Moving To Ecuador

Meeting Your Shipping Needs When Relocating to Ecuador

We’ll Be With You Every Step of the Way

Customs Regulations for Ecuador

Passport (needs to be notarized for all family members, notary’s address must be included for verification purposes)
Migration Certificate (issued by Migration Police once Customer arrives at destination)
Work visa or temporary work visa (valid for six months only)
Work contract (notarized, approved by the Public Ministry of Labor)
Bill of Lading (original) or Air Waybill (passport number included)
Inventory list and packing list (in Spanish, must contain contents of all boxes in shipment and be notarized in Customer’s country of origin)
Transportation Insurance Policy

All Customers must be present at the time of Customs clearance in Ecuador to sign all necessary documentation
All shipments subject to inspection upon arrival
Customer should be in Ecuador at least two weeks prior to the arrival of their shipment
- Shipments that arrive before a Customer are subject to duties and taxes
- Shipments must arrive within 60 days after Customer’s arrival
Non-declared items located during inspection will be deemed illegal and the Customer subject to arrest
All household goods and personal effects must be inspected in the Customer’s country of original before departing for Ecuador
- Shipments that do not comply with this order before departure are subject to re-embarkation and will be returned to their country of origin

In Ecuador, some articles may not be imported in a Customer’s baggage whatsoever. These items include, but may not be limited to:

Controlled substances and narcotics
Alcohol, cigarettes and cigars
Pornography, including obscene publications, video and software
Weapons, swords, firearms (including air guns) and ammunition
Food, spices and live plants
Rugs
Appliances that use R12-R15 and R502 refrigerants
All cleaning products
Creams, cologne, perfume and cosmetics

Some articles may have restricted quantities or require special authorization/ payments of duties and taxes to clear customs in Ecuador. These items include, but are not limited to:

Electrical items and appliances
Art, antiques, religious materials, icons

In Ecuador, the following rules apply to importing motor vehicles:

Foreign citizens with non-immigrant visas are prohibited from importing vehicles into Ecuador
Returning citizens may import vehicles (limited to one duty free import) if they have been abroad for at least three years
- Vehicle cannot be more than four-years-old
- Must be shipped in household goods container
Diplomats can import used or new vehicles after approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

For importation, you will need the following documents:

Passport
Vehicle title (original)
Vehicle registration (original)
Import permit (approved in Ecuador before shipment)
Purchase invoice (original, notarized by Ecuadorian Consulate in country of origin before arrival)
Bill of Lading (original)
Circulation Permit

When importing a pet to Ecuador, up to three pets are permitted, including dogs, cats and birds with the accompanying:

Certificate of vaccination informing Customs that animal has had all vaccinations (including rabies) at least 30 days before arrival
Health certificate (signed and dated by a veterinarian no more than 10 days before landing in Ecuador)
When traveling with Customer, pets must be cleared at Customs as baggage
- Must be presented with an International Health Certificate at Customs
- Pets arriving as baggage must spend one night in Customs before clearance is permitted

Shipments imported by foreigners and immigrants are duty free if Customer has Non-Immigrant Work Visa (valid for at least one year) or an Immigrant Visa
Only one shipment per customer is allowed to be imported duty free, all other shipments are subject to import taxes and duties
One of each item is allowed to be imported (including appliances), all other items subject to tax and duty
Each family member is allowed to transport 200 kilos of clothing, shoes and personal accessories (any amount over is considered dutiable)
New items past a certain valuation are subject to duties

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Ecuador

To start, one of our trained moving specialists will provide a one-on-one consultation with you, thoroughly outlining your moving options based on certain criteria, such as:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Ecuador?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying?
Your family/household size. Will you be moving alone or with your family?
For business or personal reasons?
Cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

What Will Moving to Ecuador Cost?

For the most accurate estimate of your total shipment size, you should schedule an in-home survey as early as possible for your move to Ecuador.

Don’t wait until the last possible moment, contact International Sea & Air Shipping today. You won’t regret the decision.

After we hear from you, our moving specialists will assess your belongings to give you the best estimate possible to expedite your relocation.

The cost of moving to Ecuador will vary considerably based on the cubic footage of your belongings and your proposed destination arrival time so it’s extremely important that you work with an agent so they can give you the most accurate quote.

Ready to start budgeting for your international move?

Give us a call, and don’t forget to ask about our overseas packing and custom crating services, too!

About Ecuador

Located on the southwestern side of the continent of South America, the territory of Ecuador includes the mainland along the Pacific Ocean and the Galápagos Islands in the South Pacific, which is made up of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands and 107 other rocks and islets.

While 94 percent of the population speaks the official language – Spanish – thirteen other languages indigenous to the area are also common.

In addition to a wide range of biodiversity – Ecuador is rated one of the most “megadiverse” in the world – the area is also widely regarded for having the best preserved (least altered) historical center in all of Latin America, located in the capitol city of Quito.

Considered a middle-income country who largest export is crude oil, Ecuador has the eight largest economy in Latin America and recently started using the USD as currency.

Can’t wait to get started with your overseas relocation to Ecuador? First, find out what you’ll need to clear Customs.