by John Palomino
The government of Ecuador will begin requiring visas from Chinese citizens as of July 1, 2024, in response to the significant increase in irregular migration flows of citizens of this country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility declared that large groups of Chinese citizens have been detected who have not left the country within the 90 days of entry allowed or who use Ecuador as a starting point to reach other destinations in the hemisphere, especially To united states.
“In recent months, there has been a worrying increase in migratory flows from China and, additionally, approximately 50 percent of these entries do not leave through regular routes and within the times established by law,” the entity noted. in an official statement.
Cancillería informa pic.twitter.com/bUhbORkSjJ
— Cancillería del Ecuador 🇪🇨 (@CancilleriaEc) June 18, 2024
Between 2023 and 2024, Ecuador received 66,189 Chinese citizens, but only 34,209 left the country, meaning that around 32,000 travelers did not register their departure. Furthermore, during the last regularization process, which ended in April 2024, only 115 Chinese citizens obtained an Exception Temporary Residence Visa (VIRTE).
Studies indicate that many of these Chinese immigrants head towards the United States through the dangerous Darien Pass.
The number of Chinese immigrants detained at the southern border of the United States increased drastically last year, reaching 37,000, ten times more than the previous year, as we have reported in ADN América on other occasions.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Lin Jian, in his usual press conference, expressed that “the Chinese Government firmly opposes all forms of human smuggling” and that enormous efforts have been made to combat these crimes.
However, he did not mention whether China will apply a similar measure for Ecuadorian citizens. Until now, the Chinese Embassy in Ecuador has not issued any official statement on the matter. Currently, Ecuadorian citizens can enter China without a visa for a period of 30 days.
What are the requirements for the Ecuadorian visa?
Starting July 1, 2024, Chinese citizens who wish to enter Ecuador for tourism purposes must meet the following requirements:
- Visa application form (cost US$50)
- Valid passport with a minimum validity period of six months
- Updated color photograph in JPG format (5 x 5 cm) with white background
- Certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin or from the countries where you have resided in the last five years
- Travel itinerary and round trip tickets
- Proof of legal means of support for your stay
- Visa fee payment (US$30)
The complete visa application process is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador.
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As an enterprise reporter for ADN America, John Palomino‘s coverage is wide-ranging and includes culture, politics, and Latin American affairs.
