How to Extend Your Tourist Visa in Ecuador: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Extending your tourist visa in Ecuador can feel intimidating at first especially with all the mixed information online. But once you know the exact steps, the process becomes surprisingly straightforward. We learned this firsthand after falling in love with Cuenca and deciding to stay here for four months. We completed our own visa extension in December 2025, and this guide walks you through exactly what we did, what to bring, where to go, and how long everything took.
Who Can Extend A Tourist Visa In Ecuador?
Ecuador allows visitors who entered on a 90-day tourist stamp to extend their stay by an additional 90 days, giving you a total of up to 180 days per calendar year.
A few important notes:
- You can only extend once.
- You must apply between day 80 and day 90 of your stay.
- Do not wait until day 90. If the system is down or documents are rejected, it will be on you. Leave at least a day (preferably a few days) of buffer.
Documents You Need For The Visa Extension
When we went for our visa extension in Cuenca, the office asked for:
- Passport (original)
- Colored photocopy of your passport information page (colored is important as they won’t accept any black and white copies).
- Colored copy of your entry stamp (highly recommended to bring). We brought it with us but were not asked for it.
- Application form (they give you the form at the office, but it’s much faster if you fill it out beforehand and take it with you).
Where We Did Our Visa Extension In Cuenca
We completed our extension at the Cuenca airport, where you will see the immigration office on the second floor.
To get there:
- We took Bus Linea 10, which drops you right at the airport entrance. You can check other buses on Google Maps from your location. We took Linea 10 close to Mercado 10 de Agosto.
- You can also take the tranvía (tram). Both buses and tranvía are cheap and easy options.
- If you prefer comfort, a taxi will get you there quickly for a few dollars.
Cuenca’s airport is small, so once you enter, go up to the second floor and you’ll see the immigration office immediately.
Our Step-by-Step Process (Exactly What Happened)
This was the full flow when we did it:
1. Go to the Airport
Either take a taxi or a public transport to reach the Mariscal Lamar International Airport.
2. Head to the 2nd Floor
The airport is tiny, you can’t miss it. As soon as you reach the second floor, you’ll see the immigration office (Servicio de Apoyo Migratorio).
3. Submit Your Basic Details
They asked for:
- Passport
- Colored photocopy of the passport main page
- Application form (we had ours already filled out)
They quickly reviewed everything and then handed us a slip with payment details.
4. Go to the Bank to Pay the Fee
The payment must be made at Banco del Pacífico.
Here’s the catch:
The bank is located at Mariscal Lamar y Manuel Vega, but Google Maps couldn’t find it. When we reached the intersection, the bank was right there. You have to go to this specific branch to pay.
We took the bus to get to the bank but you can take a taxi for your convenience.
5. Pay the Visa Fee
The teller knew what it was for when we handed the slip. The code they gave for payment was 4.6. The fee we paid was $156.67 per person that we paid in cash. You also pay a small commission of $0.59 to the bank. Once paid, the bank gave us a blue slip back.
IMPORTANT: Keep that slip safe.
It is the only proof that you paid the fee.
6. Return to the Airport Office
We took the bus back to the airport and handed over our documents. The officer processed everything and gave us a paper document with a stamp. This paper is your visa extension. Keep it safe until you leave Ecuador.
How The Visa Fee Is Calculated
Ecuador calculates the fee for the tourist visa extension as one-third of the Salario Básico Unificado (SBU), the country’s legal monthly minimum wage. That means the exact dollar amount changes whenever the SBU is updated by the government, so the fee will vary year to year. When we did our extension in December 2025, the fee came to $156.67 (that was the 1/3 SBU amount at the time). The bank slip you receive at payment will show the exact value you must pay on the day you process it.
What Happens After Your Extension Is Approved?
Once you receive the stamped paper:
- It becomes your official extension document.
- Keep it stored with your passport at all times.
- You’ll show this when leaving Ecuador.
Tips For A Smooth Visa Extension
- Apply between day 80–90, but avoid day 90.
- Bring all documents in color.
- Fill out the application form in advance.
- Keep all slips and receipts.
- Go early in the morning.
- Don’t rely on Google Maps for the bank, go to the intersection.
Final Thoughts
Extending your tourist visa in Ecuador is easier than it looks, especially once you know what to expect. Our experience in Cuenca was smooth, friendly, and surprisingly quick, even when using public transportation!
Read More About Ecuador
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