Marrying and Sponsoring an Ecuadoran Citizen
Listen to this articleMarriage to an Ecuadoran Citizen
Every country has its own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to a Ecuadoran citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps. The Ecuadoran government imposes strict requirements on foreigners who marry Ecuadorans as an indirect way of discouraging Ecuadoran citizens from moving to other countries.
You must demonstrate to Ecuadoran officials that they are not currently married to anyone else – either you have never been married or all divorces are finalized – that your identity is proven, and that you have never committed any crimes in Ecuador. This is done by providing various documents including an Affidavit of Single Status to the Ecuadoran government either in Ecuador or via an Ecuadoran embassy.
If you want to bring your Ecuadoran spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for a visitor visa. For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our visitor visa page.
Ecuadoran Marriage Basic Requirements
According to Ecuadoran marriage law, Canadians who wish to get married to Ecuadoran citizens need to obtain a non-immigrant visa, either from an Ecuadoran Embassy in Canada or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once in Ecuador. Ecuadoran marriage laws also demand that Canadian citizens who wish to get married in Ecuador must have resided in Ecuador for at least 75 consecutive days before being entitled to get married, except for those Canadians who have registered children with Ecuadoran citizens, who will be able to get married straight away. The main purpose of these regulations is to reduce marriages of convenience.
Canadian citizens who wish to get married in Ecuador must acquire a Certificate of No Impediment in Spanish. To get this certificate in Ecuador you will need to submit to the Consular Section of the Canadian Embassy an Oath-Affidavit and a Notice of Marriage. The applicant must have resided in the consular district where notice of the proposed marriage is to take place for at least 21 days before giving such a notice to the Canadian Embassy in Quito.
Oath – Affidavit: This form must be completed by the Canadian national and signed in front of a Consular official. You should bring your passport as proof of identity when applying for the Certificate.
Notice of Marriage: This form must be completed by the Canadian national and signed in front of a Consular official. The Notice of Marriage will be displayed in the Embassy consular notice board for 21 days, after which the Certificate of No Impediment will be issued.
Certificate of No Impediment: Provided that no impediment has been shown to exist during the 21 days of the notice being displayed, a Certificate of No Impediment will be issued in Spanish. You will have to submit this certificate to the Ecuadoran Registry Office in order to prove that you are legally free to marry in Ecuador.
You must note though that a Certificate of No Impediment is only valid for 3 months, from the date of issue.
Documents required for the application of Certificate of No Impediment
The following original documents are required in order to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment. These documents will be examined by a Consular official of the Canadian Embassy:
- Original Birth Certificate
- Canadian passport
- Fiancé (e) ´s Ecuadorian identification card or passport
- Divorce documents duly legalized and translated into Spanish (if applicable)
If you have already obtained a Certificate of No Impediment from Canada (in English) prior to arriving in Ecuador, you must ensure that it has been translated to Spanish before using it as required by Ecuadoran marriage law..
Canadian Citizens in Canada
Before coming to Ecuador, you should approach a Registry Office in the area where you live in Canada and explain that you intend to get married in Ecuador. You will be asked to submit the above mentioned documents in order to qualify for a Certificate of No Impediment.
You will need to take an oath stating that there is no impediment to you getting married and to complete a Notification of Marriage form, which will be displayed in a public area for 21 days. After that time has passed, the Canadian Registry Office will issue a Certificate of No Impediment in English.
Once you are in Ecuador, you should approach the Consular Section of the Canadian Embassy in Quito. Bring all the required documents listed above, as well as the original Certificate of No Impediment in English. You will have to translate the Certificate of No Impediment to Spanish before using it in Ecuador, as the marriage law demands.
After supplying all documents mentioned above and within the stipulated time, you are set to get married. The Ecuadoran marriage law demands that the spouses be 18 years and above. If one of the spouses intending to get married is below 18 years old, the express consent of the parental authority must be sought in writing.
Ecuadoran Marriage Certificate
After the marriage, the spouses will be issued a marriage certificate as a testament to their marriage. The registration of marriage by the couple must be performed within Ecuador before the authorities of the Directorate General of Civil Registry and Identification. Neither marriage nor its dissolution alters the nationality of the spouses.
The Marriage Certificate must contain the following information:
- Place and date of birth, nationality, address, profession or occupation and previous marital status of the contracting parties;
- Place and date of marriage;
- Numbers of identity or citizenship cards, or passport in the case of non-resident foreigners;
- The names of the parents of the contracting parties;
- Signatures of the consul and the parties, and;
- Dates and notary or civil registration folio, in the event that a marriage had been concluded.
- If the marriage has children it must be recorded in the Registration Certificate.
Family Members
If your Ecuadoran spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Ecuadoran Marriage document application.
If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry a Ecuadoran citizen.
List of Ecuadora Consulates in Canada
Calling Ecuador from Canada
To make a direct call to Ecuador from Canada, you need to follow the international dialling format given in the box below. The dialling format is the same when calling Ecuador mobile or land line from Canada.
To call Ecuador from Canada
Dial 011 – 593 – Area Code – TEL #
Follow the dialling format shown above while calling Ecuador from Canada.
011 – Exit code for Canada, and is needed for making any international call from Canada
593 – ISD Code or Country Code of Ecuador
Area code – There are 24 area codes in Ecuador. There are the codes used by the major cities and towns (landlines only):
| Ambato | 3 | Ibarra | 6 | Portoviejo | 5 |
| Babahoyo | 5 | Jipijapa | 5 | Puerto Francisco de Orellana | 6 |
| Buena Fe (San Jacinto) | 5 | La Libertad | 4 | Quevedo | 5 |
| Cayambe | 2 | La Troncal | 7 | Quito | 2 |
| Chone | 5 | Latacunga | 3 | Riobamba | 3 |
| Cuenca | 7 | Loja | 7 | Samborondon | 4 |
| Daule | 4 | Machala | 7 | Sangolqui | 2 |
| El Carmen | 5 | Manta | 5 | Santa Elena | 4 |
| El Triunfo | 4 | Milagro | 4 | Santa Rosa | 7 |
| Eloy Alfaro | 4 | Montecristi | 5 | Santo Domingo de los Colorados | 2 |
| Esmeraldas | 6 | Nueva Loja | 6 | Tulcan | 6 |
| Guayaquil | 4 | Otavalo | 6 | Velasco Ibarra | 4 |
| Huaquillas | 7 | Pasaje | 7 | Ventanas |
Area Codes by Province
| Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas | 2 | Galapagos, Los Rios and Manabi | 5 |
| Bolivar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Pastaza and Tungurahua | 3 | Carchi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Napo, Orellana and Sucumbios | 6 |
| Guayas and Santa Elena | 4 | Azuay, Canar, El Oro, Loja, Morona Santiago and Zamora | 7 |
Cells
All cell phones have a prefix of 9x before the 7-digit number.
How to Call Canada From Ecuador
Calling Canada from Ecuador
To make a direct call to Canada from Ecuador, you need to follow the international dialling format given in the box below. The dialling format is the same when calling Canada mobile or land line from Ecuador.
To call Canada from Ecuador Dial
00 – 1 – Area Code – TEL #
Follow the dialling format shown above while calling Canada From Ecuador.
- 00 – Exit code for Ecuador, it is needed for making any international call from Ecuador
- 1 – ISD Code or Country Code of Canada
List of area codes in Canada
| Province | Code | Province | Code |
| Alberta | 403 / 587 (southern Alberta)
587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta) |
Nunavut | 867 |
| BC | 236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC)
236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver) |
Ontario | 226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario)
249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario) |
| Manitoba | 204 / 431 | PEI | 782 / 902 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | Quebec | 418 / 581 (eastern Quebec)
438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 709 | Saskatchewan | 306 / 639 |
| Northwest Territories | 867 | Yukon | 867 |
| Nova Scotia | 782 / 902 |
Time Difference
Mainland Ecuador usese Ecuador Time, which is the same as EST. Ecuador does not practice Daylight Saving Time. The Galapagos are an hour behind the mainland.
| Canadian Time Zone | Time Difference | Time Difference during DST |
| Pacific (BC, Yukon) | Ecuador is 3 hours ahead | Ecuador is 2 hours ahead |
| Mountain (Alberta, western Nunvaut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) | Ecuador is 2 hours ahead | Ecuador is 1 hour ahead |
| Saskatchewan | Ecuador is 1 hour ahead | Ecuador is 1 hour ahead |
| Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario) | Ecuador is 1 hour ahead | Same Time |
| Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec) | Same Time | Ecuador is 1 hour behind |
| Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec) | Ecuador is 1 hour behind | Ecuador is 2 hours behind |
| Newfoundland | Ecuador is 90 minutes behind | Ecuador is 2.5 hours behind |
Ecuadorian Money
The official currency in Ecuador has been the American Dollar since September 9th 2000. The bills are the same as those used in the United States but the coins are printed in Ecuador with the images of historical personalities in Ecuador. They remain the same in size, weight, workmanship and colour as the US coins. They are only valid within the territory of Ecuador. Canadians coming to Ecuador should bring dollars in order to ensure that they don’t experience any problems when it comes to using the money in the country. Bills that circulate in Ecuador are the 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 and the coins are 1 centavo 5 centavos 10 centavos 25centavos 50 centavos and 1 dollar.
The United States one dollar bill ($1) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. The first president, George Washington is currently featured on the front while the Great Seal of the United States is featured on the back.
The United States five dollar bill ($5) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. The current $5 bill features U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s portrait on the front and the Lincoln Memorial on the back
The United States ten dollar bill ($10) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. The first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, is currently featured on the front of the bill, while the U.S. Treasury is featured on the back of the bill
The United States twenty dollar bill ($20) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. Former U.S. President Andrew Jackson is currently featured on the front side of the bill while the White House is featured on the back side.
The United States fifty dollar bill ($50) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. Ulysses S. Grant is currently featured on the front of the bill while the U.S. Capitol is featured on the back.
The United States one hundred dollar bill ($100) which is also the official currency used in Ecuador is a denomination of United States currency. U.S. statesman Benjamin Franklin is currently featured on the front of the bill while on the back is an image of Independence Hall.
Coins
Custom Duty and Wedding Presents
If you like travelling abroad and love shopping in the process, you must remember that there are set rules and regulations that you must follow, as well as duty you have to pay when you’re bringing those goods across the Canadian border.
If you are a Canadian resident coming from Ecuador, you are eligible for a personal exemption, which allows you to bring a certain amount of goods into the country from Ecuador without paying any duty.
Wedding gifts
If you got married in Ecuador within three months prior to coming to Canada or if you plan to marry no later than three months after arriving in the country, you can bring in your wedding gifts free of duty and taxes. However, you must have owned and possessed the gifts while in Ecuador and before you arrived in Canada. At this instance, the requirement to have used the goods does not apply. These same conditions apply to household goods you bring in as part of a bride’s trousseau from Ecuador.
Ownership, possession and use requirements
To import goods duty- and tax-free, settlers must have owned, possessed and used the goods prior to their arrival in Canada. Former residents must have owned, possessed and used the goods for at least six months before returning to resume residency.
It is important that you meet these three requirements. For example, if you owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods will be subjected to duty and taxes. Please note that leased goods are subject to duty and taxes because the Canada Border Services Agency does not consider that you own them. If you have bills of sale and registration documents, they can help you prove that you meet these requirements.
Declaring your goods
You must give your list of goods to the border services officer when you arrive at your first point of entry in Canada even if you have no goods with you at the time. The officer will complete a Form B4, Personal Effects Accounting Document, assign a file number to it and give you a copy of the completed form as a receipt based on the list of goods you submit. To claim free importation of your unaccompanied goods when they arrive, you will need to present your copy of this form. Goods to follow may be subject to import restrictions before you can import them.
To facilitate the clearance process, you can complete Form B4 before your arrival at the first port of entry in Canada.
Emergency Information for Canadians in Ecuador
Canadian Offices in Ecuador
Embassy of Canada in QuitoAv. Amazonas N37-29 and Union Nacional de Periodistas Postal Address: Telephone: 593 (2) 245-5499 |
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Consulate of Canada in GuayaquilAvenida Francisco de Orellana, Number 234 Telephone: 593 (4) 263-1109 Ext. 101 |
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Canadian Government’s Travel Alerts for Ecuador
Important Numbers in Ecuador
- Emergency: 911
- Fire-Dept: 102
- Police: 101
- Toll-free prefix: 1-800
- International access-code: 00
Religion in Ecuador
Ecuadorian religious practices can be traced way back from the Spanish colonization, the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Ecuadorian periods. Both traditional and modern Ecuadorian religious practices are heavily borrowed from Spain, Afro-Ecuadorian and Amerindian.
Demographics
Many Protestants, about 4.1% of the population in Ecuador, are represented by Evangelical missionary union. The Province 9 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America owns the Anglican churches in Ecuador. New and vibrant churches are being introduced in Ecuador under the umbrella of Catholic Church besides the renowned old churches that currently exist. The presence of other religions can be felt, though not as much as the dominant ones. Such religions include the Islam, Mormonism, Judaism, Buddhism and Eastern Orthodox Church / Eastern Orthodox.
Majority of Ecuadorans are Catholic followers which stand at 95%, followed by Protestants at 4.1%, Atheists and others at 0.6%, traditional religions at 0.2% and Buddhists at 0.1%.
Catholicism
The official religion became Catholicism, and only Catholics could obtain citizenship, after the enactment of the first Constitution of 1869. In 1899, the government made a new constitution which respected all religions and guaranteed freedom of religious choice. The Catholic Church still has an important place in the Ecuadorian government and society. Since the Spanish colonization, Ecuador has become a Roman Catholic dominance country.
Examples of Christian Churches in Ecuador
Santo Domingo church
The Santo Domingo church was built by the Dominicos in the 16th century. It’s main façade takes over the eastern side of the Santo Domingo Square, which was designed according to the first Hispanic city layout.
La Compañia de Jesus church
The construction of the La Compañia de Jesus Church began in the beginnings of XVII century and was completed in 1765.
Apostolic
The “Jesus Name Apostolic Church of Ecuador” (Iglesia Evangelica Apostolica del Nombre de Jesus) is the largest Apostolic/Pentecostal church in Ecuador with more than 100,000 members in the country. It is considered to be a missionary church because it has branches and missions in many parts of the world.
Latter-day Saints
On August 1, 1999, the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley after the arrival of the first Mormon missionaries in Ecuador in 1965. In 2008, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported having 185,663 members in Ecuador, thus indicating that the Latter-day Saint membership in Ecuador has been increasing significantly in recent years.
Mormon, Temple
The temple is located in the northern part of Guayaquil Ecuador
Islam
The Islamic Community of Ecuador has approximately 100 members which are mainly of the Sunni denomination. The Asociación Islámica and Cultural Khaled Ibn al Walidi acts as a symbol of unity among the Muslims in the country. It has it’s headquarters in Quito. The Islamic Center of “Al Hijra” is located in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, with an estimated membership of 175 people
Judaism
The Jewish Community of Ecuador has approximately 300 members and it has it’s headquarters in Quito. It supports the “Albert Einstein School”, where Jewish history, religion and Hebrew classes are being offered. The Community has it’s own Jewish Centre with a synagogue, a country club and a cemetery.
Romantic, Scenic and Historic Places in Ecuador
Ecuador is located on the northeast side of South America. It’s coasts are on the Pacific Ocean on the continental territory, and some islands close to the coast and the Galápagos archipelago, almost 1,000 kilometres from Ecuador. It’s a country with great natural, cultural and archaeological wealth. Quito is the capital, but the most populated city is Guayaquil, the main port of this country and one of the greatest transit centres of South America.
Hotels
Hotel Dann Carlton – Quito
The Hotel is situated in the city centre of Quito and close to Atahualpa Olympic Stadium, Carolina Park and Botanical Garden. In addition to a restaurant, the hotel has an indoor pool.
Hotel Patio Andaluz – Quito
The Patio Andaluz is a romantic hotel situated in the center of Quito city. The Ecuadorian historical landmarks such as Independence Square, Quito Cathedral, Baslica del Sagrado Voto Nacional and El Panecillo are close to the hotel.
Hotel Plaza Grande – Quito
The Hotel Plaza Grande is a luxury hotel located in Quito city center near Independence Square, Quito Cathedral, El Panecillo and Baslica del Sagrado Voto Nacional.
Mansion del Angel – Quito
The Mansion del Angel Hotel is situated in the city Centre, close to renowned historical places such as El Panecillo, Baslica del Sagrado Voto Nacional, Itchimbia Park, Independence Square and Quito Cathedral.
Le Parc Hotel – Quito
The Le Parc is a luxury hotel situated near Ecuador’s historical landmarks such as Botanical Garden in Quito, Carolina Park, Guanquiltaqua Metropolitan Park, Chapel of Man and Atahualpa Olympic Stadium. The hotel has a full service spa and a bar.
Swissotel – Quito
The Swissotel is situated in the business district and close to La Mariscal Craft Market, Baslica del Sagrado Voto Nacional, and Ecuadorian Cultural House. Carolina Park and Botanical Garden are also nearby. The Hotel has three restaurants and an indoor pool.
La Piedra Hotel – Bahia de Caraquez
La Piedra is a luxury Hotel located 100 kilometres from the city of Manta, in Bahía de Caraquez, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful and exclusive beaches in Ecuador. Hotel La Piedra is the most comfortable and renowned hotel in Manta. It has a private beach, a pool and gastronomy specialized in coastal typical plates. The hotel’s infrastructure and amenities offers comfort to those who visit.
Beaches
Atacames Beach – Esmeraldas
It is found in the province of Esmeraldas, on the south coast of the Pacific. Atacames beach is well known as one of the best beaches in Ecuador. It is the most visited beach as one of the most amazing tourist destinations in Ecuador because it’s only 350 kilometres from Quito, the capital city.
Los Frailes Beach – Manabi
Los Frailes beach is one of the most prestigious, renowned and most visited in the coastlines of Ecuador. The part of the beach which is about 55,000 hectares is a home to a variety of marine animals such as dolphins, sea lions, over 200 species of birds, howler monkeys, anteaters, deer, squirrels, iguanas, and lizards. A visitor to Los Frailes Beach also gets an opportunity to explore the world of marine animals.
Salinas Beach – Santa Elena
Salinas Beach is 150 kilometres from Guayaquil and is located on the Peninsula of Santa Elena. It has calm and clear water, white sand, and is also surrounded by a natural landscape with exuberant flora and fauna.
How to Sponsor your spouse to Canada
A Canadian citizen can sponsor a spouse and dependent children to come and live with him / her if they are not in Canada. Therefore Canadians are free to get a marriage visa to marry their Ecuadorian spouses and sponsor their application for marriage immigration to Canada, provided that they meet all the requirements. If you were married in Ecuador, the marriage must be valid under the law of Ecuador and under Canadian law. A marriage performed in a Canadian embassy or consulate in Ecuador must comply with the laws of Ecuador.
Sponsorship Review
Immigroup will review your completed spousal sponsorship application. . Immigroup will make sure you have not made any mistakes on your application or in gathering the documentation of your relationship. We will assess your sponsorship letter and give you peace of mind that you are submitting an application with a very good chance of success. Don’t lose sleep at night worrying about whether you’ve done enough. Call us at 1-866-760-2623 for a review.
