Expat Community > Ecuador

bonobobob
Joined 2013
Posts: 19

visa confusion

10 years ago

Hi everyone,

Sorry in advance for bringing up a well discussed topic. But I’m even more confused now than when I started researching all of this, so here goes.

I’ve been in Ecuador (now in Montañita) since 2 February on the normal entry visa, which expires on 2 May.

I thought I had read that I could get a six month extension once in Ecuador, which to me meant six more months in Ecuador from when I received the extension for a total of roughly 9 months in country. But now I am reading that we are only allowed six months TOTAL in Ecuador, meaning the extension would only give me three more months, not six.

And now I just read that I could either apply for that extension and pay the fees in Ecuador now before my original visa expired, or I could leave the country for a few days and then re-enter and pay the fees at the boarder crossing when I return.

I have to leave Ecuador for two months starting the middle of May, and I wanted to return 1 August. If I can only get 3 more months in country and I can pay for that at the time of entry, that would be easiest for me. But I am having a hard time confirming this. Can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Also, if I get the six month visa while in Ecuador (which gives me three more months here) does that end from the date of issue, or can I leave and return and not have that time out of country counted against me (for a total of 90 actually in Ecuador)?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

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