Living in Ecuador

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Ecuador. Read about how our Embassy in Quito can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Ecuadorean authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

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

Before you go

See our travel advice for Ecuador for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Coronavirus

Follow the advice of the Ecuadorean government and your local authority. You should also read the Ecuador travel advice.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Ecuador in our travel advice.

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-month period). If you are planning to stay for longer, you must apply for a visa from an Ecuadorean Embassy before your arrival in the country.

Read the Ecuador immigration policy for further information and contact details of the relevant immigration authorities in Ecuador.

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

Check the Ecuadorean National Customs page to see what products and/or quantities can enter Ecuador via air and 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 Legalisation Office, otherwise it will not be accepted by the local Ecuadorean 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 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: 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.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Ecuador.

Check the Ecuador travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Healthcare in Ecuador

Healthcare is widely available in Ecuador, but access to healthcare outside Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca can be limited. Healthcare in public hospitals is free. Private healthcare is available nationwide, and prices can vary substantially. If travelling and/or living in Ecuador, it is highly advisable to obtain private medical insurance. Private hospitals may require payment prior to giving treatment to patients.

The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) manages the Ecuadorean national healthcare system in Ecuador (‘sistema nacional de salud’). This involves public hospitals and health centres, which are complemented by the private sector. Public health centres/hospitals are classified by levels of attention (1 to 4), starting with level 1 - preventative-promotional-healthcare; level 2 - basic and general hospitals for outpatient and inpatient treatment (involving some mental health units); level 3 - specialised hospitals for complex treatment (including psychiatric treatment and drug/alcohol addiction rehabilitation); and level 4 - medical research.

For mental health assistance, check our guide: Ecuador Mental Health Support for British Nationals

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

In health emergencies, whether involving residents or tourists, you should dial 911. Patients in a critical condition must 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 medical insurance can be transferred to the nearest public hospital once they are no longer at risk.

More information about Ecuador’s public health system can be found on the Ministry of Public Health website.

Check the list of English speaking private medical practitioners in Ecuador.

Check the list of hospitals in Ecuador.

More information on hospitalisation in Ecuador.

NOTE: UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Medicine

If you are on a prescription for any medication you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Ecuador. Certain medicines may not be available in Ecuador (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Ecuador to find out about any alternative medication.

Medication, vitamins and food supplements entering Ecuador must have their respective medical prescription. In the case of food supplements, the limit is 4kg. For more information, check the Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador website.

Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.

Working in Ecuador

If you are planning to move to Ecuador and work, you will need a visa. Read the Ecuadorean government’s guidance and requirements for getting a work visa for Ecuador as a foreign national on their official page.

Studying in Ecuador

If you plan to study in Ecuador, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. Please read the Ecuadorean government’s official website for more information.

Tax

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Ecuador. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Ecuador

Read guidance on:

tax if you leave the UK to live abroad

tax on your UK income if you live abroad

tax if you get a pension and live abroad

paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Benefits

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Pensions

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Ecuador, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad.

Driving in Ecuador

You can drive for up to 6 months using a UK driving licence, from your 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 your UK issuing office e.g. 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 website or contact the International Licence Department: Tel. +593 (02) 3828 890 (main line).

The SPPAT is a mandatory vehicle insurance established by law that guarantees the immediate attention of road accident victims, injured and dead.

About driving abroad see https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad

Guidance for travelling by road in Ecuador see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/safety-and-security

If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Ecuador, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Voting

Foreign nationals can vote in Ecuador after being legal residents in Ecuador for a minimum of 5 years. You should approach your nearest Consejo Nacional Electoral to register.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

check if you are able to vote

register as an overseas voter

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership

Births

If your child is born in Ecuador you should register the birth with the local authorities at the nearest Civil Registry Office. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate

If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

Deaths

If someone dies in Ecuador read our guidance on:

What to do if someone dies abroad

Bereavement guidance for Ecuador

English-speaking funeral directors in Ecuador

Marriage and civil partnership

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

Pets

To enter or leave Ecuador with a pet, please check the government control agency Agrocalidad website

Emergencies

Ecuador has an Emergency Integrated Response Service (ECU 911) to respond to any emergency incidents that may require immediate assistance.  Dial 911 to report an emergency (assistance in English available). Consider using ECU 911 free smartphone application to register any medical issues and to report various types of emergencies involving yourself or others for emergency assistance.

For general enquiries on the British Embassy´s consular services, you can contact us online.

If you are a British national in Ecuador and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +593 2 3972 200.

If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Ecuador, read the Ecuador: information for victims of rape and sexual assault. You can also find detailed information in these informative leaflets for Ecuador.

You can seek emergency assistance from the Ecuadorean Ministry of Public Health, which has implemented a network of 13 Care Rooms – ‘Salas de Primera Acogida’ across the country.

These centres operate within some public hospitals and are there to provide emergency medical and psychological attention to victims of sexual violence. Each centre has a team of doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers.

In addition, there are ‘Salas de Primera Atención’ at public hospitals/health centres with an emergency service (A&E) throughout Ecuador.

An alternative emergency assistance system is the “security warning button” (botón de seguridad) activated by Community Police Units (UPC). Approach the nearest UPC in your neighborhood for its activation through your mobile number and home address.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Quito.

Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.