Ecuador closes its consulate in Venezuela

Starting this Saturday, September 14, consular services for Ecuadorian citizens in Venezuela will be provided online.

The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry reported in a statement that the procedures for documents such as emergency passports, apostilles and legalizations They will be assisted through the Ecuadorian consulates in Bogotá and Panama, via telematics.

The full statement is below:

In order to continue providing consular services to Ecuadorian citizens in Venezuela, without the need for them to travel to another country for this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility established an action plan following the closure of the Ecuadorian consulate in that territory to be implemented from September 14.

Consular services such as emergency passports, apostilles and legalizations will be provided from September 14, 2024, through the Ecuadorian consulates in Bogotá and Panama, via telematics.

– Emergency passport:

To request the emergency passport service, citizens must send an email to one of the consular offices in Bogotá or Panama City to request the travel document, which will be issued electronically.

– Apostilles and Legalizations:

To request the apostille and legalization service for documents issued by Ecuadorian authorities with electronic signature and generated online, the citizen can do so virtually through the electronic apostille portal, through the following link:

https://serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec/authentication

Additionally, if you require the apostille service or legalization of manual documents, you can request it by email to the consulates in Bogotá or Panama City:

– Consulate General of Ecuador in Bogotá:

E-mail: (email protected)

Phone: (57) 12126512 Ext. 101-108

– Consular Section of Ecuador in Panama:

E-mail: (email protected)

Telephone: (507) 2642654/ (507) 2647820

– Change of electoral address (100% online service):

Ecuadorian citizens residing in Venezuela may change their electoral address through the National Electoral Council website, via the following link:

https://www.cne.gob.ec/servicios-en-linea/

– 4X4 Parcel Service (100% online service):

For Ecuadorians who need to send packages to their relatives in the country, free of paying tariffs, they must register at the following link:

https://serviciopaqueteria.cancilleria.gob.ec/

– Civil Registry

– Civil Registry Services (100% online service):

Using the link to the Civil Registry’s virtual agency, you can carry out the following procedures:

– Issuance of copies of registration certificates (birth, death, marriage, de facto union).

– Issuance of identity and marital status data certificates.

Link:

https://apps.registrocivil.gob.ec/portalCiudadano/index.jsf

– Civil Registry Services (In-person service at a consular office or in Ecuador):

The following services:

– Birth registration

– Registration/celebration or registration of marriages

– Registration of de facto union

– Registration/registration of deaths

– Gender registration

They must do so in person or through a special power of attorney in favor of a third party, at the consular office of their choice or in Ecuadorian territory.

– Notarial Services:

Ecuadorians who wish to carry out a notarial act may do so at any Venezuelan notary office and have them apostilled by the competent authority for full validity in Ecuador, since both countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961.

– Visas:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility implemented the Visa system that has been in operation since July 1, 2024. Through the following website:

https://serviciosdigitales.cancilleria.gob.ec/

Interviews with minors and review of documentation where necessary should be carried out in person at the nearest Ecuadorian Consulates, which are available in the system, according to the user’s selection.

– Attention to cases of vulnerability:

In order to provide priority and timely attention to Ecuadorian citizens who are in Venezuela and in a vulnerable situation, the following options exist:

8.1 Ecuadorian citizens who are in a vulnerable situation should contact the Consulate of Ecuador in Bogotá by email:

– cecubogota@cancillería.gob.ec or emergency phone: (57) 3138414045

Cases that the Consulate in Bogotá can handle:

– Repatriation of corpses, restitution of minors, assisted returns, in coordination with the zonal directorates.

– IOM can support in coordination with the Consulate of Ecuador in Bogotá on the issue of assisted returns.

8.2 Cases of extreme vulnerability that cannot be addressed from Bogotá will be managed directly from the Zonal Directorates of this Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Directorate of Protection of Ecuadorians Abroad.