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Documents required to enter via land or river border

If you wish to enter Ecuador via a land or river border from Peru or Colombia, you must present a criminal record certificate from the country where you lived for the last 5 years. The certificate must be legalised with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish if issued in another language. This mandatory requirement was announced on 11 January 2024 for implementation with immediate effect.

Alternatively, if you do not have a legalised criminal record certificate, you can ask the Ecuadorean immigration authorities at the border to carry out a check on their ’SIMIEC’ Ecuadorean Immigration System (which flags any travel prohibitions or INTERPOL alerts). The following people are exempt from the presentation of the criminal record certificate:

• Holders of a valid Ecuadorean visa
• Holders of diplomatic passports
• Children and adolescents under 18
• Victims of human trafficking or those seeking international protection under the Ecuadorean Human Mobility Law.

There are no restrictions in place for anyone flying into Ecuador.

To obtain a UK Police Criminal Record Certificate, check the ACRO website. For information about legalising the document with the Hague apostille check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Legalisation Office website site.

Passport validity requirements 

To enter Ecuador, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. 

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

You can visit Ecuador without a visa for up to 90 days in any 12-month period.

If you’re already in Ecuador and want to stay longer than 90 days, you can pay to extend your stay (in Spanish) by an extra 90 days. You must apply for an extension before the first 90-day period ends or you could be fined.  

If you overstay your visa, you will get a fine when you leave. You will not be allowed to return to Ecuador unless you pay the fine before you leave the country. 

For immigration information, see Ecuador Migration.

To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you must meet the Ecuadorean government’s entry requirements (in Spanish).

Applying for a visa 

Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (MFAHM) has an e-visa application process (in Spanish).  Find the relevant MFAHM district zone offices.

For general guidance contact ssmc@cancilleria.gob.ec or call (02) 299 3200 extension 23064.

Checks at border control 

All travellers entering Ecuador must register their entry and exit in the national immigration database. This is a mandatory requirement under Ecuadorean immigration regulations. At border control, you may be asked to: 

• provide your reason for travel 

• show proof of a return or onward journey

Peru and Colombia land border crossings 

On the northern border with Colombia, the Rumichaca checkpoint is open. On the southern border with Peru, the Huaquillas, Macará, Zapotillo, and Lalamor checkpoints are open to international travellers. 

Other checkpoints remain closed until further notice.

If you are entering Ecuador by land from Peru or Colombia, it is essential to use an official immigration checkpoint to receive the required passport entry stamp indicating your arrival date. Some buses may bypass immigration checkpoints, which can result in travellers not receiving the necessary stamp. This can lead to serious immigration issues.   

Evading immigration control filters, regardless of the reason, is considered a serious offence. According to official sources:  

• it will result in denied entry (‘inadmisión’) on future entry attempts 

• immigration fines are generally not applicable for this type of violation (but they apply for overstaying cases) 

• for official enquiries or direct assistance, contact an  immigration office (in Spanish) as soon as possible

Galapagos Islands 

Tourists can stay in the Galapagos Islands for up to 60 days. To enter Galapagos, you must have: 

• evidence of a hotel booking or an invitation letter from your host  
• evidence of a return flight to the Ecuadorean mainland  
• purchase a transit control card at your departure airport before checking in for your flight – you must also keep a copy 
• travel health insurance, which is mandatory for foreign tourists

If you are travelling to or from Galapagos Islands via Guayaquil airport you should check with the airline before booking to ensure you will remain airside at Guayaquil airport.  FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Guayaquil, except for airside transit through the airport.

Check the Ministry of Tourism’s accredited tourism service providers (in Spanish), which includes information on accommodation, transport, tour operators and restaurants.

Travelling with children 

Leaving Ecuador  

British children, including British - Ecuadorean dual nationals, aged 17 and under must have a notarised consent letter (in Spanish) to leave Ecuador if they are:

• travelling alone or with one parent or legal guardian
• resident in Ecuador or have been in Ecuador for over 90 days, even if they are travelling on a British passport

If they are tourists (not resident in Ecuador) British children (or British-Ecuadorean dual nationals) do not need a notarised consent letter (Art.137 Human Mobility Organic Law’ 2017).

If one parent is deceased, the other parent must submit the death certificate to an Ecuadorean public notary to get an indefinite notarial permit to travel with the child. 

In more complex situations, such as legal disputes, a child will need judicial written permission (‘Autorización de Viaje Judicial’) issued by an Ecuadorian judge (‘Juzgado de la Niñez y Adolescencia’).  

Entering Ecuador  

Children entering Ecuador with someone other than a parent or legal guardian do not need a consent letter. 

Vaccine requirements  

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Ecuador guide. 

Customs rules 

From 29 July, every adult passenger or family group travelling to or from Ecuador carrying taxable goods or cash equal to or higher than 10,000 US dollars must:

• register online
• complete the form, and present the digital version (QR code) to customs on arrival/departure (airports, land borders, ports)

This form must be completed at least three days before travelling. Failure to declare goods can lead to fines, confiscation of goods or criminal charges.

Taking money out of Ecuador  

You must declare cash you’re carrying when you leave Ecuador. You will have to pay tax on amounts over 1,350 US dollars. 

Customs rules 

From 29 July, every adult passenger or family group travelling to or from Ecuador carrying taxable goods or cash equal to or higher than 10,000 US dollars must:

• register online
• complete the form, and present the digital version (QR code) to customs on arrival/departure (airports, land borders, ports)

This form must be completed at least three days before travelling. Failure to declare goods can lead to fines, confiscation of goods or criminal charges.

Emergency services in Ecuador  

Telephone: 911 (ambulance, fire, police) 

Tourism police  

Quito has a tourism police unit with branches in the north, old town, airport and at bus terminals. There are also tourism police units in the cities of Guayaquil, Cuenca, Santa Elena and Galapagos provinces. Read more information on the tourism police from their website.

Reporting robbery and theft online 

You can report robbery and theft online in English to the Ecuador Attorney General’s Office (‘Fiscalía General’). This report is valid for insurance claims, however, once you leave Ecuador, following up a case report through this link may be complicated.

Complaining about tourism services 

To complain about tourism services, email the Ministry of Tourism: denuncias@produccion.gob.ec.

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from FCDO 

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Ecuador 
• dealing with a death in Ecuador  
• being arrested or imprisoned in Ecuador   
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime  
• what to do if you’re in hospital  
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting FCDO  

Help abroad   

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.  

Help in the UK   

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.   

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)   

Find out about call charges 

Get travel advice updates   

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.   

Follow FCDO:  

• travel advice on X 

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies  

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Ecuador on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel  

Coastal Region

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of:

• Esmeraldas
• Manabí
• Santa Elena
• Guayas
• El Oro
• Los Ríos
• Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province.

Within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border 

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, except for these areas in Carchi province: 

• El Ángel Ecological Reserve 
• Rumichaca border crossing 
• the town of Tulcán 
• the Pan-American Highway  

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

State of Emergency 

The Ecuadorean government has declared a 60-day state of emergency as of 15 September, for security reasons in the following 8 provinces: 

• Guayas 

• Manabí 

• Santa Elena 

• Los Ríos 

• El Oro 

• Pichincha 

• Esmeraldas 

• Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas 

The state of emergency includes the following cantons:  

• La Maná (Cotopaxi province) 

• Las Naves (Bolívar province) 

• Camilo Ponce Enriquez (Azuay province)

The State of Emergency will mean greater police and military presence on the streets. It includes curfew hours (from 12am to 5am) for the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi, from 17 to 30 September. Follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media.

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates 

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO:    

• travel advice on X 

• travel advice on Facebook 

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences  

Personal ID 

By law you must carry ID. Always carry a printed copy of your passport, including the pages with your photograph and Ecuadorean entry stamp.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences 

The penalties for drug trafficking or drug use are harsh, and prison conditions are very basic.  

‘Spiritual cleansing’ hallucinogens 

In Ecuador people use traditional hallucinogens such as Ayahuasca or San Pedro. These substances are marketed to tourists for ‘spiritual cleansing’ rituals. They often contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a strong hallucinogen that is illegal in the UK.

There are many risks when taking these substances including: 

• serious illness and death 
• assault and robbery while intoxicated 
• lack of nearby medical help as these ceremonies often take place in remote locations  

Consumption of traditional hallucinogens is unregulated. 

LGBT+ travellers 

Same-sex relations are legal in Ecuador. However, local attitudes towards the LGBT+ community can be conservative and there is still societal discrimination. People may be less tolerant of same-sex couples showing affection in public than they are in the UK. Showing affection may attract negative attention, especially in small towns. Transgender people in particular could face unwanted attention. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Money 

US dollars and 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos coins minted in Ecuador are the only legal currencies. Credit cards and travellers cheques are generally accepted in cities but not elsewhere in the country.