Never Would I EVER Deliberately Overstay 90 Days in Ecuador!

Believe me when I say never would I never EVER deliberately overstay 90 days in Ecuador or any country intentionally but it did happen on our 2024 visit to Quito. We are rule followers but mistakes can be made.

Although our time was up in Colombia, we were not ready to leave BUT looking forward to seeing our Ecuadoran friends to finish off the year 2025. In Ecuador, as in most countries, there are various types of permits/visas for entry. Since we are a senior couple traveling on a budget, just needing a passport to enter Ecuador as a tourist was fantastic. No extra Visa needed for us to be able to stay in Ecuador 90 days.

On this particular flight, The Big Guy & I were meeting in Quito, Ecuador a day apart having traveled from two different locations.

Overstay 90 Days in Ecuador? Is it a Fine or a Punishment?

Upon check-in at the Ecuador Immigration kiosk on Nov. 2, I was informed I had overstayed in Ecuador in 2024 by two days. After the Agent made several trips out of his booth to parts unknown to me, he returned with a Overstay Fine ticket for $470 USD. I was surprised since I knew (or thought I did) we always followed the immigration rules of whatever country we were in & would never overstay. I did argue softly with him that I really didn’t understand where he was getting the “2 days over”. I was THAT PERSON holding up this particular line but I had to at least understand why the Fine? Before I took the $470 USD ticket from him, I pulled out my phone & counted the days of our 2024 visit to Ecuador at which time I just looked to the Agent & said “you are right, two days”.

This is the standard fine at this time for overstays in Ecuador. It doesn’t matter if its 1 or 2 days. Later I had read that it could have been worse but…

To Pay or Not to Pay the Ecuador Overstay Fine?

The Ecuador Overstay Fine included the following information: 1) the date it had to be paid by which was 30 days from my entry into Ecuador 2025 & 2) that fine had to be paid at Banco Pacifico (the only place/bank to pay fine) in Quito. The Agent explained I didn’t have to pay it but I would not be able to enter Ecuador for two years.

I don’t know when we will return to Ecuador at the moment but again being a rule follower I wouldn’t want to tempt fate by not paying it or would I? After I finally made it thru Immigration & Customs, I was thrilled to see a smiling face – The Big Guy! Once we made it to the Airbnb, we researched the Overstay Fine. From what I could read, the fine is overseen by Ecuador Immigration & periodically raised to match the monthly salary of Ecuadorians. I checked with various F/B groups to see if others had met this fate & how they handled it. Basically, I was told I should pay the fine.

Paying the Fine!

It took two trips to the bank but I finally understood (language barrier was not at all helpful here) & was told they would only accept cash so a trip to ATM & last trip to the bank with $470.59 cash in hand (bank added .59 cents transaction charge go figure). I paid my overstay fine & was given receipt plus extra slip of paper.

With receipt in hand, I walked out of the bank feeling happy that the fine wasn’t hanging over my head but also inwardly wondering did I really have to pay that fine? I’d already decided that maybe Ecuador would not be receiving any of my cash in the future visits. I thought I was done with Ecuador!

Repercussions of Paying Fine

So I was able to pay the fine since we were able to work it into our budget. Just personally I totally understand countries wanting to deter overstayers but this was pretty severe – to me – for an accidental two day overstay. Who lost in the end? The Airbnb, local vendors, cafes, shops, etc that we would have been spending that money. I’m really not that mad at the fine, more at myself for mis-counting the days to begin with.

90 Days May Not Be Three Months

This was a wakeup for me. I had gotten lax & paid for it. April 2 to July 2 is not 90 days! TIP: Count your allowed days. An easy app to add to your phone is Time and Date & yes its free.

Leaving Ecuador..

With receipt in hand, we head to the airport to leave Quito heading to our next adventure. The Immigration officer looks at me after scanning my passport & says ‘we have a problem’ as he swings the screen around for me to see in red “overstay’ language. I was so happy to hand him my paid receipt but then he explained to me that I had to take the receipt to Immigration office to be registered but I could do that on next trip to Ecuador & I would be fine! Yes!

After the Immigration agent scans The Big Guy’s passport, same thing, he swings the screen around fo show him the red banner with overstay…. Now for whatever reason when Horace had checked into Immigration upon his arrival flight on Nov 1, he was not issued a fine? So this left this Agent in a dilemma & again after a trip to the “unknown office” the Agent said no reason was given for the non fine but since it was so far out of some timeframe or other that it was left to his discretion & he chose not to give him a fine. Thank you! Now will this come back to haunt us on next visit to Ecuador we shall see…..we’ll let you know.

Quito, Ecuador is a wonderful place to visit but the Overstay Fine I had to pay (yes, for my mistake) has left me questioning if I want to spend anymore $ here? Right now the answer is no BUT I know I’ll be missing our friends & will be ready to visit again soon.

See you all soon on our next adventure! Eastern Europe here we come!!