Ecuador entry requirements for US citizens

How long you can stay

Up to 90 days in any 365-day period.

What you need

• Passport valid for at least 6 months (UK FCDO: from arrival; Canada: beyond your planned departure)
• Entry stamp / authorised-stay record from migration control on arrival (keep it — needed when leaving)

Good to know

Visa-free: United States is not on Ecuador's official list of nationalities that must have a visa to enter (MREMH 'Países de Régimen Especial' list on gob.ec and Cancillería 'Lista de países que deben presentar visa al ingresar al Ecuador'). Under LOMH Art. 66(6), tourists who do not need a visa receive an 'autorización de permanencia' at the official migration control point. LOMH Art. 56 (as reformed 24-X-2025): 'El plazo de permanencia autorizado como turista será de hasta 90 días en el período de un año contado a partir del primer ingreso que marca el inicio de su año cronológico, prorrogable en territorio ecuatoriano, por una sola vez hasta por 90 dias continuos adicionales, previa solicitud y pago de la tarifa respectiva'. Counting: the year starts on your first entry (not 1 January); the 90 days are a total for that year, not per entry. We model it as 90 days in any 365-day window (stricter than the law, and without the optional extension). Extension (Ministerio del Interior, gob.ec 'Emisión de prórroga de autorización de permanencia en territorio para extranjeros', updated 2025-10-31): up to 90 extra days, apply online or at a Servicio de Apoyo Migratorio with a valid passport and the extension form; cost 'el equivalente a una tercera parte del Salario Básico Unificado en el Ecuador'. With the extension the yearly maximum is 180 days. Overstay (LOMH Art. 169, falta migratoria leve 2.b): a tourist who stays past the authorised 90 days without an extension, past 180 days with one, or past 180 days when admitted for 180, is fined one 'remuneración básica unificada' (one Ecuadorian basic monthly wage). Health insurance: since the 2021 reform the LOMH (Art. 52) only says residents must hold public or private health insurance; no general insurance requirement for mainland tourists appears in the consolidated law. Galápagos (per UK FCDO and Global Affairs Canada travel advice, not an Ecuadorian page we could load): tourists may stay up to 60 days (Canada: '60 days in a 1-year period'); you need a Transit Control Card bought at Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in, a return ticket to the mainland, proof of a hotel booking or host invitation, and (UK) travel health insurance. The Galápagos national-park entry fee is not stated here because no official Ecuadorian source for it could be loaded. Land arrivals: Global Affairs Canada (updated 2026-10-09) says travellers entering by land or river must present an apostilled criminal-record check covering the past five years (with a Spanish translation); minors travelling with family are generally exempt. Customs: you must file the online Formulario de Registro Aduanero (FRA) only if you bring taxable goods or USD 10,000+ in cash/bearer instruments (SENAE).

Source Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana, consolidated text with last reform R.O. 151-7S of 24-X-2025 (Art. 56 Turista; Art. 66 Tipos de visa; Art. 169 faltas migratorias) — published on gob.ec (Plataforma Gubernamental, Gobierno del Ecuador)Checked against the source on 2026-10-10