Register a US marriage in Ecuador: US$50 at an Ecuadorian consulate

A marriage performed in the United States is registered with Ecuador at an Ecuadorian consulate: according to gob.ec, “el Cónsul o su delegado REGISTRA en el sistema del Registro Civil (DIGERCIC) matrimonios celebrados ante autoridad extranjera” (the consul records marriages performed before a foreign authority in the Civil Registry system). Registration costs US$50.00 (fee published by Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry on gob.ec, checked October 3, 2026). The key document is a certified copy of the US marriage record, apostilled and translated into Spanish. You can also marry at the consulate (US$50.00 on the premises, US$250.00 elsewhere) and register a de facto union (unión de hecho).

Versión en español

Fees

gob.ec fees, checked October 3, 2026 (no VAT):

ServiceFeeSource
Registering a marriage performed before a foreign authority (for example, in the US)US$50.00Marriage celebration and registration page (March 6, 2025); 2023 Fee Schedule item 6.1.12
Marriage celebration and registration at the consular premisesUS$50.00Same page
Marriage celebration and registration outside the consular premisesUS$250.00Same page
Registering a de facto union formalized before a foreign authorityUS$50.00 + US$5.00 “Prestación de Servicio de DIGERCIC”De facto union registration page (June 17, 2024)
Recording a de facto union made abroad by judgment, notarial record or solemnization declarationUS$50.00 (no DIGERCIC charge mentioned)De facto union recording page (May 16, 2024)
Registration at a Civil Registry office in Ecuador50 dollarsCivil Registry FAQ (undated)

The marriage page does not list the US$5.00 DIGERCIC charge that appears on the de facto union page. Confirm the total with your consulate.

Documents to register a US marriage

According to the gob.ec page:

  • Copy of the marriage record “certificada por el ente emisor del país de origen debidamente apostillado o legalizada y traducida al español de ser el caso” (certified by the issuing office, apostilled or legalized, and translated into Spanish if needed).
  • Translation: “Si la traducción se realiza en el exterior debe estar apostillada o legalizada, si la traducción se realiza en el Ecuador debe contar con el reconocimiento de firmas ante Notario Público” (a translation done abroad must be apostilled or legalized; one done in Ecuador needs signature recognition before a notary).
  • Cédula (physical or digital) or passport, Ecuadorian or foreign, of the spouses or the applicant.
  • If one spouse is a foreign national: their valid passport and valid identity document.
  • Special power of attorney if a third party handles it.

The New York consulate adds a rule on its page (undated) for any US document: they “deberán estar traducidos al Español, notarizados y apostillados. La apostilla deberá realizarse tanto en el documento original como en la traducción notarizada” (must be translated into Spanish, notarized and apostilled; both the original and the notarized translation must be apostilled). Per that page, in New York the original and the notarized translation are each apostilled.

To order the certified copy of a US marriage record, see vital records by state. For the apostille on the US document, see how to apostille a US document.

Step by step

gob.ec describes these steps:

  1. Request a slot at the Ecuadorian consular office nearest your residence. The Foreign Ministry appointment system is at citas.cancilleria.gob.ec.
  2. Choose a day and time to register the marriage.
  3. Go to the consular office.
  4. Present the required documents.
  5. Pay under the current Consular and Diplomatic Fee Schedule.
  6. Review, confirm the data and sign. “Si es un registro de matrimonio, la firma es solo del solicitante o contrayentes” (for a registration, only the applicant or spouses sign).

The result, per gob.ec, is the “registro electrónico de inscripción o registro de matrimonio en el sistema de la DIGERCIC” (electronic record in the DIGERCIC system), valid “indefinido o hasta su disolución” (indefinitely or until dissolved). Afterwards you can request an Ecuadorian marriage certificate at the consulate; see Ecuadorian birth, marriage or death certificate.

Hours: the marriage page gives “Lunes a viernes de 08h30 a 14h30” (Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 14:30) for consular offices, while the passport page gives 8:30 to 14:00. Confirm your consulate’s hours.

The alternative in Ecuador: the Civil Registry

The Civil Registry FAQ (“Me casé en otro país ¿Cómo puedo hacer para inscribir mi matrimonio?”) lists:

  • Requirements: proof of payment, the applicant’s valid cédula (valid passport and ID if a foreign national), “certificado de matrimonio del país de origen apostillado o legalizado y traducido de ser el caso,” and a special power of attorney if a third party applies.
  • Fee: 50 dollars.
  • Offices: Matriz Iñaquito and Quitumbe (Quito), Bellavista (Cuenca) and Centro GYE Rocafuerte (Guayaquil).

The Civil Registry adds that if neither spouse lives in Ecuador, registration can be done jointly or individually through a special power of attorney granted before a notary or consul, and that it accepts a power granted by a foreign authority if apostilled or legalized and translated. To grant a power of attorney at a consulate, see Ecuador power of attorney.

Marrying at the consulate

According to gob.ec, to celebrate a marriage at a consular office:

  • Both spouses and two (2) qualified witnesses must be present.
  • Cédula or passport of the spouses and the witnesses.
  • Foreign spouse: civil-status certificate or equivalent, apostilled or legalized and translated.
  • Divorced spouse: certified copy of the final divorce judgment or notarial divorce document. gob.ec waives this copy “cuando no haya hijos menores de edad y el divorcio se produjo hace más de un año” (no minor children and divorced more than a year ago) or “cuando el divorcio se produjo hace más de 18 años” (divorced more than 18 years ago).
  • Spouses with minor children in their custody: depending on the case, special guardianship (curaduría especial), a sworn statement, a formal inventory of assets, or a summary information filing.
  • If a third party applies: a special power of attorney for the celebration.

gob.ec’s summary of Articles 52 to 54 of the Organic Law on Identity and Civil Data Management says that when at least one person is Ecuadorian, the marriage can be celebrated or registered before a consulate, and that marriages performed before foreign authorities are registered “siempre que cumplan la Constitución y las leyes ecuatorianas” (provided they comply with Ecuador’s Constitution and laws).

De facto union (unión de hecho)

  • Registering a union formalized before a foreign authority: “Acta notarial de unión de hecho emitida por autoridad competente del país de origen, debidamente apostillado o legalizado y traducido,” the Ecuadorian partner’s valid cédula (or valid passport), and, for a foreign partner, a valid passport or ID plus an apostilled civil-status and nationality certificate. Fee: US$50.00 + US$5.00 DIGERCIC.
  • gob.ec: “No podrán registrar uniones de hecho de menores de 18 años” (unions of people under 18 cannot be registered).

Your US immigration status

The gob.ec marriage page summarizes Article 16 of the Regulation to the Organic Law on Human Mobility: Ecuadorians and foreigners can receive consular services “sin importar su condición migratoria” (regardless of immigration status). The registration requirements do not ask for US immigration documents. For questions about your US immigration case, see find pro bono legal help.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Consular fees and requirements change. Verify directly with your Ecuadorian consulate or the Civil Registry before paying. Not legal advice.