Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
At least 460 hospitals and health centers are located in Ecuador parishes under yellow alert for El Nino. Most are small health centers, and the risk list is concentrated heavily in Manabi and Guayas.
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 issued Decree 441 on July 3, raising maximum values for certain social-interest housing categories. The change matters for buyers and developers watching subsidized housing, preferential mortgages, and lower-cost home inventory.
Interprovincial buses were operating normally Friday morning after Fenacotip called off its planned July 3 stoppage. Travelers should still watch the fare talks now moving to technical tables with ANT.
Ecuador’s tax authority began a new RIMPE recategorization process on July 1. Small-business owners should check their RUC status because category changes can bring new tax obligations.
IESS transferred more than $63 million to 195 private health providers in June 2026, with Azuay, Guayas and Pichincha among the provinces highlighted. The payments are part of more than $616 million sent to external providers since December 2025.
Ecuador’s 2026 vehicle-registration calendar moves to plates ending in 6 during July. Owners should check local transit-agency portals, pay pending values and complete technical review before the month ends.
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.
President Daniel Noboa extended the liquidation period for Correos del Ecuador by another 45 days starting July 1. The state postal company's closure process has dragged on since 2020.
An incident at the Paute Molino substation caused outages and programmed disconnections in several parts of Ecuador early Tuesday, including Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Loja.
Ecuador’s police say violent deaths have fallen 11 percent so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, with the reported homicide rate moving from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Ecuador’s banking system added more first-time credit card users in 2025, with 4.63 million cards recording consumption. The trend matters for residents building local financial history.
