Beginning this Thursday, August 1, 2024, the increased conservation fee for entry to the protected areas of the Galápagos will be applied, as mandated by the government of Daniel Noboa. National tourists will pay five times more, and foreign tourists, double.

With these new fees, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism aims to stabilize mass tourism to the islands and maintain the well-being of the ecosystems and inhabitants.

The increase was approved on February 24 by the Governing Council of the islands. The new fees are as follows:

Ecuadorian citizens and residents:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $15

• Persons 12 years or older: $30 (previously $6)

• Persons over 65 years old: $15

• Persons with disabilities holding a CONADISUS card: $15

Foreign citizens from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $50

• Persons 12 years or older: $100

• Persons enrolled in Ecuadorian educational institutions: $50

Foreigners from all other countries:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $100

• Persons 12 years or older: $200 (previously $100)

• Persons enrolled in Ecuadorian educational institutions: $50

In 2023, the Galápagos National Park recorded a record 330,000 tourists in the archipelago, more than half of whom were foreigners.

You can also read about these new fees on this official page: Tributo de ingreso.

eVisas is Ecuador’s new digital system  for visa applications. It's fully operational since July 5, 2024.  With this new digital system you can apply for Ecuadorian visas without visiting a consulate outside of Ecuador or a zonal office in Ecuador. You could say that this new system makes Ecuador’s existing visas into eVisas.

You can start the application process  on this website: https://serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec/.

When you have questions about visas you can still visit a consulate or - in Ecuador - a zonal office. 

Ecuador's Foreign Ministry announced the temporary suspension of the visa exemption agreement with China due to the increasing number of Chinese citizens who do not leave the country after their 90-day stay. This measure will take effect on July 1, 2024.

The National Government decided to temporarily suspend the visa exemption agreement because of the unprecedented increase in irregular migratory flows of Chinese citizens in Ecuador. Many Chinese citizens are using Ecuador as a starting point to travel irregularly to other destinations.

The Foreign Ministry's statement highlighted that approximately 50% of Chinese entrants have not left the country through regular channels or within the allowed time frame. As a result, they are either in the country illegally or have left for other destinations through irregular means.

This measure will come into effect on July 1, 2024, as stipulated by Ministerial Agreement 64 signed on June 11, 2024. Chinese citizens will now need to apply for a temporary visitor tourist visa before traveling to Ecuador. The temporary visitor tourist visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended by 90 days while being in Ecuador.

Source: La Hora.

One of the advantages of Ecuadorian citizenship is that it's easier to travel to Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. It's also easier to obtain residency in these countries. Together with Ecuador, these countries form the Andean Community (abbreviated as CAN in Spanish).

In 2021 these countries signed an agreement that grants citizens from these countries the right to reside, work and move freely throughout these four countries. This agreement went into effect on August 11, 2021, and is also known as 'decision 878'. It forms the core of the Andean Immigration Statute as promoted by the Andean Community. You can find a link to the agreement in the last paragraph of this article.

Free movement

As an Ecuadorian citizen, you can enter Bolivia, Colombia and Peru as a tourist for 90 days by only presenting a valid Ecuadorian cédula. In other words, you don't need to show a passport. You can extend these 90 days by another 90 days.

Temporary residency

If you want to reside in Bolivia, Peru or Colombia, you can apply for temporary residency at a consulate of that country or directly in that country itself, regardless of your migratory status.

The duration of temporary residency is two years and is extendable for another two years.

Temporary residency gives you the same rights to carry out activities as nationals of that country have.

The requirements to obtain temporary residency are:

• a formal application
• a travel document that is still valid for six months
• a current criminal record certificate
• proof of legit income that is sufficient to live in the other country
• having paid the corresponding administrative fees

Permanent residency

You can apply for permanent residency 90 days before the expiration of your temporary residency. The duration of the permanent residency is indefinite.

Text of the agreement

Here you can read the agreement between Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru that grants the rights mentioned above: Decisión N° 878 Estatuto Migratorio Andino (pdf).

Introduction

If you have a temporary resident visa, a permanent resident visa, or a temporary visitor visa, you can cancel your visa if it is still valid. You can do this at an office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ecuador or at an Ecuadorian consulate abroad.

When to apply

To prevent receiving a fine, you should apply for the visa cancelation before the moment at which you don’t comply with your visa requirements anymore.

Where to apply

To cancel your visa, you have to apply for the cancelation at an office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ecuador or at an Ecuadorian consulate abroad. On the website of the Consulado Virtual, you can make an appointment.

Required documents

To cancel your visa, you must provide the following documents:

• A completed visa application form (pdf)
• A valid passport
• The visa (a print of the visa if you have received your visa digitally as a PDF)

If you have received a visa in your passport and have lost your passport, you will have to provide an official declaration of your passport loss.

Costs

Fee: $10.
(65+: $ 5, free for persons who are disabled for more than 30 percent)