Ecuador's retiree visa — officially called the "jubilado" visa — is one of the most popular paths for Americans retiring abroad. The cost of living, the climate, the healthcare system, and the welcoming expat communities make Ecuador a top destination. But the paperwork can feel intimidating, especially when nearly every document needs to be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
This guide covers every document you'll need translated, the apostille requirements for each, and practical tips for getting through the process without delays.
The Jubilado Visa at a Glance
The jubilado visa is designed for retirees receiving a guaranteed monthly income from a pension, Social Security, or similar retirement benefit. As of 2026, the minimum income requirement is $1,450 per month. This amount must come from a verifiable, ongoing source — it can't be savings or investment returns that fluctuate.
The visa grants you legal residency in Ecuador, and after two years you can apply for permanent residency. It's renewable, and it gives you access to Ecuador's public healthcare system (IESS) once you're enrolled.
The Complete Document Checklist
Here's every document typically required, along with whether it needs an apostille, a certified translation, or both.
1. Passport
- Apostille: No
- Translation: Not required (the biographical page is accepted as-is)
- Notes: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your application date. You'll submit a color copy.
2. Birth Certificate
- Apostille: Yes — from the Secretary of State in the state where you were born
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required (including the apostille)
- Notes: Must be a certified copy from your state's vital records office. Not a photocopy, not a hospital souvenir certificate.
3. Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Apostille: Yes — from the Secretary of State in the state where the marriage was registered
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required (including the apostille)
- Notes: Required if your spouse is included on the visa application or if marital status is relevant to your application. If you're applying with a spouse, they'll need their own set of documents as well.
4. FBI Background Check
- Apostille: Yes — from the US Department of State (federal level, not a state Secretary of State)
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required (including the apostille)
- Notes: This is a federal document, so it requires a federal apostille. It's also time-sensitive — generally valid for approximately 6 months from the date of issuance. Start early but not too early. For a detailed walkthrough, see our FBI background check translation guide.
5. Pension or Social Security Letter — The Key Document
- Apostille: Yes — from the US Department of State (for Social Security) or the appropriate authority for your pension source
- Translation: Yes — certified translation required (including the apostille)
- Notes: This is the single most important document for the jubilado visa. It must prove that you receive at least $1,450/month in guaranteed retirement income.
For Social Security recipients, you need a Social Security Benefit Verification Letter (sometimes called a "budget letter" or "proof of income letter"). You can request one through your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office.
Important tip: Make sure the letter states your monthly benefit amount clearly. Some versions of the letter show annual amounts or don't specify the payment frequency in a way that's immediately clear to Ecuadorian officials. If your letter doesn't spell out the monthly figure, request a corrected version before proceeding.
For private pensions, you'll need an official letter from your pension administrator confirming the monthly benefit amount and its ongoing nature.
6. Health Insurance Proof
- Apostille: Typically not required
- Translation: Yes — if the policy is in English
- Notes: Must demonstrate health coverage valid in Ecuador. Many applicants use international health insurance plans (Cigna Global, Allianz, GeoBlue, etc.). Some applicants choose to purchase Ecuadorian insurance instead, which wouldn't require translation. The policy should show that coverage is active and includes Ecuador.
7. Bank Statements (sometimes requested)
- Apostille: Typically not required
- Translation: Yes — if requested by the Cancilleria and the statements are in English
- Notes: Not always part of the standard jubilado checklist, but some applicants are asked to provide 3-6 months of bank statements showing regular pension or Social Security deposits. These serve as additional proof that the income stated in your benefit letter is actually being received.
Getting the Social Security Letter Right
The Social Security benefit verification letter deserves its own section because it trips up so many applicants.
Here's what to do:
- Log into my Social Security at ssa.gov and request a Benefit Verification Letter
- Check that the letter includes your monthly payment amount — not just your entitlement or annual total
- Make sure it's current — request a fresh letter close to when you plan to apply, not months in advance
- The letter is issued by a federal agency (Social Security Administration), so it requires a federal apostille from the US Department of State, just like the FBI check
If your monthly benefit is below $1,450, you may be able to supplement with a private pension or annuity to meet the threshold. Each supplemental income source will need its own verification letter, apostille, and translation.
The Order of Operations
The sequence matters. Doing things out of order is the most common — and most expensive — mistake in the process. Follow this order for every document:
- Obtain the certified/official document (birth certificate, FBI check, Social Security letter, etc.)
- Get the apostille from the correct authority
- Get the certified Spanish translation that covers both the document and the apostille
Translating before apostilling means your translation won't include the apostille page, and you'll have to pay for translation again. We cover this and other pitfalls in our post on common translation mistakes that delay visas.
For a deeper look at the full apostille + translation workflow, see our apostille and translation guide.
Realistic Timeline
Here's a rough timeline for the full jubilado visa document preparation:
| Step | Timeline | |------|----------| | Gather original documents (birth cert, marriage cert) | 1-4 weeks | | Request FBI background check (channeler) | 3-5 business days | | Request Social Security benefit letter | 1-2 weeks | | State apostilles (birth cert, marriage cert) | 2-4 weeks | | Federal apostilles (FBI check, SS letter) | 6-8 weeks (or 1-3 weeks expedited) | | Certified translations (all documents) | 3-5 business days |
Total realistic timeline: 2-4 months if you plan ahead and use expedited services where it matters. The federal apostille is almost always the bottleneck.
Budgeting for Translations
For a typical jubilado visa applicant, the translation package includes 4-6 documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, FBI check, Social Security letter, health insurance, and possibly bank statements). Our visa translation packages offer bundled pricing for the complete set, which works out better than translating documents individually.
Visit our pricing page for current rates, or contact us for a quote based on your specific document set.
Start With What Doesn't Expire
A practical approach: begin with documents that have no expiration — your birth certificate and marriage certificate. Get those apostilled and translated first. Then, as you get closer to your target application date, order your FBI check and Social Security letter so they're fresh when you submit.
If you're working with EcuaPass on your visa application, they'll help you sequence everything so no document expires before submission. We handle the translations as soon as your apostilled documents are ready.
For a broader view of every document you might need translated for your Ecuador move, see our full moving to Ecuador translation checklist.
Preparing for your jubilado visa? Get a free translation quote — we respond within 24 hours and can advise on your complete document checklist.