Ecuador Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Answers to frequently asked questions about being an expat in Ecuador submitted by our patrons on Patreon and YouTube viewers.

FAQ #101 – What Are the DRIEST BEACHES In Ecuador?

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This may sound like an oxymoron, but there are some beaches in Ecuador that are dryer than others, at least in terms of humidity.

Playas, Salinas and the beaches near Manta including Santa Marianita and San Lorenzo are located in desert microclimates, which means they have more dirt and cactus than humidity.

However, they are still ocean beaches, which means there is moisture coming off the water in the form of mist and humidity. While the air does feel drier than beaches in jungle microclimates like Olón and Montañita, it is still humid compared to inland deserts and higher elevation mountain towns like Cotacachi and Vilcabamba.

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FAQ #100 – What About SAND FLEAS In Ecuador?

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Sand Fleas or No-see-ums are a seasonal issue on most beaches in Ecuador. They are tiny invisible bugs that bite and leave itchy blisters, mostly on your feet, ankles and lower legs.

An easy prevention is to apply an alcohol based bug repellent that is sold in most tiendas along the coast. Look for the white bottle with green print. We just rubbed it all over our feet and lower legs before our long walks on the beach and that prevented them from biting us.

We were usually caught off guard when the sand flea season began so a little benadryl cream helped with the itching.

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FAQ #99 – What About DIGITAL TV/RADIO In Ecuador?

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Digital TV and radio are not yet widely available in Ecuador. The government has a plan in place to convert all analog signals over to digital by December 2023, but we don’t have an updated status on the progress.

Cable and satellite services are available throughout Ecuador, including DirecTV, but as of this writing (March 2022), satellite internet service is not yet available. Musk’s Starlink plans to launch in Ecuador sometime in 2023.

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FAQ #98 – What About the AMPARO Visa In Ecuador?

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If you are married to an Ecuadorian citizen, you can apply for the Ecuador Amparo Visa, which allows you to skip the 2-year temporary residency visa and go directly to a permanent residency visa.

The main requirements are that you need to be legally married to an Ecuadorian citizen and register your marriage with the ministry. You also must reside inside Ecuador for at least 6 months per year for the first 2 years for your visa to remain valid.

After two years of permanent residency, you can then apply for Ecuadorian citizenship. You don’t need to wait 5 years like other types of visas.

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FAQ #97 – Can I Live 6 MONTHS per YEAR In Ecuador?

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If you want to live 6 months per year in Ecuador, your best option is to apply for a temporary residency visa.

The tourist visa issued at the airport allows you to stay for 90 days per year based on the date of entry. You can apply for a 90 day extension, but only once every 5 years.

A temporary residency visa will allow you to stay as long as you want each year, but you’ll need to reapply every two years.

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FAQ #96 – What About DOG RESCUES In Ecuador?

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Dog rescues in Ecuador are very common. The major cities have several and even some smaller areas have them. Some are operated by Ecuadorians, while others are run by expat volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer at a dog rescue, your best option is to message the local rescue and ask how you can get involved. Most have Facebook pages or Instagram accounts.

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FAQ #95 – What About CUSTOMS & PASSPORT CONTROL In Ecuador?

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Customs and passport control in Ecuador work exactly like they do in every airport around the world.

Once you get off the plane in Quito or Guayaquil (currently Ecuador’s only international airports), you’ll enter the line at passport control for foreign visitors.

The agents typically speak English at those booths. You’ll be asked to present your passport, which will be scanned and stamped. If you have a visa, that information will show up on the agent’s terminal since Ecuador uses electronic visas and physical visas are no longer used.

Once you leave passport control, you’ll collect your luggage at the baggage claim and then passed it through a scanner on the way out of the international terminal. If the scan reveals anything suspicious, your luggage may be searched. If you’re carrying taxable items like a professional drone worth more than $500, you may be charged an import tax.

Ecuador has modern airports that are very nice and look just like airports in a small U.S. city.

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FAQ #94 – What About RENT CONTROL In Ecuador?

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Rent control in Ecuador is not conducted. This practice is usually reserved for large, heavily populated cities like New York City where rent costs would easily exceed the budgets of most service industry and blue collar workers if limits weren’t inforced. Without the limits, there wouldn’t be enough local workers to fill the roles that are necessary to keep the city functioning.

In Ecuador, this isn’t a problem. Even in Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador’s two largest cities, there are plenty of low cost housing options within the city limits for people who work low paying jobs. And with a comprehensive public transportation system, workers can easily get from one side of town to the other for very little cost.

The free market drives the housing costs in Ecuador. This means that the price of rent is set based on what people are willing to pay.

If you sign a one year lease and the housing market explodes before the end of your term, the landlord may increase your rent if you wish to stay for another year. You have the choice to pay more or move someplace else once your lease is up.

For more on this topic, check out FAQ #92 What About LANDLORD TENANT LAW In Ecuador?

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FAQ #93 – What About VISA RUNS In Ecuador?

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In some countries like Mexico, visa runs are often used to reset the tourist visa/permit timelines every 3 to 6 months. However, visa runs are not allowed or feasible in Ecuador since you can only have one 90-day tourist visa per year based on the date of first entry, not per calendar year.

You are allowed to apply for a 90 day extension for your tourist visa, but you can only do that once every 5 years. Your best option for staying in Ecuador longer than 90 days is to apply for a Temporary Residency Visa, which is far easier and cheaper than most other countries.

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FAQ #92 – What About LANDLORD TENANT LAW In Ecuador?

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Landlords and tenants are protected in Ecuador provided they have a valid rental agreement or contract. Both parties have the right to sue IF the rental agreement/contract has been breached, but only if it has been legalized or notarized.

Contracts can be notarized in the Cámara de Comercio or with an attorney. Both parties have the right to hire an attorney to legalize the contract before signing.

You’ll find that lease agreements are much shorter and simpler than in the U.S. All three of the leases we’ve signed were 2 to 3 pages in length.

The landlord has the right to evict a renter if they haven’t paid rent for two consecutive months. The landlord can use the security deposit to pay for any repairs needed or damage done by the renter. Any remaining funds from the security deposit must be returned to the renter.

The renter must also leave the home in the manner in which it was received. For example, if the house had white walls at the time of the rental and the new tenant decides to paint the walls yellow, they must repaint the walls white before moving out.

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