The addresses and phone numbers of Ecuadorian government offices listed below are subject to change.

Who needs a visa?

Tourists and travelers from the United States, Canada and most European countries do not need a visa to Ecuador for a stay of less than 90 days related to tourism, business or study.

If you plan to stay longer, or if you are drawing income from an Ecuadorian source, you will need one of the other types of visas for a stay of over 90 days.

Nationals of the following countries require a visa to enter Ecuador for any reason and should approach the Consulate of Ecuador in their home country before traveling (list may change without notice): Afghanistan, Algeria Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, EL Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Vietnam, Yemen, Members of the Sikh Sect.

How do I get a visa?

You can apply for an Ecuadorian visa through the consulate of in your area. Check our Ecuadorian Consulates abroad page for the one closest to you.

Where and how do I register my visa?

If you have a non-immigrant visa (other than the 90-day tourist visa), you have to register the visa at the Dirección de Extranjería at 10 de agosto and Morgueón in Quito (tel 02/231-022; Mon-Fri 8:30am-1:00pm) within thirty days of arrival. You should bring your passport, certificado de visación (given to you at the consulate), copies of your entry stamp and visa from your passport, a large envelope and a folder that can fit inside the envelope. Write your name, address in Quito and passport number on the envelope containing your passport. Any materials or copies that you don’t have can be purchased at the Dirección de Extranjería at a small copy center. You’ll be asked to pay a small fee (less than $10 USD). Depending on the number of visas being processed, your passport will be stamped and ready for you to collect anywhere between one and five business days.

Who needs a censo and how can I get it?

If you plan to stay in Ecuador for more than 90 days, you need to get a censo (identity card).

After you register your visa at the Dirección de Extranjería (see registration above), go to the Dirección Nacional de Migración at Avenida Amazonas 2639 and Avenida República (tel 02/454122; Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 3-6pm) opposite El Jardín shopping centre. Be armed with your passport, three passport photos, photocopies of your passport, entry stamp, visa and Extranjería stamp, your rental contract or a letter from your hotel owner or landlord confirming your address, plus a copy of their identity card (cédula), and your proof of economic means (originally submitted with your visa). You'll be given a form to sign, asked to stick your photos on various bits of paper, and pay a small fee, after which you'll be presented with your Certificado de Empadronamiento (the censo), which you can have laminated at a stall outside.

Note: The officials often neglect to tell you this, but if you have a visa you'll also need permission to leave the country (permiso de salida), which you can buy here.

How can I get an extension?

If you have the 90 day tourist visa you may extend three times for for up to 30 days each time (in other words, if you use all your extensions you may stay in Ecuador for up to 180 days). You can get extensions for a small fee at the Jefatura Provincial de Migración in provincial capitals - it's often at the same address as the police headquarters - and in Quito at Isla Seymour 1152 and Río Coca (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 3-5pm).

Your visa will be extended from the day you apply for the extension, not from the day your visa expires. For this reason it is recommended that you wait until the last day of your visa. There's a small fine if you renew it after it's expired. In some cases you'll be asked to prove you have enough money to stay in the country for the length of your extension.