The Complete Moving-to-Ecuador Checklist — Every Step, In Order

Moving to Ecuador involves more logistics than most people expect and fewer than some people fear. The key is doing things in the right order — getting your FBI background check before applying for your visa, setting up international banking before canceling your US accounts, and visiting the country before shipping your life there.

This is the timeline that works. Not theoretical — based on what actually needs to happen and how long it takes.

12 Months Before: Research and Reconnaissance

This is your scouting phase. Don't commit to anything yet.

Research visa options. Ecuador has several visa categories — professional, retirement (jubilado), investor, rentista, and dependent visas. Each has different income or investment thresholds. The retirement visa requires proof of $1,450+/month in pension or Social Security income (2026 threshold). The investor visa requires a $46,000+ investment. The professional visa requires a contract with an Ecuadorian employer. Read the full breakdown in our Ecuador visa types guide.

Take a scouting trip (2–4 weeks minimum). Rent Airbnbs in your target cities. Cuenca and Quito are the most popular with expats, but don't overlook Vilcabamba, the coast (Salinas, Manta, Olón), or the Cumbayá valley east of Quito. Spend real time — not tourist time. Walk the neighborhoods, eat at local restaurants, take buses, visit hospitals, check grocery stores. Talk to expats who've been there more than a year.

Start learning Spanish. You don't need to be fluent to move, but you need basics. Ecuador runs on Spanish outside expat bubbles. Start with Pimsleur or SpanishPod101 for conversational foundations. Duolingo is fine for vocabulary but won't teach you to actually speak. Budget $10–15/hour for online tutoring with an Ecuadorian tutor on Preply or iTalki — Latin American Spanish differs from European Spanish.

Join online communities. GringoTree (Cuenca-focused), Expats in Ecuador Facebook group, Ecuador Expats - The Best of Ecuador, and city-specific groups. Lurk first. Ask specific questions, not "tell me everything about Ecuador."

Research health insurance. If you're under 65, international plans like Cigna Global, Aetna International, or GeoBlue work well. If you're over 65, options narrow — Medicare doesn't cover you abroad. IESS (Ecuador's public system) costs about $85/month and covers everything including pre-existing conditions, but quality varies. Start comparing plans now. See our expat health insurance guide.

9 Months Before: Documents and Visa Process

This is when paperwork gets real. Everything takes longer than you think.

Start your visa application. Whether you use a visa service like EcuaPass or go DIY, begin now. The full process typically takes 3–6 months from first document to visa stamp in your passport. Don't wait.

Get your FBI background check. Ecuador requires a police background check for visa applications. The FBI Identity History Summary (not a state background check) takes 12–16 weeks by mail or 3–5 business days electronically through an FBI-approved channeler. You'll then need to get it apostilled by the US Department of State — another 4–8 weeks. Total timeline: 2–4 months. Start this immediately.

Apostille all required documents. Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and your FBI background check all need an apostille (an international notarization). US federal documents go to the Department of State in Washington, DC. State-issued documents go to the relevant Secretary of State. Some people use services like Apostille.net to handle this — $75–150 per document plus government fees.

Gather medical records. Get copies of your complete medical history, current prescriptions with generic drug names and dosages, vaccination records, and dental X-rays. Ecuador doctors can access nothing from your US medical history — you're starting fresh.

Notify Social Security (if applicable). If you receive Social Security benefits, inform SSA of your move abroad. Payments continue via direct deposit to a US bank account. Do not close that US bank account.

6 Months Before: Big Decisions

Lock in your city. Based on your scouting trip, commit to a starting city. Remember — this isn't permanent. Most leases in Ecuador are 12 months, and you can always move. But having a target city lets you start apartment hunting and connecting with locals.

Declutter and decide: ship or sell. This is the hardest emotional step. The math usually says sell everything and buy new in Ecuador. Shipping a 20-foot container costs $3,000–6,000 for ocean freight plus $500–1,500 for customs clearance and local delivery. Most furniture is cheaper to buy in Ecuador. Ship only irreplaceable items, specialty electronics, and things with sentimental value. See our shipping belongings guide for the full breakdown.

Pet transport. If you have pets, start the vet paperwork now. Ecuador requires a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, current rabies vaccination, and a USDA-APHIS endorsement. Some airlines restrict pet travel during hot months. Consider a pet transport service like PetRelocation ($2,000–4,000) if the logistics stress you out. See our bringing pets guide.

Set up international banking.

• Wise (formerly TransferWise): Essential for transferring money to Ecuador at real exchange rates. Set up an account now and do a test transfer. You'll get a US routing number and an international debit card.
• Charles Schwab International: No foreign ATM fees worldwide. This is the expat gold standard for accessing cash in Ecuador.
• Keep your US bank account. You need it for Social Security, tax refunds, and transfers. Don't close it.

Get an international driving permit. AAA offices issue them for $20. While you can drive on your US license in Ecuador for 90 days, the IDP is useful for the transition period. You'll eventually want to get an Ecuadorian license — a process that involves a driving test, eye exam, and paperwork at the ANT (Agencia Nacional de Tránsito).

Notify the IRS. File IRS Form 8822 (Change of Address) when you have your Ecuador address. You still file US taxes as an expat — the FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion) and FTC (Foreign Tax Credit) can reduce your US tax burden. Consider an expat-specialized tax preparer like FileAbroad or Greenback Expat Tax Services.

3 Months Before: Logistics

Book flights. One-way flights from the US to Quito or Guayaquil run $300–700 depending on season and origin city. Consider booking a one-way ticket — you don't know when you'll return, and round-trip savings are minimal on international flights. If you're heading to Cuenca, book a connection through Quito (LATAM, Avianca) or Guayaquil (LATAM, Avianca) — flight time is 45–60 minutes.

Arrange temporary housing. Book an Airbnb or furnished apartment for your first 1–2 months. Don't sign a long-term lease sight unseen. Use Airbnb, Booking.com, or city-specific Facebook groups (Cuenca Apartment Rentals, Quito Expat Housing). Budget $800–1,500/month for a decent furnished place in an expat-friendly neighborhood.

Set up mail forwarding. Your US mail doesn't stop because you left. Services like US Global Mail, Traveling Mailbox, or Earth Class Mail give you a permanent US address, scan your mail, and forward important items. Costs $10–30/month. This also keeps your US banking, credit cards, and government correspondence running.

Stock up on prescriptions. Get 3-month supplies of all your medications. Bring them in original labeled bottles. Many medications are available in Ecuador without prescription and are much cheaper (see our pharmacy guide), but you want a buffer while you find local equivalents and a local doctor.

Notify your US banks. Add Ecuador to your travel notifications so your cards aren't frozen on the first ATM withdrawal. Confirm international transaction fees — Schwab charges nothing, most others charge 1–3%.

Download essential apps. WhatsApp (everyone in Ecuador uses it — for everything), Google Translate (with Spanish offline pack downloaded), Uber and InDriver (ride-hailing), Maps.me or Google Maps (download Ecuador offline maps), VPN app (NordVPN or ExpressVPN for accessing US streaming services).

Buy travel insurance. For the gap between leaving the US and getting set up with permanent coverage in Ecuador, get a travel insurance policy. SafetyWing ($45/month) or World Nomads work for this transition period.

1 Month Before: Final Preparations

Final packing strategy. Bring more clothes than you think — Ecuador has limited selection in larger sizes and Western brands are expensive. Bring specialty items: good kitchen knives, favorite spices, specific OTC medications, comfortable walking shoes, rain jacket. Leave bulky items — towels, sheets, basic kitchen stuff are cheap in Ecuador.

Cancel or pause US subscriptions. Gym memberships, meal kits, subscriptions you won't use. Keep Netflix, Spotify, and streaming services — they work in Ecuador (sometimes with VPN for full US libraries).

Set up a VPN. Some US streaming content, banking apps, and websites block foreign IP addresses. NordVPN or ExpressVPN ($3–8/month) solve this. Install and test before you leave.

Digitize everything. Scan and cloud-store: passport, visa documents, insurance cards, prescriptions, bank statements, property documents, vehicle titles, tax returns. Store in Google Drive or Dropbox. You'll need these documents at random moments and won't have the originals handy.

Exchange some cash. Ecuador uses the US dollar, so no currency exchange needed — one of the best things about the country. But bring $500–1,000 in cash (mix of $20s, $10s, $5s, and $1s). Many places don't accept $50 or $100 bills, and some won't have change for a $20. ATMs dispense $20s.

Register with the US Embassy. Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) at step.state.gov. This lets the embassy contact you in emergencies and makes it easier to get consular services. The US Embassy is in Quito; there's a consular agency in Guayaquil.

First Week in Ecuador

Everything feels overwhelming. That's normal.

Buy a local SIM card. Claro, Movistar, or CNT — available at any mall or phone shop. Bring your unlocked phone. A prepaid plan with 10GB of data costs $10–15/month. Claro has the best coverage nationwide. See our cell phone guide.

Open a local bank account. This requires your visa or passport, a utility bill or lease agreement (your Airbnb host can help), and sometimes a reference letter. Banco del Pacífico and Banco Pichincha are the most expat-friendly. The process takes 1–3 visits. You'll need a local account to pay rent, utilities, and eventually enroll in IESS. See our bank account guide.

Get oriented in your neighborhood. Find your nearest: Supermaxi or Gran Akí (grocery), farmacia (Fybeca or Pharmacys), ATM, bus stop, and tienda (corner store). Walk your neighborhood in daylight. Learn three routes to your apartment.

Connect with expats. Join your city's main expat Facebook group. Go to a gringo meetup — they happen weekly in most expat hubs. These people are your survival network for the first few months. They'll tell you which doctor speaks English, which landlords are honest, and where to find peanut butter.

First Month: Getting Established

Enroll in IESS (social security). If you have a visa, you're eligible for Ecuador's public healthcare system. Monthly cost is approximately $85 for voluntary affiliates. There's a waiting period (usually 3–6 months) before coverage kicks in for non-emergency care, but emergency care is immediate. Enroll through the IESS website or office — you'll need your cédula.

Get your cédula. Once your visa is approved, get your cédula de identidad (national ID card) at the Registro Civil office. This is your most important document in Ecuador — more useful than your passport for daily life. You need it for banking, IESS, utility contracts, and any government interaction.

Find a doctor and dentist. Ask expats for recommendations. In Cuenca, Dr. Cristina Jerves and Dr. Daniel Vintimilla are popular English-speaking GPs. In Quito, Hospital Metropolitano has an international patients department. Your first appointment should be a general checkup to establish baseline records in Ecuador.

Set up utilities. If you've signed a lease, transfer or set up accounts for electricity (Empresa Eléctrica), water (ETAPA in Cuenca, EPMAPS in Quito), internet (Netlife is the best fiber option, $35–50/month for 100 Mbps), and gas (you buy tanks from delivery trucks that drive around honking — $3 for a 15kg tank).

Establish your routine. Find your coffee shop, your walking route, your market day, your Spanish class. Routine combats the culture shock that hits around week 3–4 when the novelty wears off and the frustrations pile up. The bureaucracy is slow. Things don't work on time. Nobody answers emails. This passes. Give yourself grace.

The Stuff Nobody Tells You

• Bring your patience. Everything takes longer. Bank account? Three visits. Internet installation? Maybe next week. Visa appointment? Come back tomorrow with a different document. Ecuador operates on relationships and flexibility, not efficiency and schedules.
• The first three months are the hardest. You'll question your decision around month 2. This is universal. Push through it.
• You don't need to figure everything out immediately. Get your housing, phone, and bank account sorted. Everything else can wait.
• Talk to people who left. Survivorship bias is real in expat communities. The people still in Ecuador love it. The ones who went back have useful warnings about what didn't work.
• Keep your US life partially intact. Bank account, mailing address, phone number (Google Voice is free). You're not burning bridges — you're building a second home.