Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “migration”Clear
Spain’s housing prices rose about 14% in the first quarter of 2026, and Ecuadorian migrants are concentrated in several of the pressured markets. Madrid alone has around 130,000 Ecuadorian residents.
Ecuador's Registro Civil says citizens can continue going to agencies without a prior appointment for cedulas and passports through December 31, 2026. The agency says it issued 1.2 million identity cards and 217,201 passports between January and June.
Salinas has opened its humpback whale watching season, with accredited boats offering two-hour trips and a reported fare of $21 per passenger.
Ecuador and the United States signed a border-security implementation letter on June 22 to coordinate against transnational crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other border-zone threats.
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.
A group seeking a recall process against President Daniel Noboa asked Ecuador's electoral authority for signature forms on June 9. The process would require support from 15% of the electoral roll, representing more than two million signatures nationwide.
President Daniel Noboa named Roberto Kury as Ecuador's new foreign minister after Gabriela Sommerfeld resigned for personal and health reasons. The change matters to expats because the Foreign Ministry oversees mobility, consular services, visas, and Ecuador's international agenda.
El Mercurio reports 13,689 Ecuadorians obtained Spanish nationality in 2025. Ecuador led the country list for the fourth consecutive year, ahead of Venezuela, Morocco and Colombia.
The nationwide nighttime curfew under Executive Decree 370 ended at 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, after 15 days. Authorities reported 3,422 people detained nationwide, 378 raids, 5.9 tons of drugs and 405 firearms seized. Here's the final picture and what changes now for foreign residents.
President Noboa meets VP Vance this week to discuss security, migration, and trade. Ecuador is also seeking a civilian nuclear energy agreement with the US — a first.
President Noboa's Decreto Ejecutivo 354 bridges Thursday April 30 to the May 1 national holiday, giving public and private sector workers four consecutive days off. Overtime is double pay. Here's what closes.
Three Ecuadorian nationals are among the first group of 15 migrants sent from the United States to the Democratic Republic of Congo, arriving in Kinshasa on April 17, 2026. Ecuador's Foreign Ministry confirms they are housed in a hotel 'in good condition.' The arrangement is described as temporary, with permits lasting 6 to 12 months.
