Can you bring your household goods to Ecuador duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to Ecuador bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Returning Ecuadorians — household goods and work equipment free of duty, FODINFA, IVA and ICE (COPCI art. 125 b; LOMH arts. 36 and 41; Resolución SENAE 0083 as reformed in 2026)An Ecuadorian who lived abroad MORE than two years, spent no more than 180 days in Ecuador in the two years before coming back and returns to live in Ecuador brings the household goods bought abroad free of the customs duty, the FODINFA, the IVA and the ICE. The franchise is requested up to 60 months after the arrival (the law and the 2026 resolution; the Reglamento of the LOMH still prints 36: our team confirms it) and can be used once every ten years. The customs service fees still apply. You get the certificate of returned migrant from the Foreign Ministry after you arrive; our team files the declaration with you (a customs agent is optional for an Ecuadorian). Quantities are limited by a list: 50 litres of alcohol and 200 kg of clothes per person; the excess is taxed as "menaje no exento".
• Foreigners with a residence visa — household goods and work equipment free of duty, FODINFA, IVA and ICE (Resolución SENAE 0083 arts. 4, 22 and 26; COPCI art. 125 b)A foreigner who comes to live in Ecuador with a temporary or permanent residence visa (a worker, a student, a retiree, a rentista, an investor or a dependant) brings the household goods free of the customs duty, the FODINFA, the IVA and the ICE if the goods arrive from one month before to six months after the entry into the country. If the visa is still in process, customs asks a guarantee of 100% of the taxes (180 days at most) that is returned once the visa is shown. A customs agent is mandatory by law: Walio provides it. A foreigner cannot bring a vehicle under this franchise. The customs service fees still apply.
• Diplomatic officials — furniture and effects of the first installation, within 120 days of arrival (Ley sobre Inmunidades, Privilegios y Franquicias Diplomáticas art. 33)The household goods of a diplomatic official are outside the regime of the Ley de Movilidad Humana and follow the Ley sobre Inmunidades, Privilegios y Franquicias Diplomáticas. The furniture and effects of the first installation are free of taxes if they come from the country of last residence and are imported within 120 days of the official's arrival (customs can extend it at the Foreign Ministry's request). The franchise is personal (the holder only), is granted through the Foreign Ministry and has quotas by rank whose current values were not found. Our team handles the request and confirms the requirements before you ship.

1. Say who is moving.
2. Answer only the questions that apply to you: the result updates after every answer.
3. Get the documents and deadlines, and send or save the summary.