Ecuador
Location: South America
Broadcast Regulators
Film Commissions
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Ecuador has one of the most open visa policies in the world, allowing visa-free travel for most nationals for stays of up to 90 days.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
Permitting depends on the scale and specifics of the project. It’s important to note that even small scale filming in places such as national parks, historic centres or churches requires additional permits and may incur fees.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Ecuador is not an ATA carnet country.
Basic camera, lighting and grip equipment are available locally. Additional equipment can be easily brought in from Chile or Argentina.
In terms of bringing in equipment, a customs permit is required to make sure gear is cleared without paying import taxes.
When to Film
When to Film
Ecuador’s weather varies depending on the region.
Along the coast, high rainfall occurs during February and March. From June to December, the coast experiences dry weather. The Amazon region has rainfall throughout the year. The Andes region has a rainy season from October to May and a dry season from June to September.
Ecuador is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Ecuador.
Costs & VAT
In Ecuador, locations, local talent, support crew and locally produced goods are inexpensive.
The standard VAT rate in Ecuador, at the time of writing, is set at 15%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
Funding
DOCTV Latinoamérica
Ibermedia
Tax Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up-to-date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.