Visas and immigration

At present only a passport valid for at least 6 months and, in principle, an onward or return ticket are required to visit Ecuador as a tourist. In practice, the onward ticket is seldom asked for. A visa is not required by anyone, regardless of nationality, unless they wish to stay more than 90 days. Upon entry all visitors are required to complete a brief international embarkation/disembarkation form, which is stamped along with your passport. Keep this form in your passport, you will need it when leaving the country or at a spot check.

Ecuadorean law requires you to carry your passport at all times. A photocopy of your passport is not an officially acceptable substitute and you may not be permitted to return to your hotel to fetch the original document. Some travellers nonetheless prefer to carry a photocopy and leave their passport at their hotel. A photocopy certified by your embassy is more likely to be acceptable, but it's a judgement call, entirely at the discretion of the individual police officer.

Tourists are not permitted to work under any circumstances. Foreigners have also on occasion been detained and deported for involvement in political or other 'sensitive' activities, including environmental activism. It is unusual to encounter serious difficulties with the Ecuadorean immigration police, but any irregularities may be reported to your embassy or consulate.

Tourists are entitled to visit Ecuador for up to 90 days during any 12-month period. Extensions are only granted to citizens of a few neighbouring Andean countries. If you leave the country after staying 90 days, you will generally not be allowed to re-enter until 12 months later. There is a hefty fine for overstaying the 90-day limit (even by one day). It must be paid 48 hours before departure at an immigration police office, most reliably in Quito.