Ecuador's Professional Visa is one of the most popular visa categories for skilled workers and professionals looking to build a life here. But the document requirements are more involved than other visa types — especially when it comes to translation and apostille requirements. If you're applying for a Professional Visa and wondering which documents need certified translation, this guide breaks down every single one.
What Is the Professional Visa?
The Professional Visa allows foreign professionals with recognized academic credentials to live and work in Ecuador. It's a common path for teachers, engineers, healthcare workers, IT professionals, and anyone whose career is built on a university degree or professional certification.
The key requirement that sets this visa apart from others is the SENESCYT degree recognition — Ecuador's higher education authority must officially recognize your foreign degree before your visa can be approved. This means you'll be dealing with two government agencies (the Cancillería for the visa and SENESCYT for the degree) and both have translation requirements.
If you're working with EcuaPass on your visa application, they'll coordinate the full process, but understanding the translation requirements ahead of time helps you prepare your documents faster.
The Complete Document List
Here's every document typically required for the Professional Visa, along with whether it needs apostille, translation, or both.
Academic Documents
These are the core of your Professional Visa application — they prove you have the credentials Ecuador is looking for.
University Diploma / Degree Certificate
- Apostille: Yes — from the state where the university is located
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Must be an official copy from the university, not a photocopy. This is the primary document SENESCYT will evaluate for degree recognition
University Transcripts (Record of Courses and Grades)
- Apostille: Yes — from the state where the university is located
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Official transcripts with the university seal. SENESCYT uses these to verify your program's content and duration. Every course title, credit hour, and grade must be translated accurately
Professional License or Certification (if applicable)
- Apostille: Yes — from the issuing state
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Required for regulated professions such as medicine, law, nursing, or engineering. If your profession requires licensure in your home country, Ecuador will want to see it
Personal / Identity Documents
Birth Certificate
- Apostille: Yes — from the state where you were born
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Must be a certified copy from the state's vital records office
Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Apostille: Yes — from the issuing state
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Required if your spouse is included in the application or if you're applying based on marital status
Passport
- Apostille: No
- Translation: Generally not required (the biographical page is usually accepted as-is)
- Notes: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your application date
Background Check Documents
FBI Background Check
- Apostille: Yes — from the US Department of State (federal level, not a state Secretary of State)
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: This is the most time-sensitive document. FBI background checks are valid for only a limited period, and the federal apostille process adds time. Start this one early
State Criminal Background Check (sometimes requested)
- Apostille: Yes — from the issuing state
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required
- Notes: Not always required, but some applicants are asked for it in addition to the FBI check
Financial and Insurance Documents
Health Insurance Policy
- Apostille: Typically not required (varies)
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required if the policy is in English
- Notes: Must demonstrate coverage valid in Ecuador. Some applicants use international insurance; others purchase local Ecuadorian insurance (which wouldn't need translation)
Bank Statements or Proof of Financial Means (sometimes requested)
- Apostille: Typically not required
- Translation: Yes — if requested by the Cancillería and the statements are in English
- Notes: Not always part of the Professional Visa checklist, but may be requested in some cases
Employment or Sponsor Documents
Job Offer Letter or Employment Contract (if you have an Ecuadorian employer)
- Apostille: No (Ecuadorian-issued documents don't need apostille)
- Translation: No (if already in Spanish)
- Notes: If the employment offer is from a foreign company, it may need both apostille and translation
Curriculum Vitae / Resume
- Apostille: No
- Translation: Sometimes requested in Spanish
- Notes: Not a formal legal document, but having a Spanish version available can help smooth the process
The SENESCYT Connection
The Professional Visa is unique because it requires your academic credentials to be recognized by SENESCYT (Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación). This is a separate process from the visa application itself, and the translation quality matters enormously here.
SENESCYT reviewers closely examine your diploma and transcripts to verify:
- The institution is accredited
- The program duration and credit hours meet Ecuadorian standards
- The course content matches an equivalent Ecuadorian degree level
This means the translation of your transcripts must be precise. Course titles, degree names, and academic terminology need to be rendered correctly in Spanish — not just literally translated, but translated in a way that aligns with how Ecuador's academic system describes equivalent programs.
Our team translates SENESCYT documents regularly and understands what their reviewers look for. You can learn more about our SENESCYT translation services, or visit EcuadorSENESCYT.com for a deeper look at the degree recognition process itself.
Tips for a Smooth Application
Start with the FBI background check. This document has the longest lead time due to processing at both the FBI and the US Department of State for the federal apostille. Give yourself at least 8-12 weeks.
Apostille everything before translating. The certified translation must include the apostille, so always complete the apostille step first. Translating before apostilling means paying for translation twice.
Keep documents current. Some documents have expiration windows. Background checks, for example, may be considered outdated if they're more than six months old by the time you submit your visa application. Work backward from your target submission date.
Bundle your translations. If you're having multiple documents translated, sending them together is more efficient than one at a time. Our visa translation packages cover the complete Professional Visa document set at a better rate than individual translations.
Verify requirements before you start. Immigration requirements in Ecuador can shift. Before ordering apostilles and translations, confirm the current document list with the Cancillería or your visa service provider. EcuaPass maintains up-to-date requirements for every visa type.
Translation Turnaround
For a full Professional Visa document set, here's what to expect:
- Standard turnaround: 3-5 business days for the complete set
- Rush turnaround: 24-48 hours (starting at $45/page)
- Same-day: Available when workload permits for urgent cases
We recommend getting your documents to us as soon as apostilles are complete. That way, translations are ready and waiting when you need them for your application.
Pricing
Professional Visa translation packages start at $150 for the standard document set. Individual documents are priced separately — visit our pricing page for current rates, or contact us for a custom quote based on your specific documents.
Preparing for your Professional Visa? Get a free quote on your translation package — we respond within 24 hours.