Ecuador is a beautiful country with so much to see, be it the famed Galapagos islands, the Amazon, volcano of Cotopaxi, picturesque towns like Otavalo & Baños, and Quito, the capital, that’s a UNESCO world heritage city.
While Ecuador visa policy is pretty lenient that allows citizens of most of the countries to enter visa-free, citizens of 24 countries need an Ecuador tourist visa or 12-IX visa to enter Ecuador.
Here are the countries whose citizens need a visa to travel to Ecuador. If you are not one of them, you can enter Ecuador without a visa.
| Afganistan | Angola | Bangladesh | Cameroon |
| Cuba | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Gambia |
| Ghana | Guinea | India | Iraq |
| Kenya | Libya | Nepal | Nigeria |
| Pakistan | Democratic Republic of Congo | North Korea | Senegal |
| Syria | Somalia | Sri Lanka | Venezuela |
You can confirm whether or not you need tourist visa for Ecuador by visiting the official website of its foreign ministry.
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Ecuador Tourist Visa requirements
The requirements for Ecuador tourist visa can vary a bit depending on the country you are applying from.
1. Round-trip Flight tickets
A ticket from your country to Ecuador, and a confirmed return travel ticket, proving you intend to leave Ecuador after your visa ends. There are many ways to book refundable flight tickets.
2. Proof of Accommodation
Proof of accommodation can be provided in the form of hotel reservations or a letter of invitation from a friend who would host you.
3. Travel Health Insurance
International travel health insurance is a mandatory requirement if you are planning to apply for any visa for Ecuador, and Ecuador tourist visa is no different.
You can buy travel health insurance from a reliable provider like Safety Wing, which also covers COVID and has great coverage that can suit your needs.
4. Police Clearance Certificate or Criminal Background Check
A clean criminal record is a must when applying for 12-IX visa for Ecuador. You can get it from the authorities in your country. It must be apostilled as well.
5. Proof of Financial Stability
Proof of sufficient financial funds to cover the duration of your stay, such as in the form of bank statements from the last six months.
6. A Signed Cover Letter
You must submit a signed cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit, the places you will be visiting, and a brief itinerary to the Ecuadorian embassy along with your visa application.
7. Proof of Legal Presence
In case you are applying from a country you are not a citizen of, you need to provide proof of residency or a visa that proves that you are there legally.
8. Ecuador Visa Application Form
You need to fill in an Ecuador visa application form for your tourist visa and sign it. It is a simple one-page form that doesn’t take too long to fill in. You can get it in a consulate of Ecuador.
9. Photo Requirements
You would need to affix a 2 x 2 Color Passport-size picture on the application form. This must be in white background, without any headgear.
10. Valid Passport
A passport with at least 6 months validity is needed for your Ecuador tourist visa.
For Minors
- The birth certificate apostilled and translated.
- In the absence of one of the parents, you must present a special power of attorney or authorization, apostilled and, if applicable, translated.
- A valid passport
How to Apply 12-IX Visa Ecuador?
The first step for applying an Ecuador tourist visa is to know whether or not Ecuador has an embassy in the country you are applying from. If there is no embassy, try to find out the closest Ecuadorian embassy and check with them about the details.
Here is a list of Ecuadorian embassies.
If the embassy where you are applying needs you to submit the application online, then here is the process on how that would go.
1. Submit Ecuador Visa Application Online
If the Ecuadorian consulate asks you to apply online, then you need to register through the portal of Ecuador’s foreign ministry. The browser works well in Firefox and Chrome. Note that the portal is down and flaky sometimes.
You will need to fill in your details like name, email, date of birth, security questions, residence, address, occupation and level of education.
Once you are registered, you would need to fill out the application for the visa.
2. Upload all the Documents
For Ecuador 12-IX Visa, you would need to upload the documents in PDF format in the portal if you are applying online.
The consulate will examine your documents and then get back to you on the details of fee payment.
3. Pay the Fees & Get an Appointment
A consular officer will review your application and then you will be able to make the payment for the visa. Once the payment is done, you can upload the receipt.
After this, you can get an appointment with the Ecuador consulate by phone or email. They will provide you all the details of what to bring for the appointment.
4. Attend the Interview
An interview is not mandatory. You will be informed in case one is needed. Make sure to answer all the questions honestly.
After the interview, they will let you know whether your visa is approved or rejected.
How Much is the Ecuador Tourist Visa Fee?
The Ecuador tourist visa fees change from time to time. Right now, you are needed to pay $450 USD irrespective of your citizenship.
Additionally, you may have to pay in cash at the time of application or through bank transfer, as per the preferences of the Ecuador embassy or consulate through which you apply.
Is There an Ecuador Visa on Arrival for Tourism?
There is no Ecuador visa on arrival scheme. Sometimes people from countries that don’t need a prior visa from Ecuador embassy refer the 90-day entry stamp on their passport to as a visa on arrival. But in reality, it’s just an entry stamp, not a visa.
Any Ecuador tourist visa can only be obtained from an Ecuador embassy.
Do Green Card Holders Need 12-IX Visa?
Yes, Green card holders do need a visa to enter Ecuador.
How Long Can You Stay in Ecuador as a Tourist
No matter which country you are from, as a tourist, you can stay in Ecuador for 180 days in a calendar year. It’s the same for people entering on a tourist visa and for people who are visa exempt.
Noe that your visit can be a continuous or a combination of various visits during the period of one calendar year. You can leave Ecuador and reenter multiple entries, as long as you are only in the country for 90 days total. Entry and exit days count as full days.
You will get 90 more days visa-free after 9 months of the day your first 90 days are consumed. That being said, If you want more than 90 days after entering Ecuador, you need to extend your stay in Ecuador.
Can You Extend Ecuador 12-IX Visa?
Many people fall in love with Ecuador when they visit it and want to spend more time than their tourist visa allows. In case you want to stay in Ecuador for longer than 90 days, you get an Ecuador visa extension in a Migraciones office of Ecuador. You can extend your visa for 90 more days.
Can You Covert Ecuador Tourist Visa to Any Other Visa?
You can. As long as your tourist visa is valid and you are in Ecuador legally, you can convert your visa to a resident visa depending on your situation. Here are some of the common visas that expats convert to from their tourist visa.
Ecuador E Visa Online: Can You Apply Ecuador Visa Online?
Ecuador doesn’t have an online visa application portal, although for visa types such as the professional visa, a part of the process is online. Since the Ecuador visas are electronic now, and you don’t need to get them affixed to your passport, some expats wrongly refer to it as Ecuador online visa or e-visa.