Living in Ecuador
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Ecuador, including guidance on residency, healthcare and emergencies.
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.
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 of 90 days or less. There is also the possibility to extend this period for a further 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. he British Embassy Quito cannot legalise documents issued in the United Kingdom. The Ecuadorean authorities also require the police certificate to be officially translated. You can check our list of local translators in Ecuador.
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.
You can legalise your police certificate, apply and pay online: FCDO´s Legalisation Office. The police certificate can be an e-Apostille, which is done online if the certificate is already certified by a UK solicitor/notary). Alternatively, a paper-based apostille requires you to send the certificate to the FCDO´s Legalisation Office and pay any additional courier fees.
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 includes public hospitals and health centres, which are complemented by the private sector. Public health centres/hospitals are classified in 4 levels of attention:
- 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
- Level 4: medical research
For mental health assistance, check our Ecuador Mental Health Support for British Nationals](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ecuador-mental-health-support-for-british-nationals/ecuador-mental-health-support-for-british-nationals) guide.
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 call 911. Patients in a critical condition must be assisted, with or without an ID, 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.
We have compiled a list of English speaking private medical practitioners in Ecuador and a list of hospitals in Ecuador.
More information on hospitalisation in Ecuador is available.
Be aware that UK travel insurance providers will generally not 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 check that you 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.
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
Further guidance is available on the following:
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.
Postal system
In 2020, Correos del Ecuador closed their operations. In December 2021, Servicios Postales del Ecuador (SPE) took over the postal system in Ecuador with a new operating model. If you are expecting post in Ecuador, you can check on the SPE website whether you have post in your name awaiting collection. If you do, you will need to register an account, select the collection/delivery method and pay the corresponding fee.
For more information you can check their frequent questions, or contact them on: [email protected]
Accommodation and buying property
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. To apply for an Ecuadorean/International driving licence in Ecuador must be 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 it’s legalisation. Alternatively you can apply for an Ecuadorean driving licence if you have temporary/permanent residency.
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:
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 is entitled to British nationality, you can register with the UK authorities by applying for a UK birth certificate although this is optional. Likewise, this is not obligatory in order 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 and the information of the country you are planning to travel to with your pet.
Emergencies
Ecuador has an Emergency Integrated Response Service (ECU 911) to respond to any emergency incidents that may require immediate assistance. Call 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.
You can contact the British Embassy´s consular servicesonline for general information on available support.
If you are a British national in Ecuador and are a victim of crime, have been arrested, hospitalised or affected by a crisis and need urgent help contact the British Embassy Quito or call +593 2 3972 200.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Ecuador, contact the British Embassy on +593 2 3972 200 and read the Ecuador: information for victims of rape and sexual assault
You can seek emergency assistance from the Ecuadorean Ministry of Public Health (MSP), which has implemented a network of 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 “panic button alarm” (botón de seguridad) activated by Community Police Units (UPC). Approach the nearest UPC in your neighbourhood for its activation through your mobile number and home address.The British Embassy Quito and Honorary Consuls in Guayaquil, Cuenca and Galapagos (Santa Cruz Island) take sexual assault and domestic violence reports very seriously, and can offer you assistance on what to do next and how to get guidance from a competent authority or support agency (for example, related to medical procedures, local police, protection measures and counselling).
Remember anything you tell us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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.
Updates to this page
Published 3 May 2013Last updated 29 October 2024 + show all updates
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Updated version
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This guidance has been reviewed and the links in the document have been updated. July 2023
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Link update.
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Updated pdfs
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The guide has been reviewed and updated throughout, including a link to Ecuador Coronavirus travel advice - with updated information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine for UK nationals living in Ecuador.
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Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
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FCDO merger - updated version
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Updated July 2020
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Updated living in guide for November 2019
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updated version of July 2019
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Wording and documents updated December 2017
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Updated Postal Services in Ecuador May 2017
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Health section updated May 2017
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Updated 30 May 2016
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Update list of medical practitioners
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First published.