Ecuador is the continent's leader in the number of natural attractions and amazing national parks. The Pacific coast attracts tourists from all over the world. They come here to see the Andes, climb dormant volcanoes, wander through wild jungles, visit the Galapagos Islands and relax on luxurious beaches. This amazing Latin American country is open to Russians - they can stay in Ecuador without a visa for three months.
Ecuador is a country in South America on the Pacific coast, whose territory is crossed by the equator. In the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the north it borders with Colombia, in the east and south - with Peru. Ecuador is a popular tourist destination for its diverse wildlife in the Amazon rainforest, Andes mountain range and the Galapagos Islands.
Do Russian tourists need a visa to Ecuador?
Visa-free entry for Russians was established six years ago. In 2012, Russia and Ecuador signed a document according to which citizens of these countries can stay in the territory of another state for up to 90 days.
If a Russian goes to Ecuador to study, work or undergo treatment, then he needs to obtain a visa. This rule also applies to long trips (over 3 months).
Any visa to Ecuador for Russians is easily issued, so Russian citizens rarely have difficulties entering this South American country. Residents of CIS countries need to clarify whether a visa-free regime has been established between their state and Ecuador.
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Types of visas to Ecuador
Cuenca, Ecuador from a bird's eye view.
Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador. It is located near the capital, at an altitude of 2500 m. It is a colonial town with small houses and cobbled streets. Most tourists visit the historical area of the city between the Tomebamba River and Gran Colombia Street. For a long trip to Ecuador, Russians can obtain one of the following visas:
- tourist;
- diplomatic;
- student;
- working;
- investor;
- family.
The choice of visa type depends on the purpose of visiting the state. An Ecuadorian tourist visa is issued to Russians who are planning a long trip around the country. Diplomatic permits are received by diplomats who are in the state on duty.
Plaza San Francisco in the old town of Quito. San Francisco Square was created in honor of the city's patron saint, and the monastery of the same name is considered the oldest in the country. Quito has a large number of buildings of Spanish and Dutch style.
Russians who come to study at universities need a student visa for a long stay in Ecuador. It is issued on the basis of documents provided by the educational institution.
A work visa to enter Ecuador is issued to Russians who travel to Latin America to work. To receive it, you need a package of documents from the employer with whom the contract is concluded.
Investor visas are received by foreigners who plan to buy shares in companies, real estate, or invest money in mortgage bonds or insurance programs. Family visas are available to residents of other countries who are related to Ecuadorians. This could be marriage, guardianship, or a confirmed relationship between blood relatives (children-parents, brother-sister).
Tourist visa to Ecuador
View of two beaches on Bartolome Island.
Bartolome Island is a small island of volcanic origin, with an area of only 1.2 square kilometers. Despite the island's small size, it offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. In 2021, tourists coming to Ecuador for a period of 91 to 180 days will need to obtain a tourist visa. It is arranged in advance by Russians who plan to make a long trip around the country.
To obtain such a visa, in addition to the main package of documents, you need to provide the following documents to the Ecuadorian Embassy:
- certificate from the place of work;
- bank account statement;
- invitation from a travel agency;
- confirmation of the financial solvency of the receiving party (if entry is by invitation);
- round trip air tickets.
Mountain river and waterfall in the Andes. Banos. Ecuador. The city of Baños is located in the province of Tungurahua in the eastern Andes, at the very foot of the volcano. This is one of the most popular resorts in Ecuador. Among the attractions of Banos are more than fifty waterfalls. The largest and most famous of them is Pailon del Diablo, its height reaches more than a hundred meters.
To quickly obtain and issue a visa to Ecuador, make sure that the certificate from your place of employment details the position and salary of at least $500. A bank statement must show account movements over the past three months, and there must be at least $1,000 in the account.
Diplomatic visa to Ecuador
This visa is issued to diplomats, trade attaches, officials, embassy employees, administrative staff of consulates, international organizations, as well as their relatives.
To obtain this permit, you must provide appropriate papers confirming your diplomatic status or relationship with the diplomat. This document is received by Russians whose purpose of travel to Ecuador is related to professional activities.
Student visa for Russian citizens to Ecuador
Russians who decide to get an education in Ecuador need to apply for a student visa. It is issued to foreigners enrolled in public or private universities whose status is officially confirmed by the government of the country.
The flora of Ecuador has a huge number of species. Closer to the deserts of Peru, tall cacti grow, and in the Andes there are herbaceous plants that can reach six meters in height. Many of the representatives of the animal world of Ecuador are endemic; they cannot be found anywhere else on our planet.
Along with a package of basic documents, the student must provide a certificate from the university to the embassy of the country. It states the name of the university, faculty and course for which he was enrolled. It also indicates where the student will live during his studies.
A student visa can be obtained not only by the student, but also by immediate relatives who will accompany him during the trip. This visa is issued for a period of six months to one year.
Ecuadorian work visa
Russians who travel to Ecuador to work must obtain a special permit to enter the country. A work visa is issued to specialists coming to the country for a long period of time or for consultations and training.
To obtain such a visa, you need an invitation from the receiving party. The document indicates which organization the foreigner is going to work for, his position, salary, and contract period. If a Russian travels as a coach, then a challenge from the host side is definitely needed. The maximum validity period of such a visa is two years.
San Rafael Falls. A waterfall of enormous power and a height of 150 m is one of the most spectacular waterfalls. It is located at the foot of the Reventador volcano, which is active. On the way to the waterfall, you can admire the tropical landscapes and see rare butterflies.
Investor visa to Ecuador
It is issued to foreigners who plan to invest in the state’s economy. Also, those who buy real estate or company shares in Ecuador receive an investor visa. The Russian must confirm his solvency. He must have at least $25,000 in his account. If a Russian travels to Ecuador with his family, then an additional $500 is added for each family member.
Family visa to Ecuador
A foreigner can obtain an Ecuadorian family visa in several cases:
- if he married an Ecuadorian;
- if he had a child born in Ecuador, who automatically received citizenship;
- if he has adopted or taken custody of an Ecuadorian child.
You can obtain such a visa if you can prove your blood relationship with a citizen of Ecuador.
Required documents to obtain an Ecuadorian visa
Basilica of the National Oath and the historical center of Quito.
This is the largest Roman Catholic church in South America, built at the end of the 19th century. The structure was built according to the design of the French architect Emilio Taglier, and its appearance resembles the Parisian Notre Dame Cathedral. To obtain permission to enter Ecuador, as well as other Latin American countries, you must submit the appropriate papers to the embassy. The list of documents for an Ecuadorian visa is quite standard:
- foreign passport and a copy of its page with the applicant’s data;
- visa application form;
- 2 current photographs 4.5x3.5 cm;
- certificate from the place of employment indicating the position and salary;
- Bank reference;
- letter of invitation from a university, organization or from a citizen of Ecuador;
- closed date plane tickets.
The presence of return tickets will guarantee that the foreigner does not plan to stay in Ecuador illegally and comes to the country for a strictly defined time. Tourists who travel to Ecuador without a visa or apply for one need to pay attention to the validity period of their passport. It must be at least six months old at the time of crossing the border and leaving Ecuador. Otherwise, entry into the country may be denied.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. Citizens of the Russian Federation traveling to Ecuador for a period of no more than 90 days do not need a visa. When crossing the border, a note about the length of stay in the country is made in the passport. The import of national and foreign currency is not limited, but the entire amount must be declared. The export of foreign currency is permitted within the limits specified in the entry declaration. When exporting wool and leather products, jewelry and souvenirs, you must present a receipt from the store where these goods were purchased.
To obtain a visa, you need not only to prepare the necessary documents, but also to fill out the application form correctly. All information in it must be written in Spanish or English. The application form can only be signed personally by the applicant.
Airports of Ecuador
Tourists are delivered through 15 international airports in Ecuador. There you can always find out all the necessary information about flights, prices and services provided.
Russians can fly to Ecuador from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. Ticket prices range from 47,365 to 69,037 rubles.
Ecuador airports accessible to tourists:
- Mariscal Sucre – distance to the center of the capital is 9 kilometers;
Mariscal Sucre Airport
- Baltra;
- Coca;
- Cotopaxi International;
- Cuenca;
- Manta ray;
- Salinas;
- San Cristobal;
- Esmeraldas;
- Bahia de Caraqués;
- Virginia Highlands;
- Catamayo;
- Lago Agrio;
- Makara;
- Makas;
- Machala;
- Pastaca;
- Putumayo;
- Reales Tomarindos;
- Simon Bolivar;
- Sukua;
- Taisha;
- Tarapoa;
- Tiputini;
- Tulcan;
- Hipihapa;
- Chachoan.
Separately, I would like to highlight the airport in Ecuador, named after the famous Spanish poet José Joaquin de Olmedo. Its height above sea level is 5 meters, and its runway is 2,790 meters long. Thanks to this length, modern aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A 340 are accepted here. This airport is able to handle up to 5 million people per year.
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Some recommendations for purchasing plane tickets
Air travel is considered the most expensive means of transportation. And in order to reduce their cost at least a little, without losing quality, we dare to give a few recommendations:
- It is advisable to purchase air tickets in advance, approximately 2-3 months in advance. The price will always be higher just before departure. But there is also a downside - if the number of tickets purchased is small, the price may drop sharply just before departure in order to attract customers.
- When choosing a ticket, you should make sure that this is the last price including taxes and fees. Typically, they account for 30 to 50 percent of the total cost.
- If there are connecting flights, you need to make sure that there are at least 2 hours free between them in order to get to the next flight in time and not waste extra money and nerves.
- One of the conditions of a cheap ticket is that it cannot be returned or changed. Therefore, it is worth knowing everything thoroughly and thinking it through. Because there are cases when, when returning a ticket or replacing it, the price suddenly increases significantly, and the person did not know about it.
Visa validity period
View of the Malecon and the Guayas River in Guayaquil. Modern Guayaquil is a popular cultural and tourist center of the country. Its main street, the Malecon, houses government offices and a promenade along the Guayas River with museums, fountains, shopping centers, parks and monuments, restaurants and cafes.
Permission is issued for different periods depending on the purpose of stay in the country. Students can be given a visa for a period of six months to one year. A work visa is issued for a maximum of two years.
Cultural exchange visas are issued for a year. Some family and investor visas may be for an indefinite period. The most popular tourist visa can have a maximum duration of 12 months. But often it is given for the period specified in the invitation.
If a tourist needs to stay in the country for some more time, he can extend his visa at the local immigration police. You need to apply here a month before your visa expires. Here the period of stay can be extended for another three months. To obtain such permission, you only need a passport with a valid stamp.
Handmade wicker baskets, Cuenca, Ecuador. Cuenca is a city of artisans. Beautiful ceramics and metal items, as well as wicker Panama hats, are sold here.
Customs regulations
- Currency: Import is not limited in any way, but any amount is subject to mandatory declaration.
- Export can only be carried out within fixed limits.
- 300 cigarettes/50 cigars/200 g tobacco;
- for three additional units up to $300;
- You can neither import nor export: objects of artistic, antique, historical, archaeological value;
- gold, black corals and items made from them;
- drugs and substances containing them;
- medications;
- wild animals and their stuffed animals.
- An official permit from the Ministry of Agriculture of Ecuador or the Consular Service is required to import: weapons and ammunition, including hunting;
- meat and products made from it in any form;
- fresh vegetables, fruits and other fruits.
- You can export if you have a store receipt: wool and leather products;
- souvenirs and handmade jewelry.
Visa to Ecuador for a child
To travel to Ecuador with a child, you will need to present the following documents at the border:
- his international passport or the passport of his parent, in which he is entered;
- consent for the child to leave the Russian Federation from one of the parents;
- child's birth certificate.
Large Galapagos tortoise. The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of volcanic islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. On the islands you can see giant turtles, sea lions, other marine animals and various species of birds in the wild.
If a child is traveling to Ecuador for more than 90 days, they will need to obtain a visa. To do this, submit the listed documents for a visa, a completed application form, an invitation and a sponsorship letter to the Ecuadorian Embassy.
Refusal of Ecuadorian visa to Russians
As practice shows, Russian citizens are extremely rarely denied a visa. You can get a refusal if you submit incorrectly completed documents or provide false information in them.
The permit is not given to foreigners who have broken the law during their previous stay in Ecuador. Also, if the visa officer considers that the applicant poses a threat to the security of the country or has ties to terrorist organizations, the visa will be denied.
The eruption of the Cotopaxi volcano observed from Quito. Cotopaxi is the second largest volcano in Ecuador, the main natural attraction of Ecuador, its height reaches 5,897 meters. Cotopaxi is an active volcano and has erupted more than 50 times since 1738. The peaks of Cotopaxi are home to one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world.
