Ecuador makes traveling easier with new e-visa system

Starting from June 2024, Ecuador will introduce a new system of electronic visas and apostilles, simplifying procedures that previously required personal presence at consulates or regional offices. This change is aimed at improving service for Ecuadorian citizens and foreign tourists.

Pablo Sebastian Martinez Menduino, General Coordinator of Technologies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the soon abandonment of unnecessary procedures and their centralization in Ecuador with a new IT system. This innovative system eliminates the need for personal visits to consular institutions, allowing for the processing and analysis of visa applications in Quito, instead of consulates abroad.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, Gabriela Sommerfeld, emphasized that currently, to obtain a tourist visa, it is necessary to apply at a consulate, but from June 2024, the entire process can be completed online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The new electronic visa system will meet all Ecuadorian standards, significantly accelerating and simplifying the visa acquisition, thereby fostering the country's development.

Currently, citizens of most countries, including European countries, do not need a visa to enter Ecuador for up to 90 days. However, it is necessary to have a valid passport, which expires no less than six months after the date of arrival. The tourist visa grants the right to stay in Ecuador for up to 90 days according to current regulations.

However, all foreign nationals planning to visit the Galapagos Islands must obtain a transit control card in advance. It is necessary to fill in details about your flight and place of stay. After this, the citizen will have the opportunity to complete registration directly at the airports of Quito or Guayaquil. Upon arrival on the islands, one should present an identity card and pay 20 US dollars for the issuance of the transit control card.