Ecuador emergency passport in the US: free, valid 3 months

Ecuador’s emergency passport (pasaporte de emergencia) is issued by Ecuadorian diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad in case of loss or theft of a valid passport or a duly proven urgent need, “con el objeto de retornar a Ecuador o a su lugar de residencia” (for the purpose of returning to Ecuador or to the place of residence) — Article 154 of the Organic Law on Human Mobility, as quoted on gob.ec. For an Ecuadorian in the US, it is requested in person at the consulate with a written request to the Consul and a loss report or sworn statement covering the lost document. There is no fee and it is valid for 3 months (gob.ec page updated May 16, 2024, checked October 3, 2026).

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Key facts

ItemDetail (checked October 3, 2026)
Who issues itMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, through its consular offices
Legal basisOrganic Law on Human Mobility, Art. 154
FeeFree (Consular and Diplomatic Tariff 2023, item “7.5 Pasaporte de emergencia. GRATIS”)
Validity3 months
ChannelIn person
Hours abroadMonday to Friday, 08:30 to 14:00 (per the page)
Appointmentscitas.cancilleria.gob.ec
Processing timeNot published

What the law says

The gob.ec page reproduces Article 154 of the Organic Law on Human Mobility: “El pasaporte de emergencia será conferido por la autoridad de movilidad humana, tanto en el territorio nacional como en las misiones diplomáticas u oficinas consulares ecuatorianas en el extranjero, a las personas en situación de movilidad humana, en caso de pérdida o robo de su pasaporte vigente o necesidad urgente debidamente comprobada con el objeto de retornar a Ecuador o a su lugar de residencia” (the emergency passport is issued in Ecuador and at Ecuadorian missions and consular offices abroad, in case of loss or theft of a valid passport or duly proven urgent need, for the purpose of returning to Ecuador or to the place of residence).

In other words, the law gives it a specific purpose: returning to Ecuador or to the place of residence.

When it is issued to Ecuadorians

The page lists five cases; three concern foreign nationals. The two that concern Ecuadorians are:

  1. Loss, theft or vulnerability: “A las personas ecuatorianas que, por pérdida o robo de su documento de viaje vigente no puedan acceder de forma oportuna a un pasaporte ordinario, o a quienes presenten una situación de vulnerabilidad y no cuenten con el documento de viaje que le permita su retorno al país de su residencia” (Ecuadorians who, because of loss or theft of their valid travel document, cannot obtain an ordinary passport in time, or who are in a vulnerable situation without a travel document to return to their country of residence).
  2. Deportation, expulsion or extradition: “A las personas ecuatorianas cuando son requeridos o dispuestos por autoridad administrativa o judicial nacional o extranjera dentro de procesos administrativos de carácter migratorio en la que se ordene su deportación o expulsión; y, en causas judiciales en las que se requiera la emisión del documento de viaje para materializar y ejecutar su extradición” (Ecuadorians when a national or foreign administrative or judicial authority requires it in immigration proceedings ordering deportation or expulsion, and in court cases where the travel document is needed to carry out an extradition).

On the second case, the ministry also runs a free assistance service for detained Ecuadorians and those in deportation proceedings: see consular help for detained Ecuadorians.

Requirements at the consulate

For Ecuadorians abroad (and foreign residents of Ecuador who are abroad), the page lists three mandatory requirements:

  • A request addressed to the Consul of Ecuador in the jurisdiction (“Solicitud dirigida al Cónsul del Ecuador en territorio”).
  • The presence of the applicant or applicants.
  • A loss report or sworn statement covering the lost or misplaced document.

The page does not ask for a photo or for US immigration documents in this case. The list for foreign nationals who are in Ecuador is different (it includes a criminal-record certificate and a photo, among others) and does not apply to Ecuadorians abroad.

About the sworn statement: a sworn statement (declaración juramentada) is also a separate consular procedure that costs USD 25.00 according to gob.ec (page updated March 6, 2025). The emergency-passport page does not say whether a statement made for this purpose is charged; confirm with your consulate.

How it is processed

Gob.ec describes the in-person procedure in two steps: go to the windows the ministry provides at consular offices and present the supporting documents. The page lists hours for consular offices abroad of Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 14:00 and points to the appointment system citas.cancilleria.gob.ec, where you pick a “Centro Administrativo” (the consular office) and a service. To find your consulate, see the directory of Ecuadorian consulates or consulates by state.

Emergency passport vs. ordinary passport

Emergency passportOrdinary passport issued abroad
FeeFreeUSD 90.00 (50% off for seniors; 100% off with a disability of 30% or more)
Validity3 months10 years
Purpose per the pageReturning to Ecuador or to the place of residenceFirst issue or renewal
If you lost the previous oneLoss report or sworn statementThe ordinary-passport page lists “Denuncia de pérdida de pasaporte” (loss report)

Data from the gob.ec pages for the emergency passport (May 16, 2024) and the ordinary passport issued abroad (June 17, 2025), checked October 3, 2026. For the ordinary procedure, see Ecuador passport renewal in the US.

What the Washington consulate publishes for an ordinary passport when the previous one was lost (consulate page dated January 22, 2022): “En casos de pérdida o robo del último pasaporte, se deberá realizar una declaración juramentada tras la comprobación en los sistemas informáticos. Se realizará en la misma cita” (if the last passport was lost or stolen, a sworn statement is made after a systems check, at the same appointment). That consulate asks for two money orders: “$90 y $25” if the last passport or the last cédula was lost or stolen, and “$ 90 y $35” if both were (amounts for those under 65; that page says money order is the only accepted form of payment). These figures are that consulate’s; other offices may publish other rules.

What the sources do not say

  • The page does not publish a processing time.
  • The page does not say which countries or routes accept the emergency passport; it only describes its purpose (returning to Ecuador or to the place of residence).
  • The page was last updated May 16, 2024, earlier than the ordinary-passport page (June 17, 2025).

Your US immigration status

The page’s requirements are a request, the applicant’s presence and a loss report or statement; they do not ask for US immigration documents. In its consular pages, the Official Procedures Guide summarizes Article 16 of the Regulation to the Organic Law on Human Mobility: consular services are provided “sin importar su condición migratoria” (regardless of migration status).

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Consular requirements and fees change. Verify directly with the Ecuadorian consular office. Not legal advice.