Immigration authorities in Ecuador are getting stricter when it comes to the 90 day tourist visa. In the past, if you wished to extend your visa, all you had to do was leave the country for a day, and then upon reentry you were granted another 90 days, making for a total of 180 days in Ecuador on a tourist visa.
Recently, things have changed.
Many immigration authorities are now counting the number of days you have already spent in Ecuador and giving you the number of days needed to equal the alloted 90 days as a tourist.
So, if you would like to stay in Ecuador for more than just 90 days, what do you do? Immigration lawyer Robert Moreno explains on EcuadorLiving.com:
Usually non Ecuadorians have been able to stay in Ecuador as a tourist for 90 days. After they used these first 90 days, they used to get 90 days more as a tourist if they requested an extension at an immigration office prior of expiry of the first 90 days.
Several months ago immigration changed its policy. Now instead of renewing a tourist visa for 90 days they grant a 180 day Commercial Acts Visa.
In a way this new procedure makes it more convenient (though more expensive) to stay for longer periods.
If a non Ecuadorian wants to stay in Ecuador in any one year for more than 90 days with a tourist visa, they can still apply to the immigration authorities for an extension. If they leave Ecuador in their first stay of the year before reaching 90 days, BUT anticipate returning in that same year, and that return stay will take them beyond 90 days total in that year, before leaving, they should petition the immigration authorities either prior to leaving the first time, or before returning to Ecuador via a local consulate office near our overseas home (USA, Canada, England etc).
These changes in immigration policy are actually changes in strictness of enforcement of the procedures, not the procedures themselves.
The easiest approach though is for those wishing to stay more than 90 days a year in Ecuador to go to an Ecuador consul and apply for the Commercial Acts Visa, good 180 days travel in a calendar year. This allows a total of 180 days stay in Ecuador without any extension beyond the 90 day maximum under a tourist visa.
The fee for the Commercial Act Visa is $230 per person. Given the growing restrictions and/or increased enforcement on the tourist visa and extensions beyond 90 days, this is a good option for those who want to maximize their time in Ecuador but who do not with to apply for a full resident visa.
If you want more information you can contact Robert Moreno of Moreno di Donato Law Firm:
Avenida M3 y Calle 24, Edificio Fortaleza oficina 3, Manta, Ecuador
Tel. +593 (5) 261-3764; Fax +593 (2) 261-3460
Diego de Almagro N34-12 y Avenida de los Shyris, Edificio Torrenova 6to piso, Quito, Ecuador
Tel. +593 (2) 256-8207; +593 (9) 970-8798 (mobile); Fax: +593 (2) 256-8208
E-mail: roberto@morenodidonato.com
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