Visas & Residency.

Technically no, practically yes. The 2026 e-Visa portal is workable, but the failure modes are document validity, format mismatches, and requirements that aren't always written down clearly. Expat Law Group runs every case with a documented backup plan for the parts that might trip mid-filing. Their approval rate to date is 99%.

Yes for most categories, with two caveats. (1) Your tourist stamp must still be valid; overstays disqualify you from in-country filing. (2) Several documents have to be apostilled before you arrive: typically the criminal background check, marriage certificate, birth certificates for dependent children, retirement or pension letter, and academic degree. Confirm the specifics for your visa type before booking flights; requirements vary case by case.

Variable, by design. Most cases land somewhere between 2 months and 4 to 5 months once documents are ready. Professional visas run longer because the foreign degree has to be registered with SENESCYT first (1 to 2 months), followed by 3 to 4 months for the visa itself. Dependent visas wait until the primary applicant's visa is approved before they can be filed. After visa approval, the cédula card takes 7 to 10 days. Most of the variance is driven by Migración workload and your document readiness.

Yes. A new application fee is required, and depending on the reason for the denial, you may need updated or newly issued supporting documents. Translation, apostille, and government fees aren't waived; they apply again as needed. Expat Law Group reviews their professional fee based on the work involved in the refile; it isn't automatically covered by the original engagement.