Passports
In regards to passports, you should always have yours on
hand because the Police make constant checks in the cities
at night and along the road during trips. It is also preferable
that you have a legal copy of your passport that you can
get in most embassies, especially if you are planning to
stay in Quito or Guayaquil for a long period of time. These
copies are recognized by Ecuadorian law. If your passport
is lost or stolen, you should report it immediately to your
Embassy or Consulate.
Visas
Although not all tourists need visas to get into Ecuador,
tourists coming from Cuba and some Asian countries and
Central American countries could need one. You can find
a list of Countries that Require a Visa. Those travelers
who don’t want to enter the country as tourists
will need a visa. Diplomats, refugees, students, social
and religious workers, businessmen, volunteers and cultural
exchange visitors can get non-immigrant visas. There are
also visas for immigrants.
The paperwork to obtain a visa is generally time consuming
so it is recommended that you start with anticipation
to avoid any problems. The visas should be gotten in an
Ecuadorian consulate. You can click on Embassies and Consulates
for more information. Those people that have a visa and
solicit residency should obtain a permit from the immigration
authorities in Quito before leaving the country. Some
residents will have to pay a departure tax depending on
your status.
Travel Permits
All tourists need a passport and an international embarkation
card which will be obtained when you arrive to Ecuador
or during your flight if you are flying. This card should
be filled out with the information from your passport
and details about your trip. In the case that this document
is lost, you can get another in the immigration office
in Quito or Guayaquil or anywhere you can leave the country
from.
Upon presenting the departure ticket when you arrive,
you can get a permit to stay the number of days necessary.
You will receive an entrance stamp in your passport as
well as on the entrance card. This stamp indicates the
number of days the traveler can stay. The maximum amount
of time is 90 days but you will generally be given less
time. However it is fast and easy to get the authorization
for a longer stay in Quito.
Extensions of Stay
In Quito there are several immigration offices. The main
immigration office in Quito is for tourists that have
completed the 90 days stay and want to stay 30 days more.
This process is generally done when your permission to
stay has expired.
In the case that you need to stay 180 days in the country,
you need to obtain a visa from the Ecuadorian Embassy
nearest you. This information should be registered within
30 days of arriving in the Direction of Foreign Affairs.
Visa holders should go to the Immigration Office to obtain
a census card. This card gives you the right to lower
rates on ground and air tickets as well as entrance into
national parks.
In the case that a visa holder needs to leave the country
and want to come back, you need a permission to leave
the country ticket which is valid for a year. This document
can be obtained in the Provincial Headquarters of Immigration.
Read more information on Resident Visas.
