Ecuador has officially ended visa-free airport transits for travelers from Nigeria, Ghana and 43 other countries, requiring them to now obtain a Transit Visa, known locally as Visa de Transeúnte.
According to TravelBiz, the new policy confirmed by Ecuador’s immigration authorities takes effect immediately.
This marks a major shift in the country’s immigration policy and is expected to affect thousands of international travelers who use Ecuadorian airports as transit points to other destinations across the Americas and beyond.
The new rule applies to passport holders from 45 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Nationals of these countries must now obtain a visa before boarding any flight that includes a layover in Ecuador, even if they do not exit the airport.
Affected countries include Nigeria, Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Philippines, Venezuela, China, and several others in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Travellers affected by the new rule must apply for the transit visa ahead of travel. Below is a simplified guide to the application process:
Travellers from visa-required countries were previously allowed to enter Ecuador but were allowed to pass through its airports during layovers without one, as long as they stayed in the international transit area and didn’t go through immigration. That rule has now been canceled.