If you plan on residing in Ecuador for a period of more than six months, you will need to apply for a visa.

It is important to note that if you come into the country on a tourist visa (12–X), you will not be able to apply for any other type of permanent visa while in the country. You will have to return to your country of origin and apply from there.

There are two main categories of semi-permanent visas (non-tourists) these are the Non-Resident and Resident (immigrant) visa.

The following information is current from October of 2008, so it is a good idea to investigate the visas requirements and standards before traveling to Ecuador. If you are in Ecuador and need visa advice, head to the Ministry’s office in Quito at Carrión 10-40 and Av. 10 de Agosto. You can also call (593 2) 299–3284/299–3285, although if you go in person you will likely be less frustrated.

For anyone coming into Ecuador for less than 90 days all you need to obtain is a 12–X visa, which is your standard tourist visa. To be issued such a visa all you need is to fill out the form (at the airport), have a valid passport for more than 6 months, have a return ticket, and show proof of your ability to support yourself financially while you are in Ecuador, as those on the tourist visa are prohibited from working. (If you are coming from the US, Canada, or a few other select countries you can renew your tourist visa for another 90 days at the Ministry office in Quito – address is listed above.)

If you want to work while in Ecuador, or want to be able to stay more than 90 days, you can apply for a study visa (12–V), a work visa (12–VI), a volunteer or religious visa (12–VII), a culture exchange visa (12–VIII) or a long-stay business or tourism visa (12–IX).

You can apply for any of the following visas at the Ecuadorian consulate or embassy office in your home country. All of the above listed visas can be renewed from within Ecuador.

Call the nearest consulate to find out the exact fees and stipulations for applying for each of teh following visas.

Here is a list of the Ecuadorian Consulates in the United States:

East Coast

800 Second Avenue, Suite 601

New York, NY 10017.

Fax 212-808-0188 Tel 212-808-0170 or 212-808-0171

30 Montgomery Street, Suite 1020

Jersey City, New Jersey, 07302

Tel (201) 985-1700 / 985-1300 Fax (201) 985-2959

2925 Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21218.

Telephone 410-889-4435

2535 15th Street

N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009.

Fax 202-265-9325 Tel 202-234-7166

B.I.V. Tower 1101 Brickell Ave., Suite M-102

Miami, FL 33131.

Tel (305) 539-8214/15 Fax (305) 539-8313

Midwest/Central

4200 Westheimer, Suite 118.

Houston, TX 77027.

Fax 713-622-8105 Tel 713-572-8731 and 713-572-8732.

World Trade Center, Suite 1312 2 Canal Street,

New Orleans, LA 70130.

Fax 504-523-3229 Tel 504-523-3229

500 North Michigan Avenue,

Suite 1510. Chicago, IL 60611

Tel 312-329-0266

West Coast

8484 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 540

Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Fax 323-6581934 Tel 323-658-6020

455 Market Street, Suite 980.

San Francisco, CA 94105.

Fax 415-957-5923 Tel 415-957-5921

3500 Paradise Road

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Fax 702-369-1773 Tel 702-735-8193.