Many felons can recall having the desire to travel back when life was different and simpler, before their felony conviction.

They may have dreamed of traveling abroad before their conviction, and for some this may have been a reality.

This blog post will address the question of whether a felon can travel to Ecuador.

• Travel Restrictions
• Why Ecuador?
• Traveling to Ecuador
• Requirements to Enter Ecuador
• Encouraging a Felon to Travel to Ecuador

Travel Restrictions

Upon release, felons must complete the terms of their sentence, including probation.

During the probation period, felons are restricted from leaving the district in which they reside without permission from their probation officer.

Of course, travel outside the U.S. is out of the question until the conditions of probation have been satisfied entirely.

Once this is accomplished, travel beyond the U.S. border is possible.

They must obtain a passport, allowing international travel.  Felons are able to obtain a passport.

Being convicted of drug trafficking or a crime of treason against the U.S. may prevent felons from being able to obtain a passport, as well as for anyone owing at least a certain amount of child support.

Having current legal charges pending can also prevent having a passport.  This is because leaving the country will be interpreted as an unlawful attempt to avoid prosecution, which is itself a federal crime.

Why Ecuador?

Why would felons want to visit Ecuador?  Well, for the same reasons anyone wants to travel there.  Felons may have served time in prison, but they have the same interests as any other U.S. citizen.

Traveling to Ecuador is no exception.

Ecuador is a popular destination for tourists from the U.S. for a number of reasons.

Why would felons want to visit Ecuador?  Well, for the same reasons anyone wants to travel there.  Felons may have served time in prison, but they have the same interests as any other U.S. citizen.

Traveling to Ecuador is no exception.

Ecuador is a popular destination for thousands of tourists from the U.S. each year for a number of reasons.

Ecuador is a country in South America and got its name because it straddles the equator.  The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador, 500 miles off the coast, and are actually a national park.

While Spanish is the official language, English is frequently spoken in larger cities.  The U.S. dollar is the official currency, making finances very easy.

The temperatures are always warm, and the Amazon rainforest runs through the heart of this country.  One of the most impressive railway systems in the world runs through the Andes Mountains in Ecuador.

There are volcanos, rafting, and mountain biking along with many species of birds and beautiful greenery.

Traveling to Ecuador

The only restriction for them flying to Ecuador would be if they have a felony warrant outstanding against them.

The other possible issue would be if their name is on what is called the no-fly list maintained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for those suspected of being terrorists.

There are about 3500 names on this list at any time.  So, felons are probably OK for flying.

Going on a cruise is also a popular means of travel to Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands.

There are two types of cruises, closed loop and open loop.  A closed loop cruise is one that starts and ends in the same U.S. port while an open loop cruise has different starting and final port city locations.

Felons may sail on either type of cruise, although the requirements for a closed loop cruise are less restrictive than for open loop cruises.

U.S. citizens going on a closed loop cruise can depart and enter the U.S. with only proof of citizenship.  This proof consists of an original or copy of a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID.

Open loop cruises require a passport, regardless of the starting or destination port.  Since they are traveling to a foreign country, a passport is recommended for either type of cruise for felons, since they are traveling to a foreign country.

Requirements to Enter Ecuador

Ecuador has several requirements all U.S. citizens, regardless of whether they are felons or not, must meet in order to gain entry.

First, the law in Ecuador states that they must have at least six valid months remaining on their passport when entering the country.

Those U.S. citizens who stay in the country less than 90 days need to have only a passport.  No visa is required.

Any stay by a U.S. citizen of more than 90 days will require a visa, which must be obtained prior to departing form the U.S.

If you’re in a hurry to get your visa or want someone to walk you through the process, I recommend you use this website to help.

Felons would do best if they plan their stay in the country to be limited to less than 90 days in order to not have to be subjected to having their criminal record checked.

For felons especially, their conduct while in Ecuador is critical.  Of course they will want to stay out of legal difficulties.

This would obviously result in significant problems for felons who may find it extremely difficult to gain their release.  For those felons ending up in jail, good legal counsel will be necessary.

It is best to strictly obey all laws and be able to leave the country as planned.

Encouraging a Felon to Travel to Ecuador

Families of felons who visit Ecuador can be helpful to those felons by encouraging them to travel outside the country for a sense of peace and relaxation.

Traveling is a great way for felons to re-connect with their families again.

Once the decision has been made to travel to Ecuador, be supportive of their making the trip.

It is important to remind them that as a traveler to a foreign country, just being there as an American will bring them under scrutiny.  Add to that their felon status, and staying out of trouble becomes even more important.

For this reason and others, they must obey the laws and not draw the attention of the legal authorities to themselves.

Remind them of their commitment to live an honest life and how legal difficulties while in Ecuador will only defeat these efforts and may result in returning to prison.

Approximately 69% of those released from prison return within the first two years.  Don’t let them be one of those statistics.

So what do you think about this blog post about how a felon can travel to Ecuador?  Have you or someone you know traveled to Ecuador with a felony?  What was that like and were they successful?   Please tell us in the comments below.