Immigration Appointments Unavailable and New Requirements in Guayaquil

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Executive Summary

• Appointments for immigration processes for the rest of 2017 are not available in Quito and very few remain in Guayaquil.  Due to this shortage, foreign nationals may have to wait until 2018 to file immigration applications that require an appointment.
• Additionally, the Registro Civil in Guayaquil now requires a birth certificate for the cedula (identification card) application process.

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​Appointment shortage

Appointments for immigration processes are not available in Quito and very few remain in Guayaquil for the remainder of 2017. 

• Impact. Due to this shortage, foreign nationals may have to wait until 2018 to file immigration applications that require an appointment, which include:
  • Visa transfers from an old to new passport;
  • Certificado de empadronamiento (document that certifies the validity of the visa, required for cedulas);
  • Permanent visa applications;
  • Visa renewal applications; and
  • Initial visa applications.
• How travel will be affected.
  • Those seeking to renew a visa that has already expired will need to wait to travel until their renewal is approved.
  • Those seeking to renew a visa that will soon expire, but are unable to renew due to the lack of appointments, should not travel abroad until their visa is renewed. 
• Foreign nationals may still be able to travel abroad if:
  • They have a valid visa but have not been able to obtain a cedula due to the lack of appointments. These foreign nationals can enter using just their valid visa, without a cedula;
  • They have not been able to secure an appointment to file for an initial visa. These foreign nationals can leave and re-enter Ecuador under a tourist visa; and
  • They traveled abroad prior to the expiration of their current visa and are waiting to receive approval of their filed renewal application. These foreign nationals can re-enter as a tourist after the current visa expires.

 

New requirement for cedula applications in Guayaquil

The Registro Civil in Guayaquil now requires foreign nationals applying for a cedula (identification card) to submit their birth certificate.

• Details. The certificate must meet the below requirements:
  • Original or copy;
  • Legalized or apostilled (depending on whether the foreign national’s birth country requires legalization or apostille); and
  • Translated into Spanish.
• Impact. This may delay the cedula application process because legalization/apostille processes can be time-consuming.
• Background. Birth certificates are not currently required for the cedula process in any other city in Ecuador.
• Assistance. Fragomen can assist with the legalization/apostille/translation process.

 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].