Cuban travelers face new visa rule from Ecuador
Ecuador will require Cuban nationals to obtain a transit visa when stopping over in the country, following a new provision announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The measure, published on the ministry’s official X account (formerly Twitter), aims to strengthen security and immigration control.
According to the statement, Ecuador “will request transit visas from those nationals in transit from countries that currently require visas to enter the country and from those determined by the human mobility authority.”
Although the effective date and application process have not been detailed, the ministry clarified that the requirement is part of broader efforts to combat transnational organised crime, particularly human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Ecuador currently requires entry visas from citizens of 45 countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, China, Afghanistan, Iran, and several African and Asian states.
Under the new policy, citizens of these nations will also need a transit visa, even if they are not staying in Ecuador.
The announcement comes in the context of the "internal armed conflict" declared by President Daniel Noboa on January 9, 2024.
This declaration has enabled the government to intensify operations against criminal groups, officially classified as terrorist organisations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
