New rules require Ecuador expats to be ‘proficient' in Spanish; requirement affects current residents as well as new ones
Published on March 28, 2015 by: CuencaHighLife |Comment
In a dramatic policy change, Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Relations is instituting a rule that requires foreign expats to pass Spanish proficiency tests to maintain residency status. The change affects holders of all permanent-residency visas, including investor, professional and retiree.
chl exterior min logoThe Foreign Ministry, which oversees immigration affairs in Ecuador, says that the rule change is the result of concerns that North American and some European residents are not assimilating into local communities and, in some cases, are adversely affecting local populations.
In a prepared statement being distributed to overseas embassies and consulates, as well as to immigration offices in Ecuador, the Exterior Ministry says: “We recognize that Spanish-language proficiency is a major predictor of the ability to adapt to the local community and culture. We have become increasingly concerned that language problems are causing clashes between foreign residents and citizens due to cultural differences and misunderstandings. We are also concerned on behalf of our foreign guests that they may no longer be welcome here due to these misunderstandings.”
The ministry statement continued, “It is our belief that those wishing to become residents of Ecuador should assume the responsibility of learning the country's official language. We believe that most current residents and those applying for residency will understand and support this position.”
The new rules require that all residency visas be renewed on an annual or bi-annual basis, on a schedule to be determined, with renewal contingent on successful performance on a Spanish-proficiency test. Temporary visas, such as those for students, temporary workers, and religious representatives, will not be subject to the language test. Language requirements for citizenship applications will not change.
According the Ministry, the level of Spanish-language proficiency required for visa renewal will rise according to the length of time a resident is in Ecuador. The tests will be given at one-, three-, and five-year intervals, at the time of visa renewal, with each test being progressively more difficult. At five years, the ministry says, it expects the visa holder to be fluent enough to be fully functional in the Spanish-speaking community.
Foreign residents who do not pass the proficiency test can retake the exam twice. Those who don't pass and don't leave the country voluntarily will be deported at their own expense, the Ministry said.
Lee Dubs, owner of Cuenca's Carolina Bookstore and a Spanish-language instructor, advised the ministry in developing the new rule. “This is badly needed and I'm proud to part of helping out with the new rules,” he said. “I've been watching more and more folks arrive in Cuenca who seem to have no interest in learning the language or participating in the culture. Frankly, I think there's a lot of gringo dead wood here.”
Dubs, who was a Spanish professor at a North Carolina college before relocating to Cuenca, admits he flunked the sample five-year test. “I'm going to have to hit the books myself,” he said. “I guess I need to practice what I preach.”
According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Alfredo Maldonado, his office has been particularly concerned about the impact English-speaking expats are having in smaller communities, such as Vilcabamba, Cotacachi, Salinas, and Olón. “The lack of assimilation by foreigners in small towns has led to increasing discord, sometimes leading to legal disputes and violence, that we think is the result of foreigners' ignorance of the language,” he said. “We've also been concerned about the large foreign population in Cuenca, which we understand is about eight thousand. There are neighborhoods in Cuenca that are called ‘gringolandia,' and this obviously is not a sign of assimilation.”
The foreign ministry says it is working out visa-renewal schedules and language-test details and will contact the English-speaking expat community explaining the new procedures, through websites such as this one, by the end of April.
Graciela Corral, assistant director of the Cuenca immigration office on Av. Manuel Calle, said she's expecting a deluge of inquiries. “We expect a lot more than usual since April 1 is coming up soon,” she said.
This will weed out a ton of malcontents who refuse to learn spanish. I for one will be happy about that! I took time to learn spanish, Now am real glad I did.