COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Ecuador (23 November Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter Ecuador.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreign citizens can enter Ecuador.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers without a PCR test result for COVID-19 will be tested upon arrival and must quarantine until the results are available. To terminate quarantine, a negative COVID-19 test result will be required. In the case of positive results, the travellers will be required to continue the quarantine, and essential health and medical care will be provided.

• Travellers who have COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival in Ecuador will be required to have a COVID-19 PCR test at the airport at their own expense.

• Galapagos:

• If the PCR test presented was administered more than 96 hours before entry to the Islands, the traveller must have another test performed in Ecuador at the traveller’s expense at a laboratory recognized/authorized by the Agency for Quality Assurance of Services of Prepaid Health and Medicine.

Test certificate allowed

• Yes with exceptions

• Only PCR test certificates will be accepted. IGG/IGM or rapid test results will not be allowed.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• All arriving travellers (over 18 years of age) must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test performed a maximum of ten days before entering Ecuador.

• Galapagos:

• Travellers must have a negative PCR test result performed 96 hours before entry into the Galapagos province.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• All passengers who arrive with a negative PCR test result will no longer be required to enter self-isolation, provided the traveller does not have any COVID-19 symptoms.

• Persons who do not present a negative PCR test result on arrival will need to carry out self-isolation for 10 days at their own expense, in a hotel or private accommodation. Residents and people qualified as “priority attention groups” such as people over 65 years old, children and pregnant women, will be allowed to self-isolate at their homes.

• Travellers who have COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival in Ecuador will be required to have a COVID-19 PCR test at the airport at their own expense and must self-quarantine, even if the traveller submits a negative PCR test certificate at the airport.

• All government officials and their dependents will be required to quarantine for 14-days upon arrival in Ecuador.

• Galapagos:

• Tourists must also present proof of a return flight and a safe passage document (‘salvoconducto’) issued by the Ministry of Tourism to be exempt from doing 14 days of self-isolation on the islands.

Insurance required?

• No with exceptions

• Foreign travellers going to the Galapagos Islands must have travel health insurance.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Upon arrival, travellers will be required to complete a declaration form with their local contact details and itinerary.

• Galapagos:

• Tourists must also present a return flight and a safe passage document (‘salvoconducto’) issued by the Ministry of Tourism to be exempt from doing 14 days of self-isolation on the islands.

• Tourists must also fill out the Galapagos Transit Control Card online at least 24 hours before their flight.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• A nationwide tracing app called “ASI Ecuador” is available.

• There are a few apps to access information regarding COVID-19, which can be downloaded here.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Domestic and international flights have resumed.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• All land and maritime borders are closed until further notice. However, Ecuadorian nationals and foreign residents may be allowed to enter Ecuador via the Rumichaca and Huaquillas northern and southern borders.

• The land borders with Peru and Colombia continues to remain closed and the border closure with Colombia may be extended to 31 December.

• Travel to the Galapagos Islands is allowed.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There is a state of national public health emergency in place until 15 December.

• The Ecuadorian government lifted the state of emergency as well as curfew restrictions across the country. The system of colour-coded zones is no longer in effect. Local municipalities have the authority to impose controls and restrictions.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Social distancing is mandatory for all people in public spaces. Violators will be fined.

• The government has advised people to work-from-home as much as possible.

• Public gatherings without special authorization are currently restricted.

• Self-quarantine is encouraged for people aged 60 or above, and persons with medical conditions.

• The National Emergency Operations Committee has laid out the resolutions for the upcoming December holidays, which can be found here.

• After the resolution laid out by the National Emergency Operations Committee, several cantons have issued new provisions, to avoid crowd gatherings during the December holidays, which are available here.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Inter-provincial bus transportation has resumed services with a limited capacity.

• Restrictions on vehicles have been lifted. However, the local municipalities have the authority to impose local vehicle restrictions.

• Public transport, bus terminals, and interstate transportation are operating at reduced capacity.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Shops, supermarkets, cinemas, and banks are allowed to operate at reduced capacity.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open with reduced capacity.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Reopening of beaches will be monitored by a government-authorized app called “Distancia2”.

Events allowed?

• No

• In Quito, contact sports activities that cannot maintain the minimum social distancing requirement are banned.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks and social distancing are mandatory for all people in public spaces. Violators will be fined.

Other

• The Ministry of education initiated the second phase out of three-phased COVID-19 plans. The second phase is known as “Open education implementation plan for the Technical Baccalaureate in support education institutions fiscal.” Under the third phase, “Everyone will be back to school.”

• Health, security, and risk management services are operating.

• In Quito, pubs, gyms, and nightclubs that cannot maintain the minimum social distancing requirement are banned.

• In Esmeraldas, the Las Palmas beach and freshwater spas are closed during Sundays.

Advice

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.