Good folks move overseas for a variety of reasons – adventure, retirement, employment opportunities and better investment value, all meet the criteria.\u00a0 Ecuador is no different.\u00a0 This is a brief primer of things you will want to consider, get to know and accomplish, prior to taking the big leap and moving to Ecuador.<\/p>\n
The first thing anyone should consider is the obvious…the most basic – \u201cwhy\u201d?\u00a0 Why do you want to uproot an entire current lifestyle and move abroad?\u00a0 Are you looking for a warmer climate?\u00a0\u00a0 A better (or just different) quality of life?\u00a0 More affordable living options?\u00a0 Greater career rewards and opportunities?\u00a0 Maybe, it is just plain fascination with a uniquely different culture?\u00a0 Review that reasoning in depth, because each individual answer will take you on a uniquely different path, as you explore the moving process.\u00a0 Such an in-depth analysis exceeds the scope of this simple article, especially since the aforementioned exploration will lead to uniquely different revelations, on an individual basis.<\/p>\n
Once you have firmly grasped the motivation for \u201cmaking the move\u201d – and selected Ecuador, of course, as your final destination – tailor an Internet search narrowly focused on the specifics of what is motivating your particular move.\u00a0 Keep in mind, however, that while the Internet provides a plethora of information, it is deceivingly weaved in with an equal plethora of disinformation.\u00a0 Point is not to make the distinction immediately, but to gather enough information to become better informed as to \u201clife in Ecuador\u201d.\u00a0 Just make sure to always carry a huge \u201cgrain of salt\u201d to liberally disperse and, by all means, question everything.<\/p>\n
So, decision well in hand and now better informed as to the Ecuadorian lifestyle, what next?\u00a0 For starters, patience. \u00a0A hasty decision to relocate abroad often leads to regret and future challenges.\u00a0 Take your time to think and explore.\u00a0 Evaluate positive and negative aspects and outcomes.\u00a0 Then, get ready for the critical phase of your journey.\u00a0 You must<\/span><\/b> place \u201cboots on the ground\u201d and visit Ecuador.\u00a0 Experience the lifestyle for yourself.\u00a0 However much time you imagine such an exploration will take, at least, double it!\u00a0 My personal advice is that anything less than an initial month, just doesn\u2019t cut it.\u00a0 A few weeks, barely scratches the surface of getting to know any area and sub-market.\u00a0 A few days, doesn\u2019t even accomplish that.\u00a0 If you are merely a tourist, you can enjoy a whirlwind tour of 8 cities in 14 days.\u00a0 If you are planning on relocating, you need a different plan.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t emphasize enough, the importance of the preceding.\u00a0 The success rate of those that truly explored their local Ecuadorian market in detail and those that did not is the difference between night and day.\u00a0 If relocating for employment, you will likely know where you are to be assigned or where you would like to work.\u00a0 Spend the entire 30 days just exploring that specific Ecuadorian city.\u00a0 If you are moving here for any other reason, let that Internet preparatory research pay off.\u00a0 Narrow your choices to no more than 3-4 locales and then spend at least a week in each, more if possible.\u00a0 Even then, a second or third trip is advisable to further narrow the diverse lifestyle choices that Ecuador offers.<\/p>\n Once you have settled on your perfect slice of life in Ecuador, well researched, visited and fully thought through carefully, it is time for the dreaded word of \u201cImmigration\u201d. Funny that for many people, \u201cimmigration\u201d is something that happens to someone else, when trying to settle in one\u2019s respective home country, not something one personally endures.\u00a0 Time for your first, of many, likely changes.<\/p>\n The immigration process is manageable and does not have to be an excruciatingly painful experience.\u00a0 The key, however, is preparation.\u00a0 The more organized you are and the less you try to \u201cfight the system\u201d, the smoother the process.\u00a0 Ecuador offers a variety of Visa options, which will be covered in detail, within a future article.\u00a0 For now, the key is to begin by either hiring an Ecuadorian attorney or Ecuadorian \u201cVisa facilitator\u201d to assist with the process.\u00a0 I guarantee you that along the way, you will hear at least one story, of the guy bragging about how he \u201cwent it alone\u201d and things worked out just fine.\u00a0 He is likely correct.\u00a0 It can happen.\u00a0 However, for every story like that, I have 10 of folks that \u201cwent it alone\u201d and it ended up in disaster.\u00a0 Take the time and hire a good attorney or facilitator.\u00a0 You will never regret it.<\/p>\n As an minimum, you should have the following documents at the ready, for the Ecuadorian immigration process:<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0 Passport from country of origin;<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0 Birth certificate;<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0 Marriage certificate (if applicable);<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0 Divorce\/custody papers (if applicable and especially if traveling with children);<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0 Medical certificates (can vary);<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0 Educational certifications (especially for those entering Ecuador on Employment Visas);<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0 Veterinarian certifications for all pets;<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0 Pension documentation (if relying on it for verifiable income);<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0 Social security certifications (if relying on it for verifiable income);<\/p>\n 10) Criminal back ground check.<\/p>\n Start to locate those document, or obtain them, as early in the process as possible.\u00a0 It will save much time and headache, as the process accelerates.<\/p>\n Once you have been approved to enter Ecuador by Immigration, prepare for the one part of the process, I cannot even remotely camouflage will be an absolute nightmare – moving your belongings from point A to point B.\u00a0 My advice, right from the get-go, if you can part with something…part with it.\u00a0 Unless it is a family heirloom, offers extreme sentimental value, or can be actually classified as a true work of art, consider leaving it behind.\u00a0 Packing suitcase, as many as needed, and leaving the rest behind is the suggested course of action.<\/p>\n If my position seems extreme, consider that the whole household move process is expensive, time consuming and the industry is little regulated.\u00a0 The quality of international moving\/shipping company can vary dramatically, with service within the same company often varying dramatically from day-to-day.\u00a0 If you opt not to heed my warning and do want to hire an international moving\/shipping company, please investigate each carefully, never agree to a contract unless the company can provide verifiable satisfied clients, which actually now reside in Ecuador, and always have a trusted attorney review the contract, before signing.\u00a0 Lastly, always make sure that the contract includes a \u201cdoor-to-door\u201d clause, which means that upon Customs arrival in Ecuador, your shipping company has a sub-contractor at the ready in Ecuador, to take your belongings to your home site, permanent or temporary.\u00a0 Quality movers in Ecuador are the rare exception, not the rule, and you do not want to start running up Customs storage fees.\u00a0 They can start at $150\/day and run up from there.<\/p>\n So, now you are in Ecuador…fully legal, suitcases or box loads in hand.\u00a0 For many, this next step will have already been concluded.\u00a0 For a smaller percentage, the search now begins.\u00a0 Locating a permanent place to call \u201chome\u201d.<\/p>\n As a 30-year veteran real estate investment consultant, few will be surprised with my caveat that working with a real estate industry professional is essential.\u00a0 The real estate purchasing process, even in one\u2019s home country, can be sufficiently daunting.\u00a0 Trying to do the same in a foreign land, with foreign rules, for many in a predominantly foreign language is not the way you want to go.\u00a0 Still, in a country like Ecuador, where there is no National Real Estate Association, National Review Board, National Ethics Panel or anything similar, you really want to check the credentials of the alleged \u201creal estate professional\u201d.\u00a0 Many folks who are now real estate professionals, here, last week were bartenders, taxi drivers and semi-retired, back in their countries of origin.\u00a0 Per say, nothing \u201cwrong\u201d with that, but it does call into question the professional depth of experience and industry knowledge, especially since they might be plying not only a new trade, but a new trade in a foreign land.\u00a0 I think it is a fair question to ask, \u201cWhat makes someone a qualified real estate professional, capable of addressing specific client needs, within the real estate market of Ecuador?\u201d<\/p>\n Likely the best way to find a real estate professional is to interview a minimum of 3-5 candidates.\u00a0 Relying on random lead referrals is acceptable, but will not likely yield your best results. Often recommendations are made, regardless of protests and assurances to the contrary, simply because someone is a friend, needs the work, or there is a mutual financial arrangement at hand.\u00a0 It is just the way things are done.\u00a0 Best advice, interview several and ask the hard questions.\u00a0 Settle on 2-3 and spend a day with each out on the field.\u00a0 Test their market knowledge, level of service and access to market inventory.\u00a0 Then, and only then, are you likely to be fully prepared to select the best fit, as a professional with which to work.\u00a0 One might find this a wee bit surprising, from someone in my industry, but not every real estate professional is \u201cright\u201d for every client, and not every client is \u201cright\u201d for every real estate professional.\u00a0 Find someone knowledgeable, who makes you feel comfortable and with whom you enjoying working.\u00a0 Your home shopping experience will be so much the better for it.<\/p>\n Well, there (or \u201chere\u201d) you are.\u00a0 All moved into that perfect home in Ecuador, belongings finally in place.\u00a0 Sipping that first cup of java, freshly squeezed tropical fruit juice, chamomile tea, or whatever your preferred morning beverage.\u00a0 With your legal residency now\u00a0 firmly in hand, you are ready to embark on a new adventure, regardless of your original motivation for the move to Ecuador.\u00a0 This is your newly found destiny.\u00a0 Come awake every day to a new inspiration. 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