Ecuador's citizenship

Chezhka wrote:

Could anyone please send me a link and/or any information where I can learn what documents are required to become an Ecuadorian and how long this process takes?

Before becoming an Ecuadorian per se, you become a resident of EC.

Official visa information website:  cancilleria.gob.ec
(now with English-language option)

Experienced immigration attorney in Quito: 
Sebastian Cordero,
[email protected]

Minimum credible time reported recently for achieving residency: about six weeks if you have impeccable documents at the outset.

Working with an experienced attorney or a non-attorney visa specialist is recommended if your Spanish is weak, you do not have the patience or the talent for working with the detailed and complicated world of a South American bureaucracy, and-or you can afford it.

cccmedia in Quito

Chezhka wrote:

I can't find any info on how naturalization process works in Ecuador.

After you have achieved residency in Ecuador, you can apply for naturalised status as an Ecuadorian in three years -- or less time if you either marry an Ecuadorian or give birth in Ecuador under certain circumstances.

During this three-year waiting period, you must remain in EC for all but 90 days.

New EC-visa holders (permanent visa) may leave the country for up to 18 months, including any time away during the first three years, during the first five years as residents, without losing their visa.

If you are working with an attorney, he or she can advise you as to specific issues in your case pertaining to dual citisenship. 

For more information on these matters, you may wish to visit pro-ecuador.com, which provided some of the information used in this post.

cccmedia in Quito

To become a citizen, must one demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in Spanish?

When receiving my residency visa this year, no Spanish proficiency had to be proved.  My attorney answered all verbal questions on my behalf.

Nor is there any mention of such a requirement on the cancilleria's official English-language web pages listing requirements for real estate investment and professional visas.

The above statements having been said, please note:

1. Requirements are subject to change at any time.

2. Requirements are subject to varying interpretations in different cities' offices of the government.  What is required on Monday in Quito may be different from what is required in Cuenca on Thursday.

3. It is widely recommended that anyone moving their residence to Ecuador know at least enough espanol to pass a simple language test.

cccmedia in Quito (received EC investment visa, February 2014)

Thank you very much!

cccmedia wrote:

3. It is widely recommended that anyone moving their residence to Ecuador know at least enough espanol to pass a simple language test.

cccmedia in Quito (received EC investment visa, February 2014)

The question remains, is it a requirement for citizenship?
Others have confirmed there is no language requirement for residency.

Hi it is real interesting to here the different answeres to your question , looks like it all depends on how you approach the application , well I am going to be there on sat morning and will be there for 3 months to check the s west coast , I have heard a lot of nice things about it so hope it is all good .Evan

Mugtech asked whether Spanish-language aptitude is a requirement for citizenship.

According to multiple Expat reports from persons attending a meeting in Cuenca this past June, an EC government official asserted that there now IS a language requirement.

How this requirement will be administered could be a murky area.

The most comprehensive report that I have seen about the Cuenca meeting is available at dayinquito.blogspot.com

Go there and type "New Ecuadorian requirements" in the search box.

According to this report, the Cuenca audience was told that the initial application for EC citisenship can be filed without knowledge of espanol, but a final interview will require at least some conversational skill in the language.

cccmedia in Quito

cccmedia wrote:

The most comprehensive report that I have seen about the Cuenca meeting is available at dayinquito.blogspot.com

If you're interested in attempting to 'read the tea leaves' about what the bureaucrats might have in mind concerning this language requirement, you may be interested in the following...

A poster on this blog named Mindstorm also stated that he attended the Cuenca Meeting and he reported on such in four posts in the EC Expat.com thread titled "Spanish Language Necessity for Citisenship" (Reports #11, 15, 20 and 21).

To re-visit those moments from yesteryear, you can type in the thread name in the Expat.com search box at the extreme top of this page.  And then click on the search icon, of course.

cccmedia in Quito

I am interested in similar information. Presently I am in Quito on a six month visa and would like to become a pensioner. Please share information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of this status.

Pensioner visa status:

Advantages: 
Can stay in Ecuador without time restrictions.
Can obtain national ID or cedula (SEDD-oo-lah), which allows you to
participate in $70-per-month IESS health insurance program.
Seniors with cedula ID get travel discounts of up to 50 percent, plus discounts on utilities, refunds and reductions on taxes.
Can apply for citisenship after three years;  this status enables unlimited time outside Ecuador and may provide tax benefits.

Disadvantage:
Must remain in EC except for 90 days per year for two years...and all but 18 months during every five years.

cccmedia in Quito

Is dual citizenship allowed?  Native born Filipinos can retain their citizenship even if they become USA citizens, is the same true in Ecuador?

mugtech wrote:

Is dual citizenship allowed?

In a word, yes.

The blog at pro-ecuador.com reported on a review it made of passport and U.S. State Department documents and found that U.S.A. passport holders may become dual U.S.-Ecuador citisens, provided they did not intend to renounce their U.S. status in the process.

It may be necessary at some point to swear an oath to the U.S. government stating that no such renunciation was intended.

source: blog.pro-ecuador.com

cccmedia wrote:

U.S.A. passport holders may become dual U.S.-Ecuador citisens, provided they did not intend to renounce their U.S. status in the process.

On September 12th, the U.S. State Department began charging a five-fold increase for renouncing U.S. Expats.  The fee to renounce U.S. citisenship rose that day from $450 to $2,350.

This fee increase occurred two months after the main provisions of the U.S.'s foreign Tax Compliance Act or FATCA (passed in 2010) took effect in July, and as renunciations rose on their path of record levels.

The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com) reported:

"Helping boost the exodus of U.S. citisens, say experts, is a five-year-old campaign by U.S. authorities to track down tax evasion by Americans hiding money abroad.  While the campaign has collected more than $6-billion in taxes, interest and penalties from 43,000 U.S. taxpayers, it has also swept up many middle-income Americans living abroad who pay taxes in their host country and say they weren't trying to dodge U.S. taxes."

FATCA's newly-imposed provisions require foreign financial firms to report income and account balances above certain levels to the IRS. "The heightened enforcement is prompting many to renounce their citisenship," the WSJ report stated. 

"While a renunciation doesn't free them of taxes due for past years, these people don't want to risk large tax bills for themselves and their children in the future."

(Source: The Wall Street Journal)

cccmedia wrote:

The fee to renounce U.S. citisenship rose that day from $450 to $2,350.

This fee increase occurred two months after the main provisions of the U.S.'s foreign Tax Compliance Act or FATCA (passed in 2010) took effect in July, and as renunciations rose on their path of record levels.

Last year 2,999 U.S. citisens and green-card holders renounced their allegiance to the United States, a record number.  Renunciations in 2014 are on track to exceed that.  "The State Department estimates that 7.6 million Americans live abroad."  (wsj.com)

The OP is Russian.

cccmedia wrote:

Last year 2,999 U.S. citisens and green-card holders renounced their allegiance to the United States, a record number.  Renunciations in 2014 are on track to exceed that.  "The State Department estimates that 7.6 million Americans live abroad."  (wsj.com)

A drop in the proverbial bucket
They all did it for income tax purposes, now they must travel on a different passport.
A few more than 3,000 became citizens last year, so there was a net gain.
Dual citizenship does require some extra paperwork and a small fee, plus passports from both countries may be required to maximize some of the benefits.

The cost to renounce citizenship is actually even higher than that. The US also takes your entire assets (IRA, 401K, house, etc) and assumes you sold it all at once at short term gain rates, and assesses you tax on that amount.

Additionally, and probably more relevant to most people reading here, you then are no longer going to receive any Social Security for the rest of your life.  Figure whatever your monthly SS payment is (or will be), project that for your expected lifetime, and add that to your cost.

Unless you are a mega-zillionaire, renouncing US citizenship shouldn't even be on the radar of anyone likely reading this blog.

mindstorm wrote:

The cost to renounce citizenship is actually even higher than that. The US also takes your entire assets (IRA, 401K, house, etc) and assumes you sold it all at once at short term gain rates, and assesses you tax on that amount.

Additionally, and probably more relevant to most people reading here, you then are no longer going to receive any Social Security for the rest of your life.  Figure whatever your monthly SS payment is (or will be), project that for your expected lifetime, and add that to your cost.

Unless you are a mega-zillionaire, renouncing US citizenship shouldn't even be on the radar of anyone likely reading this blog.

Yep, pretty much spot on analysis.

Would be curious what the average amount of assets are of the majority who renounce citizenship? Am thinking probably well into the high 8 figures if not 9 figures.

Since Domenick is promoting his cheat sheet today for the exam, I was looking for a list of requirements which CCmedia referenced above.

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/06/ … ments.html

So what does "$450 for advertising in the paper" mean?

I was over at Dom's forum and saw this comment from  somebody on June 15th,

Misleading latest offer…..requirements for cedula are much different than citizenship ONLY can be out of Ecuador 90 days total/3years As of now: need to speak Spanish, there is an interview in Spanish…need to pass 30 question test in Spanish, then sing the Ecuador Anthem in Spanish…YOU DONT JUST GO TAKE A TEST! Documents must be Apostilled in USA, then translated, notarized in Ecuador…Quito office very selective on screening for fluency - See more at: http://ecuadorrealestate.org/ecuador-fo … f7Ucm.dpuf

Assuming that guy is right about having to sing the national anthem, here is a link to it. There is also a translation to English

http://www.southamerica.cl/Ecuador/National_Anthem.htm

Youtube with lyrics even better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POE_fHCCzxU

Nards Barley wrote:

Since Domenick is promoting his cheat sheet today for the (EC citizenship) exam, I was looking for a list of requirements which CCmedia referenced above.

Much as I'd love to see a future video of Nards' rendition of Ecuador's national anthem, I believe that calling it a citizenship requirement is just an urban legend.

Anyone interested in why I say this is welcome to visit our exciting new thread titled Urban Legends of Ecuador.

Here is the link:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 22#2676378

cccmedia in Quito

Sorry, but that is no urban legend.  We know 3 people (one couple and another single) that separately got their EC citizenship in the last 6 weeks.  All had to know the national anthem.

One person said she was required to sing it, along with 2 others getting their citizenship at the same time.  She asked if she could just "speak it" and was told no.  She tried to lip-sync, because she is self-conscious of her singing voice, but one of the inspectors put his ear to her mouth and told her she had to do it again, because he could not hear her.

Another of the 3 said she was allowed to just speak it, but had to do so to the music.

Yes, a Spanish conversation is also required.  Varies a lot on who you get though.  One of the 3 I referred to speaks less Spanish than I do.  I was shocked she survived the conversation, but apparently her inspector was friendly and helpful and let her slide.  Another person I know that failed the test (about 3 months ago) failed due to the inspector speaking rapid-fire Spanish, and not accepting anything but perfect Spanish responses (well, that is the claim of the failed applicant anyway...)

Nards Barley wrote:

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/06/new-ecuadorian-citizenship-requirements.html

So what does "$450 for advertising in the paper" mean?

This Facebook account of changes in the citizenship requirements is fascinating reading, at least to me.

The $450?  Many folks are familiar that in the U.S., certain newspaper announcements are required.  For instance, a person filing for bankruptcy historically has been required to buy an announcement in one or more newspapers notifying creditors of the event.

Given all the formalities required in Ecuador, it seems reasonable they would require that a citizenship announcement be made in some newpaper(s).

Of course, Nards, the amount quoted -- $450 -- seems absurd.

cccmedia in Quito

mindstorm wrote:

that is no urban legend.  We know 3 people (one couple and another single) that separately got their EC citizenship in the last 6 weeks.  All had to know the national anthem.

One person asked if she could just "speak it" and was told no.  She tried to lip-sync, because she is self-conscious of her singing voice (and one) of the 3 said she was allowed to just speak it, but had to do so to the music.

The lip-sync attempt is curious.  So are you saying they play a video of the anthem, and you just sing along with other(s) who pre-recorded the lyrics?   

I'll consider it an urban legend and your post anecdotal until someone provides a reliable link to an EC government website or other official proof stating that such singing is a requirement.

cccmedia in Quito

cccmedia wrote:

Of course, Nards, the amount quoted -- $450 -- seems absurd.

cccmedia in Quito

Perhaps a full page ad with mugshots is required to warn the citizenry about the gringo who just joined their ranks.

mugtech wrote:

cccmedia wrote:

Of course, Nards, the amount quoted -- $450 -- seems absurd.
cccmedia in Quito

Perhaps a full page ad with mugshots is required to warn the citizenry about the gringo who just joined their ranks.

That's the general idea.

For that amount, though, you should be able to buy full-page ads in every paper in town and all contiguous provinces...if not La República en toto.

cccmedia in Quito

Not a video.  They played the song on something. An iPod perhaps? I didn't ask that detail, so am not sure, other than it was not a video.  The audio just has the instrumental.  She was trying to lip-sync to the other two that were also singing it for their citizenship test.  That was when she was told she could not be heard, so they played the tune again, and she had to sing loud enough to be heard.

I have heard about this requirement since around Jan of this year.  I now know 4 people (1 failed, and 3 passed) who have gone through the process since then. They each confirmed this requirement.  FWIW, this came up in 3 different conversations.  Two of the people know each other, but the rest didn't even know each other.

cccmedia wrote:

For that amount, though, you should be able to buy full-page ads in every paper in town and all contiguous provinces...if not La República en toto.

cccmedia in Quito

Perhaps it is a way to help balance the budget, hurting since the decline in oil prices.
Or perhaps everyone in all of Ecuador needs too be warned about the converted gringo.

Note that you can leave the country for 90 days for each of the first two years, and still keep your residency.

However, if you want to become a citizen, you cannot leave the country more than a total of 90 days in the entire 3 years prior to applying for citizenship.  That could be a single 90 day trip, or 30 days per year, or split any other way.  However, it is no longer valid to just meet the residency travel restrictions.

That changed last year, around September if I remember right.

tomone wrote:

Hi it is real interesting to here the different answeres to your question , looks like it all depends on how you approach the application , well I am going to be there on sat morning and will be there for 3 months to check the s west coast , I have heard a lot of nice things about it so hope it is all good .Evan

Then don't worry about citizenship yet.  After you arrive permanently and apply for residency, it will take a couple months to get that residence visa.  You cannot apply for citizenship until 3 years after you get that residence visa.

I have no idea what the rules will be in 4 years, but I can almost guarantee they will be different than today. Things constantly change down here.

Ecuador -- where everything is possible, but nothing is certain...

BTW, of my friends that got their citizenship in the last couple months, they quotes their total price ranging from $300 to $1000.  Well below that $2000 quoted a year ago in that meeting.  None said anything about having to advertise, but I didn't ask that specific question, so do not know if it was cheaper or simply not required.

mindstorm wrote:

you cannot leave the country more than a total of 90 days in the entire 3 years prior to applying for citizenship...That changed last year, around September if I remember right.

All the 30- and 90-day numbers you cited are correct, mindstorm.

The Facebook article about the government-sponsored meeting in Cuenca about the citizenship rules-changes was dated June of last year, so the changes may be at least a year old now.

cccmedia in Quito

mindstorm wrote:

my friends that got their citizenship in the last couple months, they quote their total price ranging from $300 to $1000.  Well below that $2000 quoted a year ago in that meeting.  None said anything about having to advertise....

Well, that's good news for Nards.

And more evidence that the supposed $450 charge for advertising was probably a misprint or an error.

cccmedia in Quito

I don't know if it is pure coincidence, but Domenick addressed the national anthem question in his newsletter today.

5. Isn't there a nasty verbal exam of my Spanish level?  No!  The exam is actually WRITTEN, which makes it MUCH easier, yes, it is in Spanish, but with some test prep like the guide I'm offering today you should be fine.  You will have to sing the Ecuadorian hym, but that is when you have ALREADY been accepted and you won't be by yourself,. But with everyone else sworn in that day so I'm sure you could find a way to 'fake it til you make it' like you did back in high school choir class.  As for the written exam, the official told me you really have to B#MB it to fail it and yes, they'd let you take it again.  They just want to see some effort.  He also said the older you are the less they expect you to speak decent Spanish.  So NO, there is no verbal exam but yes, some basic Spanish chit-chat would be nice to know going in, you know, stuff you can learn in a few weeks of Spanish lessons.

Good job spotting this, Nards, and bringing it to our attention.

It makes sense that they would not expect an applicant to sing the Ecuadorian national anthem, a symbolic act of allegiance to Ecuador, before being accepted.

That is probably why it is not on any official list found so far of official citizenship requirements.

I also suspect that if one can get familiar with most of the first verse of the anthem, there would be no problem.

After all, how many USA natives know their national anthem beyond "...and the home of the brave"!

Historically, at every MLB ballpark, only the first stanza is played...and nobody IMO knows the second one.

cccmedia in Quito

cccmedia wrote:

Good job spotting this, Nards, and bringing it to our attention.

It makes sense that they would not expect an applicant to sing the Ecuadorian national anthem, a symbolic act of allegiance to Ecuador, before being accepted.

That is probably why it is not on any official list found so far of official citizenship requirements.

I also suspect that if one can get familiar with most of the first verse of the anthem, there would be no problem.

After all, how many USA natives know their national anthem beyond "...and the home of the brave"!
Historically, at every MLB ballpark, only the first stanza is played...and nobody IMO knows the second one.

cccmedia in Quito

Plus the games are long enough already.