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Temporary Residence - Scientist, Researcher or Academic

EcuadorTalent and merit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which exceptional-talent, academic, scientific, artistic, technological, cultural or other profiles does the pathway target?

Persons dedicated to scientific, research or academic activities, hired by public or private entities or forming part of programmes of the Ecuadorian education system to carry out work in their speciality.

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What achievements, recognition, awards, publications, reputation or other evidence establishes the required level?

A professional degree related to the activity to be carried out in Ecuador, registered with the competent Ecuadorian authority, or accreditation of experience in the subject of the project.

See recorded sources

Is an employer, nominator, recognised body, peer group or government endorsement required?

Yes. A document signed by the public entity's competent authority or the private educational entity's representative describing the project and justifying the need to hire the foreign national, plus an employment contract, agreement or similar document signed by the entity, and the contracting entity's personnel action or legal representative's appointment.

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Can the holder change employer, work independently, establish a business or conduct other professional activity? What is the family position?

Foreign residents have the right to work and to social security. A change of activity or employer affecting the basis of the visa requires applying for a new temporary residence visa within 30 working days. Dependant ('amparo') status is available for the holder's children, spouse or de facto partner. The official source does not state whether the holder may work independently or establish a business.

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Limits of the record
  • No explicit statement on independent work or business activity under this category.

What duration, renewal and accelerated or normal longer-term residence pathway is officially stated?

Issued for 2 years (official procedure page); the LOMH defines temporary residence as a stay of up to two years, renewable on multiple occasions. After at least 21 continuous months as a resident, the holder may apply for permanent residence before the current residence expires. The official 24 October 2025 amendment to LOMH Article 64 adds to temporary and permanent residence visa applications a certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin or prior residence, translated into Spanish and apostilled or legalised as applicable, valid for 180 days from issue, and a migration-registration certificate under the regulation. These are general visa-application conditions; they do not by themselves establish the route-specific renewal documents or a grant guarantee.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured 2025 amending law does not replace LOMH Article 60’s multiple-renewal text or the captured regulation’s 21-month permanent-residence filing rule, but the packet is not a fully consolidated 2026 statute/regulation; later changes to those provisions were not independently established.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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