Living in Ecuador

Overview

ThisWe guideestimate setsthat outthere essentialare information1,500 for British citizensnationals moving to or living in Ecuador.Ecuador, Readmost aboutof howthem ourin EmbassyQuito, inGuayaquil, QuitoCuenca canand help.Galapagos Islands.

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To stay up to date: follow the Britishinformation Embassy Quito on Facebook and Twitter

Beforelinks youlisted go

below. See our travel advice for Ecuador for up-to-date information on entrywhat requirements,consulates localcan laws and customs,cannot safetydo andfor emergencies.British nationals.

Coronavirus

FollowYou should follow the advice of the Ecuadorean government and your local authority. You shouldcan also read theour Ecuador travel advice.

Visas andfor residency

our latest guidance.

CheckFor the entryinformation requirementson forgetting Ecuadora COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Ecuador see our Ecuador travel advice.advice.

Entry and residence requirements

British nationals are not required to obtain an Ecuadorean visa to visit Ecuador as tourists for short stays (up to 90 days within a 12-month12 period).month period), but visitors must comply with immigration requirements to enter the country for longer periods. If you are planning toon staystaying for longer,more than this period, you must apply for a visa from an Ecuadorean Embassy before your arrival in the country.

Read the the Ecuador immigration policy for further informationuseful reference points and contact details of the relevant immigration authorities in the country, who will be able to provide you with advice on visas to work and reside in Ecuador.

Follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility´s social media account for more information on permanent and temporary visas: visas: CancilleríaCancilleria Ecuador.

Please also visit our travel advice for Ecuador, which includes information on entry requirements to the country.

Check the the Ecuadorean National Customs page to see what products and/or quantities can enter Ecuador via air andor land.

To obtain an Ecuadorean residence visa, you will need to provide a criminal records certificate from all the countries you have lived in during the last 5 years.

The police certificate needs to be legalised (“apostilled”) in the UK, by the FCDO´s FCDO´s Legalisation Office, otherwise it will not behave acceptedcomplete bylocal thevalidity. localThe Ecuadorean authorities.authorities They also require the police certificate to be officially translated.

The Data Protection Act and The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives you the right to access recorded information held by public sector organisations.

To obtain a police certificate please visit the the ACRO police website. There is an online application service. This certificate can be sent to a UK or worldwide address.

To legalise your police certificate, apply and pay online: online: FCDO´s Legalisation Office. Send your certificate to the FCDO´s Legalisation Office and include the address you want your document returned to (UK or overseas address). Pay the additional courier fees or postage.

PassportsDriving licences and travelvehicles

You can applydrive for orup renewto 6 months using a UK driving licence, from the entry date to Ecuador. Carry a colour copy of your British passport (photo page and visa/entry stamp page) with you at all times when driving.

You can drive with a valid International Driving Licence for the same tourist permit period. You cannot apply for an Ecuadorean/International driving licence in Ecuador if you are not a temporary/permanent resident in Ecuador.

In order to exchange your UK driving licence for an Ecuadorean driving licence you will need to present a certificate from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) confirming the validity and type of licence you hold. A copy of this document will need to be certified, signed and dated by a UK solicitor or notary, then sent to the FCDO´s Legalisation Office.

For further information on other requirements to obtain the Ecuadorean driving licence in Ecuador and how to get the relevant permissions for your vehicle, please visit Ecuador’s National Transit Agency Agencia Nacional de Tránsito - ANT website or contact the International Licence Department: Tel. +593 (02) 3828 890 (main line).

Working hours – Monday to Friday: 8:00am – 4:30pm. The SPPAT (formerly known as SOAT) is a mandatory vehicle insurance established by law that guarantees the immediate attention of road accident victims, injured and dead. Further information is available on the ANT website.

Ecuadorean police criminal record check

CheckThere is an online free system run by the EcuadorEcuadorean travelMinistry adviceof Interior.

To obtain this criminal record certificate, the applicant should insert the Ecuadorean ID or passport number. If the search is not for the same criminal record holder, the applicant should include the holder´s ID or passport validitynumber requirements.and the reason why this certificate is required for.

Healthcare in EcuadorHealth

Healthcare is widely available in Ecuador, but accessmedical tocare healthcare outside Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca can be limited.limited, Healthcarebut is improving. Medical care in public hospitals is free. Private healthcaremedical care is availableavailable, nationwide,but and prices can varybe substantially.expensive. If travelling and/or living in Ecuador, it is highly advisable to obtain private medical insurance. Private hospitals maymight require payment prior to giving treatment to patients.

TheThere Ministryis ofa Publicsole Health (MSP) manages the Ecuadorean national healthcare system in Ecuador (‘sistema nacional de salud’).salud’), managed by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). This involves public hospitals and healthmedical centres, which are complemented by the private sector. Public health centres/hospitals arehave been classified bywith levels of attention (1 to 4), starting withfrom levela 1preventative-promotional-health -care. preventative-promotional-healthcare;Level level 2 -includes basic and general hospitals for outpatient and inpatient treatmenttreatment, (involvinginvolving some mental health units);units level(unidad de salud mental). Level 3 -are specialised hospitals for more complex treatmenttreatment, (includingincluding psychiatric treatment and drug/alcohol addiction rehabilitation);rehabilitation and(unidad levelterapéutica). Level 4 -is more related to medical research.

For mental health assistance, check our guide:our Ecuadoronline Mentalgeneral Healthguide.

The Supportlevel forof Britishcare Nationalsprovided in public hospitals can vary greatly, but during the last nine years, the Ecuadorean government has significantly improved the medical attention and resources.

There is a vast range of private hospitals, clinics and doctors nationwide. However, the options and level of care in small towns may be limited.

A new mobility law demands a private or public health insurance for all foreign residents. IESS social insurance affiliation is accepted.accepted Morefor information on this system can be found on the IESS website.purpose.

In health emergencies, whether involving residents or tourists, you should dial 911. Patients in a critical condition mustshould be assisted, with or without an ID card, by any hospital whether public or private, until they are stabilised. Patients in a private hospital without the appropriate medical insurance cancould be transferred to the nearest public hospital once theyout areof no longer at risk.

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Medicine

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Tax

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BenefitsVictims of sexual assault or domestic abuse

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Pensions

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Driving

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Guidance on bringing medication into Ecuador

ForPlease furthercontact the Ecuadorean Consulate in London about information on otherbringing requirementsmedication tointo obtainEcuador.

Depending on the Ecuadoreanmedication drivingand licencequantity, inyou Ecuadormay andbe howasked to getshow thea relevantmedical permissionsprescription. forFor yourmore vehicle,information pleasecheck visitthe Ecuador’sEcuadorean National Transit AgencyCustoms websitepage.

Education

Please or contact the Ecuadorean InternationalMinistry Licenceof Department:Education Tel.for +593general (02)information 3828about 890the (mainEcuadorean line).educational system.

The SPPATContact isthe aHigher mandatoryEducation vehicleOffice insurance(SENESCYT established– bySecretaria lawNacional thatde guaranteesEducación theSuperior, immediateCiencia, attentionTecnología ofe roadInnovación) accidentfor victims,university, injuredmaster and dead.

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Disabledmade drivers

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Voting

ForeignPostal nationalsservices can vote in Ecuador

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Births,Social deaths,ethics marriage and civil partnershiptraditions

Births

IfThe yourRoman childCatholic religion is bornstill the major one in EcuadorEcuador, youwhich shouldmakes registerit thea birthconservative country with thepopular localreligious authoritiestraditions. atDespite thevarious nearestand Civilrecent Registryofficial Office. Youdiversity cancampaigns, thenthere registeris withstill thea UKtendency authoritiesfor andregional, applyclass, forcolour aand UKethnic birthdivisions certificateand discrimination.

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Deaths

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Marriagereality andthere civilis partnershipstill some level of discrimination.

FindSince out howJanuary you2000, canthe getofficial marriedcurrency oris getthe aUS civil partnership abroad.dollar.

Pets

ToEcuadorean enterfood orvaries leaveby Ecuadorregion, with acoastal pet,dishes pleasebeing checkbased theon governmentseafood, controlcooked agency“platanos” Agrocalidad(green website

Emergencies

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Ifits youcitizens, arealthough anot Britishspoken nationalby ineveryone. Ecuador andis youdivided needinto urgent4 helpmain (forregions example,(Coast, you’veAndes been(sierra), attacked,Amazon arrested(rainforest) orand someonethe Galapagos Islands) and it has died),altogether call24 +593administrative 2provinces. 3972Ecuador 200.is a democratic country and there are presidential, parliamentary, regional and municipal elections every 4 years.

Natural disasters

IfEcuador youis havesituated beenin thean victimarea of intense seismic activity. There is a rapehigh orrisk sexualof assaultearthquakes, involcanic Ecuador,eruptions readand thetsunamis. Ecuador:You informationshould formake victimssure ofyou rapeare andaware sexualof assault

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Inmedia addition,channels there(also arein ‘SalasSpanish).

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• Quito been“Mariscal arrested,Sucre” orInternational areAirport
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• British Embassy in Quito - social media channels Twitter.
  and Facebook

Disclaimer

ReadThis theinformation guidanceis onprovided internationalas parentala childgeneral abductionguide ifand youris childbased upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at riskany oftime this.

Returningwith tolittle theor UK

Readno notice. The FCDO and the guidanceBritish on returningEmbassy towill the UK permanentlynot whichbe includesliable informationfor onany bringinginaccuracies familyin members,this taxinformation. andBritish accessnationals wishing to services.obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.