Ecuador Student Visa Information and Requirements

Ecuador Student Visa Information

 

Before heading to Ecuador students are required to obtaining their student visa. The process involves preparing and obtaining several documents. Please review the following checklist to help keep everything organized and manageable. Ceiba will be there to assist with apostilles, translations, and other parts of the process as you go.

Note: Ceiba is helping to cover over half of the visa-related expenses for students in 2027. To receive this support, students must submit all required documents to Ceiba by the stated deadlines. Students who do not submit their documents on time may be responsible for paying the full visa cost themselves and may also risk delays that could prevent their visa from being approved before the program begins.

Attend a Visa Help Session! Ceiba is here to help! Attend one of our virtual Visa Help Sessions to ask questions and get help with the visa process.

Register HERE to attend on October 26th at 6:30pm

Register HERE to attend on October 27th at 6:30pm

Materials Required for Visa Application:

  1. Scan of valid passport with a minimum validity period of six (6) months.
  2. FBI Identity History Summary Check from the country of origin or any country where the applicant has resided during the last five years. Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Student is responsible for obtaining the FBI Identity History Summary (see step 2) but Ceiba will coordinate and pay for the apostille and translation services. Please see directions below.
  3. State Background Check from your current state. Ceiba will coordinate and pay for the Wisconsin state background check given the student’s consent (check uses only public records). Accompanied by scan of Wisconsin State or Student ID 
  4. Scan of UW-Madison Student ID Card or State of Wisconsin ID Card to accompany your Wisconsin State Background Check as proof of connection to Wisconsin.
  5. Proof of Legal Means of Livelihood a Letter of Financial Sponsorship from Ceiba that the student will submit on their visa application
  6. Enrollment or admission letter from an accredited Ecuadorian school (Ceiba will share letter with students)
  7. Color photograph – students should take a 2×2 color photograph to submit with their visa application. See directions below
  8. Payment of the visa application fee of $50

Your State Background Check and FBI Identity History Summary need to be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Ceiba has hired a immigration lawyer to take care of this process for students and pay for the expenses but please make sure you are following deadlines carefully. 

See detailed Instructions for each document below:

Ecuador Student Visa Checklist

1. Check Your Passport

  • Make sure your passport will be valid for at least six months beyond your return from Ecuador
  • If you don’t have a passport or yours will expire soon, apply for a new one as soon as possible!
  • We recommend expedited processing to make sure your passport arrives in time for your visa application.
  • For more information, visit the U.S. State Department website.

2. Obtain Your FBI Identity History Summary Check by November 9th, 2026

You must begin this process well before November 9th, as you should have your FBI Identity History Summary in hand by the November 9th deadline. This process can take several days as it requires you to go in-person to a USPS office to get your fingerprints taken.

Step A: Submit Your Online Request

  1. Submit your FBI background check request here.
  2. Enter your email address. You’ll receive an email containing a link and access code.
  3. Follow the link and complete your Personal Information and Mailing Address.
  4. Under Preferences:
    • Select No for Social Security Number.
    • Select Yes for Date of Birth.
    • Enter your email address to receive status notifications.
  5. Under Fingerprint Card:
    • Choose “Electronic Submission via Third-Party”
      • This option will then send you a confirmation email where you can pre-register to get your fingerprints taken at a participating USPS office. You do not need to schedule an appointment.

Step B: Go to a Participating USPS to get Your Fingerprints Taken

  1. After submitting your request, you will receive a confirmation email containing:
    • Your order confirmation and QR code to take to the USPS office
    • Instructions for to get your fingerprinting done at a participating USPS location 
  2. UPDATE: Please sign up for a fingerprinting appointment slot using the SignUpGenius. Appointments will be Thursday (11/5) and Friday (11/6) from 8 – 10am. at the South Side USPS office in Madison. This will ensure USPS knows you’re coming in and can be prepared to take your fingerprints.
  3. Expect approximately $50 in fingerprinting fees (usually paid in office)
  4. Bring your confirmation email and ID to the USPS Office.

Step C: Send Your FBI Check to Ceiba by November 9th, 2026

  1. Once your FBI Identity History Summary Check is ready, you’ll be send PDF copy to your email.
  2. Email the PDF to gikelheimer@ceiba.org as soon as you receive it!
    • Ceiba will send your FBI check to the federal government to be apostilled and eventually translated into Spanish.

3. Give Ceiba Permission to Submit Your State Background Check/Apostille by November 9th 

Ceiba is helping students complete the Wisconsin state background check and apostille requirements to facilitate an easier visa process and reduce some of the associated costs. Please give Ceiba permission to request this information on your behalf:

Authorize Ceiba to Request Your State Background Check

Please note: State background checks are public records, but certified copies must be requested through the appropriate state office before they can be apostilled. If you prefer not to have Ceiba complete the Wisconsin process on your behalf, you must obtain a certified copy and pay for your state background check and apostille independently by November 9th. Contact Ceiba for support. 

4. Take Your Passport-Style Color Photograph

You’ll need a recent digital passport-style photograph that meets the following requirements:

  • Background: White
  • Expression: Neutral or natural smile, with both eyes open. No glasses, hats, or anything covering the face
  • File format: JPG
  • Maximum file size: 1 MB
  • Dimensions: 2 × 2 inches (5 × 5 cm), or 600 × 600 pixels

Helpful Tip: You can use a program like Google Drawings to resize your photo if needed. Here’s a YouTube Tutorial to help you resize your Google Drawing canvas using inches, centimeters, or pixels.

5. Take a Scan of your Passport 

  • Scan of both pages of your passport
  • Use a scanner or scanner app to get rid of shadows and glare.
  • Make sure your scan isn’t blurry and is easy to read

6. Scan of your UW-Madison Student ID or Wisconsin Driver’s License

  • With your permission, Ceiba will be requesting a Wisconsin State Background Check on your behalf. (see Step 3). As part of this process, you will need to provide documentation showing your connection to Wisconsin.
  • Make sure your scan isn’t blurry and is easy to read

7. Wait to receive your certified and translated documents, as well as your University Enrollment/Admission Documentation and Letter of Financial Support from Ceiba

Once you have given Ceiba permission to submit your State Background Check on your behalf and have sent us your FBI Identity History Summary Check as a PDF, sit tight! You can work on steps 4-6 while you wait but it could take 2-4 weeks to receive all the certified copies of these documents.

  • Ceiba will be sending your state and federal background checks to the appropriate offices to receive apostilles and be translated into Spanish so they are ready for you to submit on your visa application. Please wait for an email from us with the electronic versions of these documents
  • You will also be receiving a letter of enrollment/admission to Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). You will also need to submit this with your visa application
  • Finally, you will be receiving a Letter of Financial Support which will count as your ‘Proof of Legal Means of Livelihood’ on your visa application.
  • Save the documents when you receive them. You’ll need to upload them during your visa application.

8. Submit Your Online Ecuador Student Visa Application

Once you have all your required documents, you’re ready to apply! There is no set date for this yet as you can only submit once you have obtained all your finalized documents. Please keep an eye out for emails from Ceiba regarding updates to this timeline. 

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Student Expense: $175 though actual costs may vary

Questions? We’re here to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need guidance with any of these steps!

Email our Programs Administrator at gikelheimer@ceiba.org for questions!