South America and South Atlantic Islands

Visas

Immigration regulations for entry into Ecuador were amended in June 2008, allowing all foreign nationals to visit the country without a visa. However, people with criminal records in Ecuador may still be denied entry. On arrival in the country, the immigration police will normally allow holders of British passports to remain in Ecuador for up to 90 days.  If you are planning on staying in Ecuador for more than three months, obtain a visa from an Ecuadorian Embassy before your arrival in the country.  In certain circumstances, a 91-day extension for tourist visas can be applied for at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Please check their website for further details and requirements.

If you enter Ecuador via the border with Peru or Colombia you must insist on being given an entry stamp at the border showing the date of your arrival.  There have been cases of buses not stopping at the border, which has caused difficulties for foreign visitors.

Visitors entering Ecuador by land from Colombia have been asked to produce Yellow Fever vaccination certificates, so you should ensure that you have one if coming to Ecuador via this route.

 

Overstaying without permission from the immigration authorities is an offence and will result in a US$200 fine and deportation.  In order to avoid a fine you should ensure that you get an entry stamp in your passport on arrival in the country and that you leave before the 90 days is up.  If for any reason you overstay, you will have to pay the fine at a bank and take the deposit slip to show to the immigration authorities at the airport.  You need to be aware that once you have paid the fine you have 48 hours to leave the country.  We recommend that you avoid overstaying because you will not be allowed back into Ecuador for six months and your name could remain on immigration records.

If you are thinking of joining one of the “volunteer” or “adventure expeditions” programmes, particularly popular with gap-year students, we advise you to ensure that the organisation is fully represented or partnered in Ecuador.  It is important to reassure yourself that any agent in Ecuador has sufficient autonomy to act in an emergency.  We recommend that you register with the British Embassy on arrival in Ecuador. This can be done easily on-line using the LOCATE service.

 

As a British national you do not need a visa before travelling to Ecuador if you intend to marry, but you will be subject to the normal immigration rules and must fulfil the new marriage regulation submitted by the Ecuadorian Registry Office on 4 June 2009. Any foreigner must reside in Ecuador for at least 75 consecutive days before being entitled to get married in this country, except for those foreigners who have registered children with Ecuadorian citizens, who are entitled to get married immediately. This new requirement aims to prevent marriages for convenience.  In certain cases, a good immigration record showing regular previous visits to Ecuador might be taken as an exception, but you should not assume that to be the case. You can contact us for further information on how to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment, or refer to the Consular services section of our UK in Ecuador website.

 

If you wish to work or study in Ecuador, you should check visa requirements with the Ecuadorian mission in London before travelling. This is also vital if you have any record of criminal activity in Ecuador, to check whether you will be allowed into the country.

 

Passport validity

 

You must ensure that your passport is valid for at least of six months from the date of your arrival.

 

Travelling with children

 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting their children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required please contact the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.