Pensioner Visa allows to work?

[HECTOR H.]

I’m planning to retire to Ecuador under a 9-I Pensioner’s visa.
I understand that this visa will allow me to reside in Ecuador, BUT would it allow me to work?
I would like to teach in a university in Ecuador, but my plan is to first get there, again as a Pensioner, and once in Ecuador I’ll look for a job. Is this a good/right/feasible way to do it?

Thanks!

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Hello, you cannot legally work on a pensioner’s visa. So perhaps you might want to rethink your visa strategy and opt, instead, for a professional visa. You should probably contact an immigration attorney or a visa facilitator to get the latest information. Check to see if the university you recieved your degree from is on this list: http://www.educacionsuperior.gob.ec/…/LISTADO…

A visa facilitator in Guayaquil who has handled a lot of these and seems to be very on top of all this is Dana Cameron: agua_plata@hotmail.com — she processes a lot of visas for people who live in Cuenca and along the southern coast, but she appears to be very good about answering questions.

[JACQUELINE SARIO]

I didn’t know that a person on pensioner’s visa couldn’t work in Ecuador. My husband is in his early 70s and we’re planning on retiring in Ecuador. He’s learning to become a piano tuner and was hoping to have a part-time income by starting a piano tuning service, maximum 3 pianos per week. Will this type of work/business be OK for pensioners?

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Jacqueline,

You can start your own business here in Ecuador with any type of residency visa. In fact three years ago when my husband and I started our restaurant we didn’t even have our visas yet, though the rules may have changed by now. What Suzan is referring to is that you cannot be hired by a company with a pensioner’s visa. You would need some type of work visa for that or possibly the professional visa that Suzan mentions.

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