Ecuador Criminal Background Check — Certificado de Antecedentes Penales for Permanent Residency

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is Ecuador's official criminal background check — a one-page document issued by the Ministerio del Interior (and, by operational extension, by the Policía Nacional and Policía Judicial) certifying whether the holder has a criminal record in Ecuador's national database.

It is the Ecuadorian equivalent of what other countries call a "police certificate," a "criminal record check," or an "Identity History Summary." In the United States this role is filled by the FBI Identity History Summary. In the United Kingdom it's the ACRO Police Certificate. In Canada it's the RCMP criminal record check. Ecuador's version — the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales — is its domestic counterpart.

What the certificate certifies: - Whether your cédula number appears in Ecuador's national criminal record database - The presence or absence of any criminal convictions, formal criminal charges, or outstanding judicial processes registered against you in Ecuador - A point-in-time snapshot — the document reflects your status on the day it was issued

What the certificate does NOT certify: - Your criminal record (if any) in any other country — Ecuador's database only knows about Ecuador - Minor administrative or civil infractions (parking tickets, traffic citations that didn't escalate, certain municipal fines) — these are generally tracked separately and don't appear on the criminal record certificate - Pending civil litigation (contract disputes, family court matters) — these are not criminal and do not show up

Who issues it: The Ministerio del Interior of Ecuador maintains the national criminal record database. The certificate itself is generated either by the Ministerio del Interior's online portal or in person at a Policía Judicial / Ministerio del Interior office. Either way the underlying authority is the same and the document is fully interchangeable.

What it looks like: A one-page certificate in Spanish, on official Ministerio del Interior letterhead, with your photo or identifying data, a clear statement about your record status, the date of issuance, and either a digital signature (online version) or a physical seal and signature (in-person version). Both formats are accepted by other Ecuadorian government offices, including the Cancillería for permanent residency applications.

It is, by some margin, the simplest document in the entire permanent residency application. Once people understand they need this one and not something else, they typically complete this part of the file in a single afternoon.

The primary reason a foreigner in Ecuador will ever need a Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is for the Permanent Residency Visa — specifically the Visa de Residencia Permanente por tiempo de permanencia mayor a 21 meses.

After you've held an Ecuadorian temporary residency visa (Pensioner, Rentista, Investor, Professional, Mercosur, or any other 2-year category) for at least 21 continuous months, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. The Cancillería's documentary checklist for that application includes — and here is the critical point — an Ecuador-issued criminal background check. Not the FBI Identity History Summary you submitted 21 months ago. Not your ACRO certificate. Not your RCMP check. An Ecuadorian one.

The logic is straightforward once you see it from the ministry's perspective:

1. They already verified your home-country record 21 months ago. When you originally applied for temporary residency, you submitted a country-of-origin background check (FBI, ACRO, RCMP, etc.), apostilled and Spanish-translated. That document is already in your file. Re-submitting it would prove nothing they don't already know.

1. What they want now is your conduct *inside* Ecuador. You've been a legal resident here for 21+ months. Have you accumulated any criminal record during that time? The Ecuador-issued certificate answers that question definitively.

1. A clean Ecuadorian record is the green light for permanent status. If you haven't been arrested, charged, or convicted of anything in Ecuador during your temporary residency period, the certificate comes back clean and the ministry has its answer.

Who in your family needs one: - The principal applicant (you) — required - Any adult dependents (18+) included on your permanent residency application — required, each one separately - Minor children (under 18) — NOT required; minors don't appear in the criminal record database in any meaningful way

Other situations where this document is requested:

While permanent residency is the main use case for foreign residents, the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is also requested by other Ecuadorian processes:

• Gun permits (the Comando Conjunto's authorization process for civilian firearm ownership requires it)
• Adoption proceedings (the Ministerio de Inclusión Económica y Social requires it from prospective adoptive parents)
• Work permits in regulated fields (some professional licensing bodies require it from foreign professionals seeking to practice in Ecuador — security work, healthcare, education in some cases)
• Citizenship applications (when you later apply for naturalization, you'll need a fresh one)
• Certain employment screenings (some Ecuadorian employers, particularly in banking, security, and government contracting, request it as a hiring requirement)
• Sponsoring a dependent on a residency application (in some sponsor/dependent setups, the sponsor must show a clean Ecuadorian record)

For everyday expat life — opening a bank account, renting an apartment, buying property, getting a driver's license — this document is generally not required. It's a specialized document for specific administrative purposes, and outside of permanent residency most foreigners never need to obtain one.

This is the single most important distinction in this guide, and the one that catches the most applicants off-guard. Read this section carefully — getting it wrong delays your permanent residency application by weeks.

At your original temporary residency application (21 months ago): You submitted a country-of-origin background check — the official criminal record document from the country (or countries) where you'd been living before moving to Ecuador. Depending on your nationality, this was one of:

• United States: FBI Identity History Summary (IdHS), obtained through Channeler services or directly through the FBI
• United Kingdom: ACRO Police Certificate, issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office
• Canada: RCMP Criminal Record Check, fingerprint-based
• Australia: Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check
• Germany: Führungszeugnis from the Bundeszentralregister
• France: Bulletin No. 3 from the Casier Judiciaire National
• Spain: Certificado de Antecedentes Penales from the Ministerio de Justicia (a Spanish version, not Ecuadorian)
• Other countries: their respective national criminal record authority

That document had to be apostilled by the issuing country's competent authority, then Spanish-translated by a certified translator. The full path was: obtain → apostille → translate. It often took 2–3 months and cost $200–$400 by the time everything was done.

At your permanent residency application (now, after 21 months): You do NOT repeat that process. You do NOT need a fresh FBI/ACRO/RCMP/AFP/etc. check. You do NOT need any apostille. You do NOT need any translation.

Instead, you obtain the Ecuadorian Certificado de Antecedentes Penales. It's:

• Issued in Ecuador, in Spanish, by a domestic government authority
• Already in the language the Cancillería reads — no translation step
• A domestic Ecuadorian document — no apostille step (apostille is only required for foreign documents being used in Ecuador, never for domestic ones)
• Inexpensive (typically under $5 USD, sometimes free)
• Fast (often same-day, sometimes 1–3 business days)

Why the confusion is so common:

Most applicants remember the original background check process vividly. It was time-consuming, expensive, and stressful — chasing the apostille office, dealing with shipping, waiting for translation. When they hear "background check" again at permanent residency time, their first instinct is: *"Oh god, I have to do all that again."* They start looking up FBI Channeler services, considering DC apostille runners, and budgeting hundreds of dollars and weeks of time.

They don't have to. The Ecuadorian Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is genuinely simple. You can often complete the entire process — request, payment, download — in 20 minutes on the Ministerio del Interior's online portal, from your couch, in Cuenca or Quito or Guayaquil or anywhere you live in Ecuador.

One important nuance: Some permanent residency cases involving very particular circumstances — for example, an applicant who has spent significant time outside Ecuador during their temporary residency and may have established residence in a third country — may receive a request for additional documentation, including potentially a fresh background check from that third country. For the typical case, this does not apply. If you've been living in Ecuador continuously for 21+ months, the Ecuadorian certificate is what you need.

The fastest and most convenient way to obtain the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is through the Ministerio del Interior's online portal. Most expats with a cédula and basic internet access can complete this from home in under half an hour.

Where to go: The specific URL has changed over the years — government portals get redesigned and migrated, and any URL written into a guide may go stale. The reliable way to find the current portal is to search "antecedentes penales Ecuador en línea" or to start from the Ministerio del Interior's main site at [ministeriodelinterior.gob.ec](https://www.ministeriodelinterior.gob.ec) and navigate to the antecedentes penales service. As of this writing, the service is accessible through the ministry's citizen services portal.

Step-by-step process:

1. Create an account (first-time users): The portal requires registration before issuing a certificate. You'll be asked for: - Your cédula number - Your email address - A secure password - Sometimes additional identity verification (date of birth, mother's name, or other data that matches the Registro Civil's records)

If you have a cédula and your Registro Civil records are current and accurate, account creation usually takes a few minutes. If your records have a discrepancy (a name spelling difference, an outdated address), you may need to resolve that at the Registro Civil before the portal will recognize you.

2. Sign in and request the certificate: Once logged in, navigate to the antecedentes penales service. You'll typically select "Solicitar certificado" or similar. The portal pulls your identifying information directly from the national database — you don't need to re-enter your name, cédula, or other identifying data.

3. Pay the fee: The portal accepts payment via: - Debit card (most Ecuadorian banks supported) - Banco del Pacífico online transaction - Other payment gateways that the ministry has integrated

The fee is typically a few dollars (often under $5 USD) — though for certain uses the certificate may be issued free of charge. The exact fee is displayed on the portal at the time of request.

4. Download the PDF: Once payment is confirmed, the portal generates your certificate immediately. You'll download a PDF that includes: - Your full identifying information - The clear statement about your record status - The date and time of issuance - A digital signature from the Ministerio del Interior (this is what makes it a valid official document without needing a physical stamp)

5. Save and print: Save the PDF to multiple locations (cloud, local drive, USB backup). Print at least two color copies for your application. The digitally signed PDF is accepted by Ecuadorian government offices, including the Cancillería, for visa applications.

Time required: 15–30 minutes if your account is set up. First-time account creation may add another 15–30 minutes.

What can go wrong on the online path: - Registro Civil data mismatch: If your cédula record has a typo or outdated info, the portal may refuse to authenticate you. Solution: visit the Registro Civil to correct your record, then return to the portal. - Payment failure: Foreign debit cards sometimes get rejected by Ecuadorian payment gateways. Use a local Ecuadorian bank card if possible, or pay through Banco del Pacífico. - Browser issues: The portal can be finicky with newer browsers. Try Chrome or Firefox if the default browser fails. - Portal downtime: Government portals occasionally go offline for maintenance. If the portal is down, the in-person option is the fallback.

If the online portal isn't working, if you don't have a local debit card, or if you simply prefer doing things in person, the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales can be obtained at a Policía Judicial or Ministerio del Interior office. The process is straightforward and same-day in most cases.

Where to go: - Quito: Multiple Policía Judicial and Ministerio del Interior offices throughout the city - Guayaquil: Several Policía Judicial offices and the regional Ministerio del Interior office - Cuenca: The Policía Judicial offices in the city center are the most commonly used by expats - Smaller cities: Most provincial capitals have at least one Policía Judicial office that issues the certificate

If you're uncertain where to go, ask at any local Policía Nacional station — they can direct you to the nearest issuing office. Hours are typically Monday–Friday during normal business hours; some offices are open Saturday mornings.

What to bring: - Your cédula (the original, in good condition — not a photocopy and not an expired one) - Your passport (helpful for verification, especially if you're a foreigner with a hyphenated or compound name) - A small amount of cash for the fee (typically under $5 USD)

Step-by-step process:

1. Arrive at the office: Most Policía Judicial / Ministerio del Interior offices operate on a first-come-first-served basis with numbered tickets. Arrive early — within the first hour of opening is usually best.

2. Request the certificate: At the counter, ask for "un certificado de antecedentes penales" and present your cédula. The clerk will pull your record and verify your identity.

3. Pay the fee: Depending on the office, payment is made either: - At the office cashier window (cash, sometimes card) - At a designated Banco del Pacífico window (you'll be given a payment slip to take to the bank, then return with the stamped receipt)

The fee is typically a few dollars (under $5 USD), though specific use cases may be free of charge.

4. Receive your certificate: In most cases, you'll receive the printed and stamped certificate the same day — sometimes within 30 minutes. In some offices, especially during high-volume periods, processing may take 1–3 business days and you'll be asked to return.

The in-person certificate is on official Ministerio del Interior letterhead with a physical stamp and signature from the issuing officer. It is functionally equivalent to the online PDF — both are accepted by other Ecuadorian government offices for visa applications.

5. Verify the document before leaving: Before you walk away from the counter, check that: - Your name is spelled correctly - Your cédula number is correct - The date of issuance is today - The record status statement is what you expect (clean record, or whatever applies to your situation) - The official seal and signature are present

If anything is wrong, raise it immediately with the clerk while you're still at the counter. Corrections made on the spot are much easier than returning later.

Time required: 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the office's queue and whether payment is at the office or at a separate bank window. Total wall-clock time including travel and waiting is typically half a day.

Why the in-person option still matters: Some applicants — particularly those new to Ecuador or those whose Registro Civil records have data inconsistencies — find the in-person option easier than fighting with the portal. The clerk can resolve identity verification issues on the spot, and you walk out with a physical document in hand.

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is one of the most affordable and most accessible documents in Ecuador's bureaucratic system. Compared to the FBI Identity History Summary apostille route (which can cost $200–$400 and take 2–3 months in the worst case), the Ecuadorian certificate is genuinely trivial.

Cost: - Online portal: typically under $5 USD per certificate, sometimes free for specific uses - In person: typically under $5 USD per certificate, paid at the office cashier or a designated Banco del Pacífico window - No apostille fee (none required for domestic Ecuadorian documents) - No translation fee (none required — it's already in Spanish)

For a permanent residency application with one adult applicant, total cost for this document is under $10 USD. For an application with a couple (two adults), it's under $20 USD. Add a third adult dependent and you're still under $30. This is an order of magnitude cheaper than the country-of-origin background check process you went through 21 months ago.

Format: The certificate is a one-page document in Spanish, on Ministerio del Interior letterhead. It includes:

• The Ministerio del Interior header and logo
• A clear title: "Certificado de Antecedentes Penales" or similar wording
• Your full name (as it appears on your cédula)
• Your cédula number
• Your nationality
• Date of birth (sometimes)
• A clear, formal statement about your record status — either confirming no criminal record exists or, in less common cases, listing the records that do exist
• The date and time of issuance
• A digital signature (online version) or physical seal and signature (in-person version)
• A verification code or QR code (online version) that allows the ministry to confirm authenticity

The online PDF version and the in-person printed version are functionally interchangeable. Submit either one — the Cancillería accepts both.

Language: Spanish only. No translation is needed because the document is used within Ecuador's own administrative system. Submitting a translated version would actually be incorrect — the original Spanish document is the official version.

Validity period: The Cancillería generally treats the certificate as "current" if it was issued within the last 60–90 days as of the submission date. There is no formal expiration printed on the document, but the operational rule is: get it shortly before submitting your permanent residency application, not months in advance.

Why a fresh certificate matters: The document is a point-in-time snapshot. A certificate issued in March doesn't say anything about your record status in June — and the ministry's review team needs to see that, as of recently, your record is what you say it is. A stale certificate creates ambiguity.

Practical timing recommendation: - Plan your permanent residency application submission date - Obtain the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales within 30–60 days of that date - Allow some buffer (the certificate doesn't expire on day 60, but it's better to be comfortable than tight) - For applicants with adult dependents on the same application, obtain certificates for everyone at roughly the same time

If your certificate goes stale before you submit: No problem. Get a fresh one. The process is so quick and inexpensive that obtaining a second certificate is a non-event. Some applicants who experience administrative delays end up pulling two or three iterations of the certificate during the process — at $5 each, it's trivial.

One of the most common questions applicants ask when they realize they need an Ecuadorian background check is: "Do I need to apostille it? Do I need to translate it?" The answer to both is no, and understanding *why* helps you trust the process.

Why apostille is not required:

The Apostille (under the Hague Convention of 1961) is a form of authentication used to certify that a foreign document is genuine when presented in another country. The classic use case is: an American notarizes a power of attorney in California, the document needs to be used in Ecuador, so the California Secretary of State adds an apostille certifying the notary's authority. The apostille tells Ecuador, *"Yes, this is a real document from California, recognized by US authorities."*

Apostille is exclusively for cross-border document use. It's the bridge between two countries' legal systems.

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales doesn't cross any border. It's: - Issued by an Ecuadorian government authority (Ministerio del Interior) - Used by another Ecuadorian government authority (Cancillería) for an Ecuadorian process (residency visa) - Entirely within Ecuador's own administrative system

There is nothing for apostille to authenticate. Both the issuing and receiving authorities are the same Ecuadorian state. Asking for an apostille on this document would be like asking for an apostille on a Cuenca municipal water bill being shown to a Cuenca municipal office.

Why translation is not required:

Translation is required when a document is in a language other than the official language of the receiving authority. The Cancillería works in Spanish; the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is issued in Spanish; there's nothing to translate.

Applicants sometimes try to "play it safe" by getting the document translated — typically into English so the applicant can read it themselves. Don't do this. A translated version isn't the official document, and submitting it can actually confuse the review process. The Spanish original is what the Cancillería wants to see.

Where this rule does NOT apply:

A few specific situations involve genuine cross-border use of an Ecuadorian background check, and in those cases apostille is required:

• An Ecuadorian citizen or resident applying for a visa to a foreign country that requests a clean Ecuadorian record (e.g., a Schengen visa application that includes a police certificate requirement). In that case, the Ecuadorian certificate needs to be apostilled by Ecuador's Cancillería before being submitted to the foreign embassy.
• A foreign court or administrative process requesting an Ecuadorian background check for use abroad.

Neither of those is your situation. You're using the Ecuadorian document inside Ecuador's own system. No apostille, no translation, no extra steps.

The takeaway: When you collect the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales — whether from the online portal or in person at a Policía Judicial office — you are done with that document. It goes directly into your permanent residency application file as-is. No middlemen, no certifiers, no translators.

When you receive your Certificado de Antecedentes Penales, take a moment to read it carefully before you submit it. Most applicants get a clean certificate and move on. But understanding what the document actually says — and what each section means — helps you catch errors and explain the document if you're ever asked about it in an interview.

Sections you'll find on a typical certificate:

1. Header — Ministerio del Interior identification: The top of the page identifies the issuing authority: the Ministerio del Interior (or, in some versions, the Policía Nacional or Policía Judicial under the ministry's authority). This is your assurance that the document is official.

2. Title — Certificado de Antecedentes Penales: The document is titled clearly so there's no ambiguity about what it is.

3. Holder identification: This section contains your identifying information, pulled directly from the Registro Civil database: - Apellidos y nombres (surnames and given names) — should match your cédula exactly - Cédula de ciudadanía — your cédula number - Nacionalidad — your nationality (e.g., "estadounidense" for American, "británico" for British) - Fecha de nacimiento — date of birth (sometimes included, sometimes not) - Género — gender (sometimes included)

Check this carefully. Any mismatch with your cédula or passport will create problems when the Cancillería reviews your file.

4. The core statement — record status: This is the substantive content of the certificate. For most expat applicants, it reads something like:

> *"No registra antecedentes penales en el Sistema Nacional de Información Penitenciaria del Ecuador."*

("Does not register criminal records in the National Penitentiary Information System of Ecuador.")

or

> *"El/La portador(a) no ha sido sentenciado(a) por sentencia ejecutoriada."*

("The holder has not been sentenced by an executed sentence.")

The exact wording varies slightly depending on the version of the certificate, but the meaning is consistent: your record is clean.

If you have a record: The certificate will list the registered conviction(s) or process(es), including reference numbers, dates, and the nature of the matter. See the next section for what to do in that case.

5. Date and place of issuance: The date and city where the certificate was issued. The online version also typically includes a precise timestamp.

6. Signature / digital signature: For in-person certificates, a physical signature from the issuing officer and a Ministerio del Interior seal. For online certificates, a digital signature (a long alphanumeric code) and often a QR code that allows electronic verification of authenticity.

7. Verification code (online version): The online portal generally embeds a verification code or QR code that, when scanned or entered into the ministry's verification page, confirms the certificate is genuine and unaltered. This is what makes the PDF version trustworthy without needing physical seals.

Things to verify before submission: - Your name spelling matches your cédula and passport (especially important for foreigners with hyphenated, compound, or unusual names) - Your cédula number is correct - Your nationality is correct - The date of issuance is current (within 60–90 days of your planned submission) - The record status statement clearly applies to your situation - The digital signature or physical seal is present

If any of these are wrong, return to the issuing portal or office to correct them. Submitting a certificate with incorrect identifying information creates downstream confusion that's much harder to resolve than getting a corrected document on day one.

The vast majority of foreign permanent residency applicants get a clean Certificado de Antecedentes Penales. The Ecuadorian system associates criminal records with the cédula number, and most expats simply don't accumulate records here — they're focused on building a quiet life, not running into trouble with the criminal justice system. A foreign applicant who has never had legal trouble in Ecuador will get a clean certificate by default.

But a small number of applicants do find themselves in a more complicated situation. Here's what to know.

Minor administrative infractions (likely don't appear or don't block residency): The certificate is for criminal records — not administrative or civil infractions. The following generally don't appear on the certificate, and even if they do appear in some related database, they don't block permanent residency:

• Traffic violations (speeding tickets, parking citations, minor traffic court matters)
• Municipal fines (a citation from the municipal government for some local ordinance)
• Civil matters (a contract dispute, a small claims case)
• Family law matters (divorce proceedings, child custody — these are not criminal)

If you've gotten a parking ticket, run a red light and gotten a citation, or had a minor administrative hassle during your 21 months here, those are not criminal records and your Certificado de Antecedentes Penales should still come back clean.

Driving under the influence (DUI / conducción en estado de embriaguez): This is a more serious matter in Ecuadorian law than in some other jurisdictions. A DUI conviction is treated as a criminal offense and can appear on the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales. If you've been arrested for DUI in Ecuador during your temporary residency, consult an Ecuadorian immigration attorney before submitting your permanent residency application — the case-specific facts matter and the implications need to be assessed.

Criminal convictions during temporary residency: A conviction for a more serious criminal offense — theft, assault, drug-related offenses, fraud, immigration fraud, etc. — during your temporary residency period is a much more serious problem. It can be grounds for:

• Denial of the permanent residency application
• Revocation of your existing temporary residency status
• In some cases, deportation proceedings

The specific consequences depend on the nature of the offense, the sentence, and how long ago it occurred. The Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana (LOMH) and its Reglamento contain the relevant rules.

What to do if you have a record:

1. Don't try to hide it. The Cancillería will see the certificate — submitting a clean certificate you obtained at a different time, or attempting to manipulate the document, is fraud and creates far worse consequences than the underlying conviction.

1. Consult an Ecuadorian immigration attorney immediately. This is not a do-it-yourself situation. An experienced attorney can:
2. Review the specific conviction and assess permanent residency feasibility
3. Identify whether any regularization or rehabilitation pathway applies (in some cases convictions older than a certain period or below a certain sentence threshold may be treated differently)
4. Coordinate with the Cancillería on disclosure and supporting documentation
5. Advise on whether to delay the application, withdraw, or proceed with full disclosure

1. Don't wait until your temporary visa is close to expiring. If your temporary residency is approaching the 24-month mark and you have a criminal record, the time pressure makes everything worse. Engage the attorney with enough runway to evaluate options thoroughly.

1. Consider whether the temporary residency renewal is a fallback. In some cases, an expat with a complicated record can renew their temporary residency (under the same category they originally qualified for) and defer the permanent residency question. This isn't always available, but it's worth considering as a fallback.

The honest reality: Ecuador's immigration system is generally pragmatic. A long-ago conviction in a foreign country for a minor offense, fully served and rehabilitated, is treated very differently from a recent serious offense committed in Ecuador. The Cancillería has discretion in how it evaluates these cases — and an experienced attorney is the right intermediary to make your case effectively. Don't navigate this alone.

One specific recommendation: If you're aware of any criminal record on your file in Ecuador, request the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales early — well before you plan to apply for permanent residency. Knowing exactly what the certificate shows lets you and your attorney plan with full information, rather than discovering the issue at submission time.

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is one of several documents in the permanent residency file. Understanding how it fits with the others helps you assemble the complete application efficiently.

The full permanent residency file (typical contents):

1. Valid passport — with at least 6 months of remaining validity at the time of application
2. Cédula — your current Ecuadorian identification
3. Visa stamp — a copy of the original temporary residency visa stamp in your passport, with the original approval documents establishing the basis of your temporary status (Pensioner, Rentista, Investor, Professional, etc.)
4. Constancia de Residencia Temporal — the Cancillería-issued certificate confirming you've been on continuous temporary residency for 21+ months. This is the document that proves you meet the time threshold.
5. Certificado de Antecedentes Penales — what this guide covers. The Ecuadorian criminal background check proving clean conduct during your temporary residency period.
6. Recent passport photo (5×5cm, white background, color, ≤1MB)
7. Proof of lawful means of living per Acuerdo Ministerial No. 70
8. Application form and government fees ($50 application + $225 issuance = $275 total)

For a couple or family applying together, each adult applicant needs: - Their own Certificado de Antecedentes Penales - Their own Constancia de Residencia Temporal - Their own copies of the basis-of-status documents - Their own photo and identification

For minor children included on a family application: - No Certificado de Antecedentes Penales required - The Constancia de Residencia Temporal does apply (proves the minor's continuous residency) - Birth certificate and parent's documents establish the dependent relationship

Cross-references in this guide system:

• For the full permanent residency process, see the [Permanent Residency Visa guide](permanent-residency.json) — covers the 21-month rule, timing, costs, interview process, and what permanent residency gives you.
• For the Constancia de Residencia Temporal (the other Ecuador-issued document required), see the dedicated guide in this content system or the discussion in the permanent residency guide.
• For background checks from your country of origin (relevant only for your original temporary residency application, not for permanent residency), see the FBI background check guide, ACRO guide, or your country's specific guide.

Cross-sell note: EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified Spanish translation services. This service is generally NOT needed for the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales itself — the document is already in Spanish and used within Ecuador's own administrative system. However, other documents in your permanent residency application may benefit from EcuadorTranslations.com's services in specific situations (e.g., a refreshed English-language pension letter or employer letter that needs a fresh Spanish version). And when you originally applied for temporary residency 21 months ago, your foreign background check was probably translated through this kind of service.

Order of operations — recommended sequence:

1. Confirm you've reached 21 months of continuous temporary residency
2. Request the Constancia de Residencia Temporal at the Cancillería or Dirección Zonal (allow 1–2 weeks)
3. Obtain the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (same day, online or in person)
4. Gather your existing documents (passport, cédula, original temporary visa documents)
5. Take a fresh passport photo
6. Compile the complete file
7. Submit to the Cancillería or Dirección Zonal with the $275 fee payment

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales is, by some margin, the easiest step in this sequence. It is the right step to handle early if you want a quick win that lifts the rest of the process — knowing one document is fully complete reduces the perceived complexity of the file.