BREAKING NEWS: Ecuador Revises Covid Travel Guidelines
Yesterday, Juan Zapata, president of the National COE, revised the COVID travel guidelines relating to vaccines and testing for travelers who enter Ecuador.
Effective March 22, 2021, a negative PCR test will no longer be the only option for entering Ecuador as a foreign traveler. You will ALSO be allowed to enter Ecuador by presenting a vaccine card or certificate showing that you have received both doses of an approved vaccine.
The currently approved vaccines in Ecuador are: Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, Covax and AstraZeneca. These are the only vaccines currently available in Ecuador. We expect the government to clarify which vaccines will be approved for travel in the coming weeks or months.
Additionally, negative antigen tests will also be accepted, as well as negative PCR tests. However, both tests must now be less than 72 hours old upon arrival in Ecuador. Prior to March 22, only negative PCR tests were accepted and they needed to be less than 10 days old.
According to Ricardo Zambrano from the Ministry of Tourism, the objective of these changes is so Ecuador can reactivate the tourism sector for worldwide vaccinated travelers.
You can watch the full interview with Juan Zapata in Spanish here: Ecuador announces changes for the entry of passengers with a vaccination card against covid-19.
COVID Information for Ecuador
Here's a handy list of resources for COVID-related travel guidelines and status updates:
- Ecuador Vaccine Plan (NEW WEBSITE)
- National COE Resources: CoronavirusEcuador.com & National COE Resolutions
- CDC International Travel Guidelines: After You Travel Internationally
- CDC PCR Test Guidelines: Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States
- US Embassy & Consulate in Ecuador: COVID-19 Information
- Quito International Airport COVID Travel Info: Protocols and Health Measures
- Guayaquil International Airport COVID Travel Info: Information Regarding Travel Due to COVID
* How to easily translate Spanish websites to English...
Planning a move to Ecuador?
Our Ecuador Expat Fast Track eCourse will tell you exactly how to do it! Join more than 250 people who have already signed up! See what our students have to say here...
Get Qualified, Trustworthy Recommendations
Need help with your visa, finding a place to live, shipping a container, health insurance, private driver or something else?
We're happy to introduce you to our trusted and qualified relocation experts in Ecuador!
News & Current Events from Ecuador
Every Friday, we send an email with current expat-relevant news from Ecuador (in English). It contains the latest information about covid, travel restrictions & guidelines, government actions, volcanoes, flooding, crime, and more. Basically, anything significant from the prior week that affects expats. We don't share this information ANYWHERE ELSE!
In addition, you'll also gain immediate access to our Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator. And it now contains a Low Budget Cost of Living option.
BE Unconventional!
We've assembled a supportive community of current and future expats who are eager to share their experiences, answer questions and offer encouragement as you embark on your move abroad.
Once you become a member, you'll also gain access to a variety of exclusive benefits that will help you make a smooth transition to Ecuador!
I wonder what their decision process was for the approved vaccines. I have the Moderna vaccine my wife has Phizer
The vaccines listed are the only ones that are available in Ecuador. That may be the basis for the decision. My guess is they will add the Moderna vaccine eventually.
I just want to make sure I understand; if I am fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, I won’t be able to travel to Ecuador? Is that correct? I am so looking forward to doing a “dental tourism” exploratory trip first, but I want to move there (and your videos were my inspiration and hope). I won’t move (or get an exploratory) if I can’t come with this vaccine….Any advice?
Glad you’re enjoying our videos! Currently, the Moderna vaccine isn’t on the accepted list, but we expect the govt to clarify/expand the list at some point. You can still enter Ecuador with either a negative PCR test OR an antigen test, and they must be less than 72 hours old upon entering Ecuador.