Embracing New Beginnings: My Journey to an Ecuador Residency Visa
Astrocartography — it’s a fancy term for mapping your birth chart against the world to discover the locations that resonate the most with you. People use it to figure out where they might thrive, find love, make money, or feel “at home” in the world.
I didn’t have a reading done, but if I did, I bet it would say: Your place is Ecuador.
Why? Because I never planned to go there, but I keep landing there.
The First Time — Ayahuasca
I had been planning to go to Brazil, then out of the blue, from an unexpected source, I found out about La Vida Divine Healing Institute — the only Ayahuasca retreat run by two queer women of color. I had an amazing and deeply meaningful experience with them in Macas, Ecuador.
The Second Time — Tanta (Sorta)
I came for what I hoped would be tantric energy management. I left Durga’s Tiger School with Kaula Tantra Yoga teacher certification. My session in Germany was canceled for low enrollment. I wanted it bad enough to fly all the way back to their home base in Quito, Ecuador.
The Third Time — Scouting
This time, I came for Tammi. I was scouting in logical order the places one or both of us thought might be a good place to move. That landed me in Cuenca, Ecuador.
This Time — It’s Just For Me
Now, I’m going for me. Okay, it’s also the only place in the world I can legally immigrate to right now.
Let Me Catch You Up
I couldn’t get residency in Colombia because I didn’t read the fine print. Turns out it’s not just how much money you have — it’s how much money + from specific qualifying sources. My income didn’t fit the formula. That’s the super short version of the story. You can read the longer version here.
I find nomading exhausting after a few months, so I kept hunting for a stable home base outside the U.S. No luck — every country on my list had visa requirements I couldn’t meet. I even looked under weird rocks:
- Religion-associated visas. Would an Ashram qualify? Could I live in an Ashram?
- Marriage visa. Would I marry someone for a visa? No.
Then I found a hidden gem: an Ecuador residency visa.
Ecuador’s Professional Visa
If you have an advanced degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or higher) from an accredited university, a clean criminal record, and can prove an income of at least $500 USD a month, you MAY qualify. The visa allows you to live and work in Ecuador and can lead to permanent residency.
It’s All Coming Together
I’m trying not to jinx it, but I’m feeling cautiously optimistic.
I’m going back to Cuenca to meet with a lawyer recommended by one of the women from La Vida Divine. I’ll be staying with a friend I met on my last trip there. I don’t know how the tantric yoga from the second trip might be connected. Maybe it too will come full circle in a way I can’t see yet. I can’t wait to find out.
✨Final Thoughts
Yes, I stubbornly ignored the universe’s gentle “Hey, maybe Ecuador?” suggestions. Instead, I needed the hard 2’x4′-to-the-head method: every other visa option being completely closed to me (in my current circumstance) — except Ecuador. I hear ya now.
The next decision? Where in Ecuador to live. I’ll be in Cuenca during the residency application process, but I’m eyeing warmer spots like Manta and Salinas.
Actually, this time I plan to fully embrace Ecuador and investigate all the hidden gems it has to offer.
📝 Your turn: Have you ever had a place keep showing up in your life until you finally gave in? Then what happened?
