Ecuador: Visas issued to Colombian citizens; conditions for issuing an investor authorized activity ("actividad autorizada - inversionista") visa and the status of its holder (2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 3 October 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ECU100604.FE |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ecuador: Visas issued to Colombian citizens; conditions for issuing an investor authorized activity ("actividad autorizada - inversionista") visa and the status of its holder (2005), 3 October 2005, ECU100604.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/45f1472a16.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Website of the Embassy of Ecuador in Colombia indicated that two types of visas are issued to immigrant investors: a Category 10-II Investor of Real Estate or Securities (Inversionista de Bienes Raíces o Depósitos a Plazo Fijo) visa and a Category 10-III Industrial Investor – Agriculture and Livestock (Inversionista Industrial – Agrícola y Ganadero) visa (Ecuador n.d.c).
To obtain a Category 10-II visa, a person must invest in either real estate, government bonds or private sector bonds, certificates or stocks (ibid. 2004). To obtain a Category 10-III visa, a person must invest in industry, in the agricultural or livestock fields, or in commercial export (ibid.).
In the case of Category 10-II visas, a consul helps each immigrant investor determine an amount to be invested, which must be at least US$25,000 plus 10 per cent of that sum for each of the investor's dependant family members (ibid. n.d.d). The Website of the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington merely indicated that the minimum investment sum should still allow the investor and his or her family to subsist financially (ibid. 2004).
Both types of visas require proof of investment or a bank deposit indicating intent to do so if the investment has not yet been made (ibid. n.d.d; ibid. n.d.e). Category 10-II visa applicants have 90 days to make their investment, otherwise they lose their bank deposit and are deported (ibid. n.d.d), whereas Category 10-III visa applicants have 180 days to act (ibid. n.d.e).
The Website of the Embassy of Ecuador in Colombia provided a list of documents that applicants must submit to obtain each visa (ibid.; ibid. n.d.d). Among these documents, according to the Website of the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, is a "Criminal Record Check" (ibid. 2004).
Application forms for Category 10-II and Category 10-III visas are available on the Website of Ecuador's Ministry of the Interior and Police (Ministerio de Gobierno y Policía) (ibid. n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b).
Once obtained, these visas, which are valid indefinitely and are free for citizens of Colombia, Spain and Paraguay, enable a person to enter and exit Ecuador freely (ibid. n.d.c). For the first two years after having obtained one of these visas, travel outside Ecuador is limited to no more than 90 days per year; thereafter, the restriction increases to no more than 18 consecutive months (ibid.). Both visas must be registered with the National Immigration Directorate (Dirección Nacional de Extranjería) in Quito or with its branch in Guayaquil (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ecuador. 2004. Embassy of Ecuador in Washington. "Visas de Inmigrante." Solicitud de Visa de Inmigrante 10-II – Inversionista." Solicitud de Visa de Inmigrante 10-III – Inversionista." Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The Embassy of Ecuador in Ottawa did not provide information within the time constraints for this Response.
Internet sites, including: EcuadorMigrante.org, El Financiero [Guayaquil], Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Ecuador.
_____. N.d.a. Ministerio de Gobierno y Policía. "Dirección General de Extranjería
_____. N.d.b. Ministerio de Gobierno y Policía. "Dirección General de Extranjería
_____. N.d.c. Embassy of Ecuador in Colombia. "Visados de Inmigrantes."
_____. N.d.d. Embassy of Ecuador in Colombia. "Visado 10-II."
_____. N.d.e. Embassy of Ecuador in Colombia. "Visado 10-III."