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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[...] Update Regarding Ecuador Tourist Visas [...]
Oh my God. This is exactly what I was seeking for many days and I have finally found what I need. I really needed help this information has really helped me and I am very happy now. Thank you so much.
no problem glad to be of service.
so that means, that there is no other way to stay legally more than 90 days of a year (maximum 180) than taking this 230 dollars fee and tons of documents? and to try an extension only in ecuador makes it much more difficult?
Well, Chris, there are many ways to things. I will suggest a few things to you, but YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Now there used to be a fine of 200 and something dollars if you overstayed and an automatic blackball for like a year or 18 months or something. But last I heard, all those who entered as of April of Last year are not subject to this fine. As well, some borders in Colombia and Peru are a bit more “loose” in adhering to rules after the gift of small monetery “tips”.
But you didn’t hear any of this from me;)
I suggest, if you want to stay for 180 day, just get your long term tourist visa: 12 IX, back home. This gives you a lot of flexibility. Because you do your police check and health checks back home, you can easily change in country to either a volunteer, student or work visa while here. The 12IX allows for multiple entries and so your 180 days are only counted for the days you are here. They subtract from the the days you spend outside the country after your initial entry date.
A good lawyer is always helpful to consult–one who knows the inside of the immigration office.
any more questions, let me know.
cheers,
the big gringo
I have a question. If I have a valid student visa for 6 months, can I leave from Ecuador to visit my own country and then come back before my visa expires? Is there a time limit how long I can be away?
Thank you!!
Cady
In fact you can. Your long term visas are multi entry. And since you are granted anyhow automatically 6 months out of the year in Ecuador, immigration subtracts the time spent out of the country so you can go to the immigration office later and petition for an extension based upon the time spent out of Ecuador.
I have a clarification question. When you answered Chris you said “I suggest, if you want to stay for 180 day, just get your long term tourist visa: 12 IX, back home.” I understand the requirement of the letters from MD, police and bank but is any part of getting the visa, other than collecting these documents, done in the USA or is the visa completely applied for once in Ecuador? It is the statement “back home” I am not clear about.
Thanks
Thank you for your answer!! I have one more question: Do you know anything about how to get local ID card: cedula?
Thanks so much for this information.
I had a similar experience a few months ago in Ecuador. I stayed up until the very end of my 90-day tourist visa limit (literally only a few hours left), and the customs agent was not happy. I explained and didn’t have to pay the fine, but they are being quite careful about checking this now. I could have opted to get the visa for $230, but I was told by the consulate office that the fee you pay is less than this ($200 I believe). Make sure to budget time if you plan on paying the fee because you’ll have to leave the airport, take a taxi to the bank, and then return with your proof of payment.
Hey thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. Note to all travelers: INFO SUCH AS THIS IS VOLATILE, HANDLE CAREFULLY. Rules and regulations in Ecuador are written in pencil and as such, they are highly subject to change. It is always advisable to go the official route and get all your stuff sorted beforehand to avoid any and all hassles at the airport–not fun if you end up missing a connection.
Though one might avoid the fine, there is one thing you will not avoid: being blackballed from reentering the country for up to 18 months.
Should you run into any problems consult your embassy. Also ask around in some of the bars Like Finn McCools, Bungalow 6, and Uncle Hos for latest rumors and advice. The expats and locals around here get some of the latest news floating around.
Good luck!
Hi Brian,
You already put up a lot of information but I wanted to ask you if you have any advise on one year visa’s. By what I read and from the consulate I hear you can only stay for 3 or 6 month at the most on a tourist visa.
Is there anyway around this? How does entering or re-entering Colombia make a difference? And if I would enter on a 3 month visa from October to December, leave and apply for a 6 month visa for the months of January to June, would I be able to do that you think?
I am European but I would prefer not to fly back between the visa’s but simply just trying to stay for a year to see if I really want to immigrate. A one year visa is my ideal.
I know I’m a hassle with this massive question but I really would like to know, it would be awesome to hear back from you.
No worries, thanks for the question.
Well, like I said, every visa law is written in pencil. Now I have heard that they are no longer issuing 3 month visa renewals if you are entering in on the normal 3 month tourist visa. To get six months, the most assured way is to apply for the 12IX long term tourist visa. This cost about 230$ and you must show criminal report and get an HIV test. This then will allow you, once you are in the country, to easily transition to any other visa without having to leave again. You could then get a student, a work visa, volunteer visa, etc. for just the cost of the application.
This is the official route.
Unofficially, like I said, overstay. BUT REMEMBER THIS IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE DO NOT ADVOCATE OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR OWN ACTIONS. THIS IS JUST ADVICE BASED ON CURRENT AND ALWAYS MUTABLE SCENARIOS. If you don’t get caught then you can leave via the border of Columbia or Peru. The buses take you right over the border and drop you on the Columbia/Peru side bypassing immigration. If you do get caught, though, in country, you could be immediately deported, theoretically fined and/or jailed, though this is HIGHLY unlikely. The fine seems to have been lifted and unless you are Cuban here illegally, you won’t get jailed.
Now for 1 years, I suggest Student or Volunteer Visa. I suggest going in and seeing my friends at Uncle HOs restaurant on Calle Calama, La Mariscal, Quito. Talk to Kevin or Stewart and they can get you the inside track on more current info on how to get a 1 year visa all nice and legal. They should be able to help.
hope this helps, and thanks for the question.
b-
Question about using the days of an extended tourist in the same year.
I had gone to Ecuador May 15-July 14 (61 days) and Nov 30-Dec 22 (23 days) in 2010 for a total of 84 days on a 12-X. I knew I would run out of days (my 90 for the year (May 2010-May 2011) for my next return since it was slightly before May 15 and was told I would do best to obtain a 12-IX. I did this and return from May 7-June 29 (54 days) and July 18-Aug 24 (38 days) for a total of 92 days so far in 2011 with my 12-IX. This 12-IX will expire Nov 7, 2011, but I would like to return to Ecuador Dec 26, 2011 to Jan 15, 2012. So I’m wondering if because I haven’t used all of my 180 days by Nov 7 (there should still be 84 left)if I can use them after the Nov 7 date, of if they will mark me with a regular 12-X.
I will of course be calling my embassy here in the state, but I’m just trying to gather as much info as possible!
Thanks so much for this update! Ecuadorian visa info is ever changing and often difficult to manage.