← Part of the Ecuador money guide
Ecuadorchecked Jul 2026Do US citizens need a visa for Ecuador?
Short answer: no visa for a normal visit, and entry is easy. The costs that catch people are not at the border but on the way to the Galapagos. Here is what you need, and what to budget.
At a glance
Visa
None, 90 days per year
Mainland entry fee
None
Galapagos fees
$220 total, cash only
Also asked
Onward ticket, lodging
No. US citizens can enter Ecuador visa-free for up to 90 days in a 12-month period as tourists. You need a passport valid for your stay, and officials can ask for an onward or return ticket and proof of where you are staying. There is no entry fee for mainland Ecuador. The fees to plan for are for the Galapagos: a 20 dollar transit control card bought at the mainland airport and a 200 dollar national park fee (100 for children) paid in cash on arrival in the islands.
The official route
The official US-side page for entry requirements, safety and local conditions. Confirm details before you travel, since rules can change.
US State Department: Ecuador country information(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
Entry for a normal visit
As a tourist you get up to 90 days visa-free in any 12-month period, granted on arrival. Stay longer in a year and you would need an extension or a different visa category, arranged with Ecuador's migration authority.
Have your passport (valid for the length of your stay), and be ready to show an onward ticket and accommodation if asked. No visa fee applies to a standard tourist entry to the mainland.
The Galapagos fees, the part that surprises people
The Galapagos are the real cost gate, and both fees are cash. Before you fly from Quito or Guayaquil, you buy the INGALA transit control card for 20 dollars at a dedicated airport counter, and you keep the receipt.
On arrival at Baltra or San Cristobal, a park officer collects the national park entrance fee: 200 dollars per foreign adult, 100 dollars per child under 12. This doubled from 100 dollars in August 2024, so budget the new amount, and note there are no ATMs at the island airports, so bring clean dollars.
One more form before the islands
Galapagos-bound travelers also complete a short biosecurity declaration online before the flight, and all bags are inspected for prohibited plant and animal material at the mainland airport. It is quick, but arrive with extra time.
None of this is a visa. For most travelers the paperwork is simply a passport, an onward ticket, and the Galapagos card and fee if you are going to the islands.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Ecuador?
No. US citizens can visit Ecuador visa-free for up to 90 days in a 12-month period as tourists, granted on arrival. You need a passport valid for your stay, and officials may ask for an onward ticket and proof of accommodation. Staying longer than 90 days in a year requires an extension or a different visa.
How much does it cost to enter the Galapagos?
About 220 dollars per foreign adult in fees: a 200 dollar national park entrance fee paid in cash on arrival (100 for children under 12), plus a 20 dollar INGALA transit control card bought at the mainland airport. Both are cash, there are no ATMs at the island airports, and the park fee doubled from 100 dollars in August 2024.
Do I need a passport or is an ID enough for Ecuador?
You need a valid US passport to enter Ecuador, valid for the length of your stay. A driver license or other ID is not enough for international entry. Officials can also ask to see an onward or return ticket and proof of where you are staying.
Is there an entry or tourist fee for mainland Ecuador?
No. There is no entry fee or tourist tax to pay at the border for mainland Ecuador. Prices include a 15% VAT, and restaurants often add a service charge, but there is nothing to hand over on arrival. The Galapagos fees are separate and apply only if you visit the islands.
More on Ecuador
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in EcuadorIn Ecuador, a 10% service charge is often already on your restaurant bill, and the whole thing is in US dollars, so there is no conversion to think about. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in Ecuador, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards cover the cities, but you will want dollars in hand for the everyday and rural side, and cash is essential in the Galapagos. Here is how to pay, and how to carry money safely.
- Taxis and ride apps in Ecuador, done safelyGetting around Ecuador is cheap, but hailing a taxi off the street carries a real safety risk in the big cities. Here is which apps to use, how to handle the airport, and the habits that keep it simple.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- US State DepartmentEcuador country information and entry requirements
- Galapagos National Park Directoratethe park entrance fee and transit control card
Our own readEntry rules and fees can change, and the Galapagos park fee rose sharply in 2024, so confirm the current amounts on the official pages before you travel. Checked July 2026.