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Ecuadorian authorities say five people were detained in an alleged migrant-trafficking network that operated in Guayas and Tungurahua. The case involves current and former Migration officials, real passports used with substituted identities, and alleged illegal fees of $5,000 to $8,000.
The SRI is applying stricter controls to IVA refund requests in 2026. Older adults can recover up to $144.60 per month, but invoices must use a cedula, be for personal consumption, and fit accepted categories such as food, clothing, health, education and construction.
Ecuador's Registro Civil will begin permanent Saturday service on June 20, 2026, at 14 agencies in 11 provinces. The special Saturday schedule runs from 08:00 to 17:00 and includes cedulas, passports, marriages, certificates and other regular civil-registry procedures.
Registro Civil users in Quito can handle several certificates fully online, while first cédulas and passports still require in-person biometrics or issuance steps. Online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Your IESS pension isn't based on your last salary or years of service alone — it's calculated from the average of your five highest-earning years. If your employer has been under-reporting your salary, you won't find out until retirement. Here's how the formula works.
The Ministry of Education has opened more than 2,000 teaching vacancies across Ecuador with applications running exclusively online through the official portal. For expats with teaching credentials or interest in Ecuador's education system, this is a rare window into public sector employment.
President Noboa signed Decreto 353 on April 2, declaring a 60-day state of exception across nine provinces and four cantons. Warrantless searches are now legal in affected areas, though no curfew has been imposed. Expats in Pichincha, Guayas, Manabi, and other covered provinces should understand what rights have been suspended.
President Noboa signed Decree 353 on April 2, declaring a 60-day state of emergency across 9 provinces and 4 additional cantons. Unlike the previous emergency that ended March 30, this renewal does not include a curfew -- but it does authorize police raids and suspends home inviolability in affected areas.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Ecuador's coast near Santa Elena and Guayas early Saturday morning, April 4. The quake was felt across 6 provinces but caused no damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. It follows a 4.1 magnitude tremor near Loja on April 2.
Friday April 3 is a mandatory national holiday in Ecuador. Banks are closed through Sunday, government offices shut down, but supermarkets and pharmacies stay open. President Noboa's VAT reduction to 8% on tourism services kicks in for the long weekend.
The UAE and Ecuador signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi's visit, unlocking over $3 billion in investment across clean energy, digital infrastructure, mining, logistics, and agriculture. Ecuador becomes the fourth Latin American country with a UAE trade deal.
Ecuador's Semana Santa holiday runs April 3-5 with Good Friday as a national holiday. Banks and government offices close, IVA drops to 8% for tourism, and major processions take place across Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Riobamba. Here's your practical guide.
