Ecuador

Specific Information

Repeat importation: Per the FIDI guide (July 2024), household goods can be imported more than once as long as 10 years have elapsed since the last importation. The IAM guide (2016) states the shipper can import again after maintaining residence in Ecuador for at least 5 years with no more than 150 days abroad. The FIDI guide's 10-year figure is more recent and should be used.

One shipment only: Only one shipment is admitted duty-free. If 2 shipments are sent (e.g., a small airfreight plus a container), one of them will be subject to import taxes.

One item per type: Only one of each item is allowed, including appliances. Duplicate items are subject to duties. Customs accepts one electrical appliance of each type; extras incur duties at approximately 43-45% of CIF value.

Clothing limit: Up to 200 kg net of clothing, footwear, and accessories per member of the family unit.

Alcohol limit: Up to 50 litres of alcoholic beverages may be included, without exceeding 2 litres of the same characteristics (brand/type). Quantities exceeding this are subject to taxes.

Eligible goods: Per the FIDI guide, eligible goods can be new or used as long as they are acquired by the importer for everyday use.

Electrical appliances: Must specify year and serial number on inventory.

Shipments valued over USD 4,000: Must be inspected at origin before embarkation (customs value, not replacement value). The inspection is requested and coordinated by the destination agent. Lack of verification at origin will cause delays and additional costs. If a shipment arrives without the inspection certificate, the customer has 15 working days to request customs inspection at the port/airport. Cost of local verification may reach approximately USD 800 and take approximately 3 weeks.

Inspection at destination: A 15% sample of total household goods will be inspected. In case of inconsistencies, a fine for regulatory breach will be imposed. Undeclared items found during inspection are treated as a felony and may result in criminal prosecution.

Shipper must arrive first: The shipment must arrive after the client. The client should be in Ecuador 2 weeks prior to arrival of the shipment. If the shipment arrives after the client, they must not leave the country for more than 30 calendar days during the clearance period.

Inventory must be valued: Use declared value for customs purposes, not insurance or replacement value.

Packages identification: Packages and items must be identified with the importer's full name and their respective numbering. Clothing must be packed separately.

Non-compliant shipments: Subject to import taxes of approximately 43-45% of CIF value, calculated by customs after inspection.

Work equipment: Can be new or used, intended for the importer's activity, profession, art, or trade. Must not exceed 160 basic salaries (USD 482 x 160 = approximately USD 77,120 at the 2026 basic salary; previously USD 72,000 at the 2024 rate of USD 450). Professional title or documentation of courses taken must be provided.

ISPM 15: Wood packaging materials must comply with ISPM 15 (NIMF-15 in Spanish).

Currency: Ecuador uses the United States dollar (USD) as its official currency.

Duties & Taxes

Duty-free conditions (returning Ecuadorians): Must have stayed abroad for more than 2 years and not stayed more than 180 days in Ecuador within the 2 years prior to return. The exemption of taxes benefit must be requested within 36 months of arrival with intention of residing in Ecuador.

Duty-free conditions (foreigners): Must have a permanent or temporal visa. Must have stayed abroad for more than 2 years and not stayed more than 180 days in Ecuador within the 2 years prior to return. Shipments arriving up to 1 month before and 6 months after entering Ecuador may be considered as household goods. If the visa is not stamped on arrival, a guarantee (banking, cash, or insurance policy) equivalent to 120% of eventual taxes with 180 working-day validity must be presented. If the working visa is not presented to customs within 90 days, the guarantee is forfeited and full duties apply.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Original commercial invoice **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• Title of ownership **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• Registration **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• License number or equivalent document issued at origin **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• Customs export declaration number **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• Registered vehicle value from the country of origin **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• ANEXO III form (Ecuadorian immigrant with household goods and vehicle) **For returning Ecuadorians (used vehicles):**
• Original commercial invoice **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Title of ownership **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Vehicle subcategory code (issued in Ecuador by the SRI) **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Payment receipt **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Apostilled certificate issued by the dealer (including vehicle specs and net value with any discounts indicated) **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Human mobility certificate **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Customs export declaration number **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Registered vehicle value from the country of origin **For returning Ecuadorians (new vehicles):**
• Foreign citizens cannot import cars or motorcycles as part of their household goods. Vehicle import for foreigners requires separate procedures and is generally subject to full duties. **For foreigners:**
• Legalized vehicle invoice and license number **For diplomats:**
• Vehicle subcategory code (issued at SRI) **For diplomats:**
• Original invoice or notarized copy in the importer's name with vehicle value **For diplomats:**
• Title of ownership **For diplomats:**
• Diplomatic franchise **For diplomats:**
• Export customs declaration number and vehicle value from country of departure **For diplomats:**
• Certificate from dealer certifying the market value **For diplomats:**

Specific Information

Vehicle must ship with household goods: The vehicle must be shipped under the same bill of lading as the household goods. It must be mentioned at the end of the packing list and in the B/L with complete specifications.

Vehicle value limits (returning Ecuadorians): Vehicle imports must not exceed 80 basic salaries (USD 482 x 80 = approximately USD 38,560 at the 2026 basic salary; previously USD 36,000 at the 2024 rate). Motorcycle imports must not exceed 25 basic salaries (USD 482 x 25 = approximately USD 12,050; previously USD 11,250). If the vehicle exceeds these limits by up to 10 additional basic salaries (approximately USD 4,820), 100% taxes will be paid on the exceeded amount only.

Used vehicle depreciation: For used vehicles, the acquisition price is determined by market price at the model's release date, multiplied by a yearly depreciation percentage (per FIDI guide Art. 23 reference).

Students returning: People who left Ecuador for study reasons can import a motorcycle but not a car.

Foreigners cannot import vehicles duty-free: This is a significant restriction. Foreign citizens are explicitly excluded from importing vehicles as part of their household goods under the menaje de casa regime.

Non-exempt vehicle duty: Approximately 65% of CIF value.

Import permit required: The import permit must be approved in Ecuador prior to import.

Origin inspection: The vehicle must be inspected at origin prior to import, even if sharing a container with household goods.

Motorcycles (per IAM guide): Must be valued at no more than USD 8,000 at time of purchase with a maximum engine capacity of 650cc. Note: the FIDI guide (2024) uses the basic salary formula instead (25 x USD 450 = USD 11,250), which may supersede the older fixed figure.

Diplomats: May import new or used vehicles duty-free with authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Driving: Driving is on the RIGHT-hand side of the road.

Pets

• ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip (strongly recommended; not yet mandatory but considered international standard and essential for identification) Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• Rabies vaccination for all dogs and cats over 3 months of age, administered at least 21 days (some sources say 30-60 days) and no more than 12 months before arrival; the health certificate must state vaccine brand, batch number, dates of administration and expiry Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• Internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days of export (for nematodes, cestodes, fleas, and ticks) Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• Veterinary health certificate (Zoo-Sanitary Export Certificate) issued within 10 days of travel by a licensed veterinarian, in Spanish Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• For U.S. origin: must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS within 10 days of travel Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• The certificate must confirm the animal was examined, found free of infectious or contagious diseases, and treated against internal and external parasites Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• For pets arriving as air cargo: a Permiso Zoosanitario para la Importación (PZI) must be obtained from Agrocalidad through their online GUIA system before shipping Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:
• For pets arriving in-cabin or as checked baggage with the passenger: no import permit is required; present the health certificate upon arrival Per PetTravel.com (February 2026), USDA APHIS, Agrocalidad procedures, CuencaLawyer (2024), and Gringo Visas:

Cats ARE allowed in Ecuador. One older industry source (Blue Horizon Shipping) states "cats are not allowed in Ecuador," but this is contradicted by USDA APHIS, PetTravel.com, Agrocalidad's own procedures, CuencaLawyer, EcuaPass, and multiple other current (2025-2026) sources, all of which explicitly include cats in Ecuador's pet import requirements. Cats are permitted.

Pitbull breeds are not permitted entry to Ecuador per PetTravel.com (February 2026).

Up to 3 pets: Per the IAM guide and Atlas International, up to three dogs, cats, or birds (or a combination) may be imported. EcuaPass (2026) suggests no strict limit, but importing 3+ pets increases complexity.

No quarantine: Ecuador does not quarantine healthy dogs and cats that meet all requirements. If documents are in order and the pet is healthy upon inspection, the animal is released immediately.

Agrocalidad inspection on arrival: Upon landing (Quito or Guayaquil), proceed to the Agrocalidad office in the airport's customs area. The on-duty veterinarian conducts a document review and physical inspection. Fee: approximately USD 26.21-26.88 per pet, payable at the airport (cash or card). Email notification to Agrocalidad is recommended 48 hours before arrival.

Pets arriving as cargo: Must stay overnight at customs. The owner is responsible for feeding and walking them. Requires the PZI obtained through Agrocalidad's GUIA online system before shipping.

Ports of entry for pets: Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito), José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport (Guayaquil), Carlos Concha Torres Airport (Esmeraldas). Land entry at International Bridge Rumichaca (Carchi), Loja, or El Oro.

CDC high-risk rabies country: Ecuador IS on the U.S. CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. This affects anyone returning to the U.S. with a dog. U.S.-vaccinated dogs must have a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form completed before departing the U.S. (cannot be issued retroactively). Source: CDC High-Risk Countries List — verified 200.

Common mistakes: Not having the health certificate endorsed by USDA within the 10-day window (the certificate expires quickly). Not getting the PZI for cargo pets before shipping. Not having documents in Spanish. Assuming the process is the same for cabin pets vs. cargo pets (it is not). Not factoring in the Agrocalidad inspection fee. Shipping pitbull breeds.