolidated texts of laws, decrees and ministerial agreements, each PDF carrying a 'Normativa: Vigente' marker and an 'Última Reforma' line, with amendments attributed article by article.

Standing: Maintains the text in force

Cannot be cited for: Cannot be cited for currency. The landing pages carry the state's own warning that the information is referencial and may be out of date, and the consolidations are produced by a commercial legal publisher under state hosting rather than by the gazette. A consolidation appears months after the reform it folds in: the July 2025 LOMH reform surfaced in a September 2025 file. For the date and issue number of an instrument, the Registro Oficial is the authority, not this.

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 71 · Artículo 71, numeral 2

«Las personas reconocidas por el Estado ecuatoriano como refugiadas y apátridas que hayan permanecido en el país al menos por dos años. Las y los refugiados y apátridas podrán acceder a un mecanismo excepcional de naturalización.»

Our translation - not official

Persons recognised by the Ecuadorian State as refugees and stateless persons who have remained in the country for at least two years. Refugees and stateless persons may access an exceptional naturalisation mechanism.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 72, as substituted by art. 50 of the Ley s/n R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021 · Artículo 72, numerales 5 a 9

«Tener conocimientos generales de historia, geografía, cultura y de la realidad actual de Ecuador; 6. Hablar y escribir en el idioma castellano; 7. Poseer medios de vida lícitos en el país. En el caso de personas extranjeras con discapacidad que dependan económicamente de un tercero, será el tercero a quien le corresponderá demostrar su capacidad económica y medios de vida lícitos en el país; 8. Encontrarse al día en sus obligaciones con el Estado ecuatoriano; y, 9. Exponer en una entrevista los motivos por los que desea adquirir la nacionalidad ecuatoriana.»

Our translation - not official

5. To have general knowledge of the history, geography, culture and current reality of Ecuador; 6. To speak and write in the Spanish language; 7. To possess lawful means of support in the country. In the case of foreign persons with disabilities who are economically dependent on a third party, it shall be for that third party to demonstrate their economic capacity and lawful means of support in the country; 8. To be up to date with their obligations to the Ecuadorian State; and, 9. To set out in an interview the reasons why they wish to acquire Ecuadorian nationality.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 72 · Artículo 72

«Se exceptúan del cumplimiento de los requisitos establecidos en los numerales 5 y 6 de este artículo quienes comprueben haber cursado y finalizado una carrera universitaria o haber cursado y finalizado un posgrado en el Ecuador, siempre que la carrera universitaria y/o el posgrado hayan sido impartidos en idioma castellano y de conformidad con la legislación de educación superior vigente a la fecha de ingreso de la solicitud. Títulos del Ecuador no exime del cumplimiento de los requisitos señalados en los numerales 5 y 6 de este artículo.»

Our translation - not official

Those who prove they have studied and completed a university degree or a postgraduate course in Ecuador are excepted from the requirements established in numerals 5 and 6 of this article, provided the degree and/or postgraduate course were taught in Spanish and in accordance with the higher education legislation in force at the date the application was filed. Degrees from Ecuador do not exempt compliance with the requirements set out in numerals 5 and 6 of this article.

The paragraph contradicts itself: it grants the exemption in its first sentence and appears to withdraw it in the last. The final sentence reads as a drafting error in the consolidated text. It is quoted whole rather than trimmed to the convenient half.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 72 · Artículo 72

«Quienes tuvieren más de 65 años de edad en la fecha en la que ingresen la solicitud de naturalización estarán exentos de cumplir el requisito establecido en el numeral 5 de este artículo, pero deberán hablar y escribir en idioma castellano.»

Our translation - not official

Those who are over 65 years of age on the date they file the naturalisation application shall be exempt from complying with the requirement established in numeral 5 of this article, but must speak and write in the Spanish language.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 71.A, added by art. 49 of the Ley s/n R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021 · Artículo 71.A

«La solicitud de obtención de la nacionalidad ecuatoriana por naturalización se presentará y tramitará en territorio ecuatoriano de conformidad con los requisitos determinados en esta Ley y el procedimiento previsto en el Reglamento de la misma.»

Our translation - not official

The application for Ecuadorian nationality by naturalisation shall be filed and processed in Ecuadorian territory in accordance with the requirements determined in this Law and the procedure provided in its Regulation.

No consular naturalisation. The application has to be made in the country.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 77 · Artículo 77

«La concesión de la carta de naturalización es un acto soberano y discrecional de la Función Ejecutiva. En los demás casos previstos para la naturalización, el Estado ecuatoriano verificará que se cumplan las condiciones para acceder a la misma. La nacionalidad ecuatoriana por naturalización se adquiere desde el día en que la autoridad de movilidad humana emite el acto administrativo que acredita tal condición.»

Our translation - not official

The grant of the letter of naturalisation is a sovereign and discretionary act of the Executive Function. In the other cases provided for naturalisation, the Ecuadorian State shall verify that the conditions for access to it are met. Ecuadorian nationality by naturalisation is acquired from the day the human mobility authority issues the administrative act accrediting that status.

Meeting every requirement does not create an entitlement.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source

Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 63, as substituted by art. 40 of the Ley s/n R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021 · Artículo 63, numeral 1

«Es la condición migratoria que autoriza la estadía en el territorio nacional de manera indefinida a la que acceden las personas que cumplan al menos una de las siguientes condiciones: 1. Cumplir al menos veintiún meses continuos de permanencia en el Ecuador, en calidad de residente y presentar la solicitud correspondiente, previo al vencimiento de la residencia que ostente, conforme con lo determinado en el Reglamento de esta Ley;»

Our translation - not official

It is the migration status that authorises indefinite stay in the national territory, available to persons who meet at least one of the following conditions: 1. Complete at least twenty-one continuous months of stay in Ecuador as a resident and file the corresponding application before the expiry of the residence held, in accordance with what the Regulation to this Law determines;

This is the general condition for permanent residence and it applies to every temporary category, not to one route. It is quoted on each record that states the twenty-one months.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

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Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 73, as substituted by art. 51 of the Ley s/n R.O. 386-3S, 5-II-2021 · Artículo 73, numeral 2

«Quienes hayan contraído matrimonio con una persona ecuatoriana en el exterior luego de transcurridos 2 años desde la fecha de inscripción en la Dirección General de Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación de Ecuador y siempre que el domicilio, a la fecha de presentación de la solicitud, se encuentre establecido en el país; y,»

Our translation - not official

Those who married an Ecuadorian abroad, after 2 years have passed from the date of registration with the Directorate General of Civil Registry, Identification and Identity Cards of Ecuador, and provided their domicile is established in the country on the date the application is filed; and,

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source

Text layer - verbatim verifiedLey Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, art. 73 · Artículo 73

«El procedimiento administrativo, en ningún caso, podrá exceder de noventa días contados a partir de la fecha de presentación de la solicitud.»

Our translation - not official

The administrative procedure may in no case exceed ninety days counted from the date the application is filed.

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Standing: Maintains the text in force

We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source

Practical notes

Naturalisation is discretionary. The statute says so in terms, and separately provides for suspension of the process and for annulment of a letter of naturalisation.

Ecuador's constitution does not require renouncing another nationality; we have not read the constitution here, so that is not stated as a fact of this record. What the migration law does contain is a separate procedure for renouncing Ecuadorian nationality, which implies nothing either way about holding two.

The ninety-day deadline applies to the marriage route only. Nothing we read puts a deadline on the ordinary carta de naturalización.

The Regulation's article 146 sets out how lawful means of support are proved for naturalisation - IESS contribution records, VAT returns, property tax, bank certificates - in more detail than the visa rules do.

Sources3 · all accessed 2026-09-21

consolidates
Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana - texto vigente con la última reforma de 14-VII-2025
Registro de regulaciones del Estado ecuatoriano (gob.ec)
About this source
The state's regulations registry. Hosts consolidated texts of laws, decrees and ministerial agreements, each PDF carrying a 'Normativa: Vigente' marker and an 'Última Reforma' line, with amendments attributed article by article.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: Cannot be cited for currency. The landing pages carry the state's own warning that the information is referencial and may be out of date, and the consolidations are produced by a commercial legal publisher under state hosting rather than by the gazette. A consolidation appears months after the reform it folds in: the July 2025 LOMH reform surfaced in a September 2025 file. For the date and issue number of an instrument, the Registro Oficial is the authority, not this.
We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source
administers
Obtención de la nacionalidad ecuatoriana por carta de naturalización
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (catálogo de trámites, gob.ec)
About this source
One page per visa procedure, with requirements, fees, validity and a legal basis panel. Pages carry a last-updated date and monthly usage statistics.
Standing: Applies the rule
Cannot be cited for: Cannot be cited for what the law says. Its legal basis panels demonstrably quote superseded statutory text - the tourist pages still carry the pre-July-2025 wording of LOMH art. 56, and the Mercosur page quotes an art. 60 renumbered in 2021. Cite it for fees, forms, channels and processing, and read the statute for the rule.
We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source
administers
Obtención de la nacionalidad por matrimonio o unión de hecho con persona ecuatoriana
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (catálogo de trámites, gob.ec)
About this source
One page per visa procedure, with requirements, fees, validity and a legal basis panel. Pages carry a last-updated date and monthly usage statistics.
Standing: Applies the rule
Cannot be cited for: Cannot be cited for what the law says. Its legal basis panels demonstrably quote superseded statutory text - the tourist pages still carry the pre-July-2025 wording of LOMH art. 56, and the Mercosur page quotes an art. 60 renumbered in 2021. Cite it for fees, forms, channels and processing, and read the statute for the rule.
We re-read it every 45 days. More about this source