What paperwork do you need after moving to Ecuador in 2026?

File temporary residence on the official e-VISAS platform when a tourist stamp will not cover your stay. Rentista and related self-funded categories need income proof, apostilles, and Ecuador-covering insurance before approval: Apply for a residence permit. After approval, secure the MREMH orden de cedulación. Official gob.ec guidance gives that order a short business-day validity, so print it and move to Registro Civil without delay: Get a cédula.

Temporary-residence cédulas usually track the visa term. Keep setup cash for visa fees, orden and card fees, apostilles, and first deposits outside the monthly living band: Monthly budget. City choice still shapes which offices you visit: Where to live in Ecuador.

With the cédula in hand, open a local dollar bank account for rent and bill transfers: Open a bank account. Landlords and longer leases usually want the same ID: How to rent a home.

Register a prepaid or postpaid line with Claro, Movistar, or CNT using passport early if needed, then update registration to the cédula when carriers require resident ID. For health, many residents explore IESS voluntary affiliation once the cédula exists, or keep private cover if their visa category demands Ecuador-valid insurance for the full term. Contribution math and waiting periods change; confirm live IESS rules before you cancel travel cover. Retirees should keep visa insurance and clinic plans aligned: Retiring in Ecuador.

If you will drive beyond a short tourist window, plan an Agencia Nacional de Tránsito (ANT) path: canje or a first Ecuadorian licence depending on your country of issue, usually after the cédula, with psychometric and blood-type certificates as published. Generate any ANT payment order online and pay at an authorised bank before the licence desk. Cost of living stays separate from this paperwork stack: How expensive is Ecuador.