Ecuador has officially published a list of 46 countries whose nationals are now required to obtain a tourist visa before entering the South American nation. The list, released by the Ecuadorian Consulate in Washington D.C., includes a significant number of African and Asian countries. The visa is strictly for tourism purposes, and work is prohibited under this category.
African and Asian Countries on Ecuador's Visa List
The full list of countries affected includes: Angola, Albania, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Chad, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, India, Iraq, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Haiti, Republic of Congo, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
Haitian nationals face an additional requirement: they must obtain a tourist registration before visiting Ecuador, on top of the standard visa process.
Application Requirements and Fees
Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee by money order for the review of their documents. If the visa is approved, an additional fee must be paid before issuance. An appointment is mandatory, and applicants must bring a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity. Other required documents include a completed visa application form (available from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), a recent passport photograph against a white background, proof of legal residence in the country from which the application is made, and bank and credit card statements for the last three months.
Criminal background checks from the country of origin or any country where the applicant has lived in the past five years are also required. These records must be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish, with the translation itself notarised and apostilled.
Context and Related News
This development comes as several countries adjust their visa policies. For instance, Indonesia recently named nine African countries eligible for an electronic visa on arrival in 2026. Meanwhile, Nigeria has released categories of visa classes, including Short Visit Visas allowing travel for up to 90 days for business, tourism, and academic exchanges, processed through embassy or e-Visa platforms.
