Who Is Moving To Ecuador?
Ecuador is such a varied place that it attracts people from every walk of life. In general though, the type of people moving to Ecuador falls into three main categories.
Retirees
Ecuador is becoming a popular retiree destination. The cost of living here is very affordable. Previous expat favorites such as Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica have seen prices rise over the past two decades. Ecuador hasn’t changed much, and is one of cheapest places for retirees to live well.
Ecuador is becoming one of the most popular places for U.S. citizens to retire overseas. The retirement visa comes with some excellent benefits, and is easy to acquire.
Digital Nomads
As well as retirees, Ecuador is popular with Digital Nomads. This group tend to make their money through the internet. As a result they don’t need an office, and can work from anywhere in the world. They come to Ecuador for the low cost of living and authentic lifestyle.
Digital nomads tend to appreciate countries that have maintained their own culture. They want to experience something different. Ecuador really shines in this department. From the historic colonial buildings to the food and culture, Ecuador has remained true to its roots.
Investors And Diversifiers
Ecuador has a fairly untapped real estate market. It has a rich colonial history and many cities and towns still have their old colonial buildings. Both these things are of interest to investors. Ecuador a generous residency plan. A fully diversified lifestyle means having as many options as possible.
Ecuador is interesting for people who want a getaway country in case of emergency. The lifestyle in Ecuador is fairly similar to what it was hundreds of years ago. People here eat fresh fish and locally grown produce. No matter what happens in the outside world, life in Ecuador would go on just as it always had.
Why Move To Ecuador?
The big advantage that Ecuador offers over the U.S. is the chance to live better for less. Many people are finding that their savings and pension fund isn’t allowing them to live the life they want. People who have saved for years only to find the stock market has wiped out much of their capital.
Moving to Ecuador allows you to tip the scales back into your favor. In Ecuador you will be able to live a better life than anywhere in the States. You will be able to live in a nicer house, and go out to café’s bars and restaurants more than you could at home.
Ecuador offers a style of living that is getting harder to find. People here are polite and respectful. Walking down the street or into a store you can expect to exchange greetings with the people you pass.
What You Should Know Before You Leave?
The first thing to be aware of is that you will need to learn Spanish. Without out it things are going to be a struggle. Simple tasks that you might take for granted at home will be next to impossible if you can’t communicate.
Luckily it’s never too late to learn a new language. With some hard work and dedication anyone can learn. The benefits of learning a new language will stay with you for the rest of your life.
You will also need to make plans on how to ship your goods to Ecuador. International shipping options are easy to find from the United States and Canada. The best bet is to find an Ecuadorian company that has a working relationship with a U.S. company. They will have experience with customs and imports officials, and can better help you move your goods to Ecuador.
Moving to Ecuador is much easier than it was even ten years ago. The country has fast become something of an expat haven. Resources such as this site, and especially our Ecuador conferences will provide you with all the help and information you need.
How Fast Can You Move To Ecuador?
The advice we always offer is to try before you buy. Visit Ecuador and spend some time living like a local. Shop at the local supermarkets and markets and get a feel for what everyday life will be like.
Rent somewhere for three months and if you don’t like it, try another district or town. Give yourself as much information as possible before you commit to buying a property.
Once you have made a decision and committed to moving, you can expect to relocate in as little as 6 months. The path to Ecuador is well trodden and the contacts you can meet at our Ecuador Conferences (which are now available online) will be able to give you all the information you need.
Moving Household Goods To Ecuador
Once you acquire residency in Ecuador, you qualify from some very nice perks. One of the best is that you can import your household items duty free.
The only stipulation is related to clothing. There is a per-person limit of 200lkg (440 lbs.) on clothes, shoes, hats etc. Ecuador has a thriving black market for these goods and the government is keen to slow it down.
Importing a car into Ecuador is difficult and not recommended. Additionally, most mechanics in Ecuador won’t know how to work on U.S. made vehicles.
Going Ecuador With Pets
Moving your pet to Ecuador is straightforward.
First you need to go to your local vets and get an International Veterinary Health Certificate. This certificate confirms that all vaccinations are up to date. You will need to get this certificate translated into Spanish and notarized.
Once you have the certificate you need to go to a USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services office. They will endorse the certificate.
The certificate is only valid for 10 days, so this should be one of your last tasks to complete before moving to Ecuador.
