What can travelers bring into Ecuador tax-free?: Customs agents plan to increase inspections in 2026

Storage rooms at Ecuador’s two international airports, in Quito and Guayaquil, overflow with merchandise confiscated by customs agents from international travelers. Most of it is clothing, small electronics, cosmetics and liquor, that Ecuadorians bring back from the U.S. and other countries to resell, agents say.

“Once a week, we take truckloads of the stuff to storage facilities in the industrial park,” says Milton Sanchez, assistant customs director at Guayaquil’s airport. “Storage at the airport is overflowing and we are collecting merchandise faster than we can auction it,” he says.

“Most of it is brought in by people who know the tax-free limit but believe they can escape inspection,” says Sanchez. “We can only inspect a certain amount of luggage. People know this and believe they can pass the excess through the scanners without getting caught. They know they are breaking the rules and gamble on getting away with it.”

He adds: “A smaller percentage of seized items, less than 20%, are from residents and tourists who do not understand the tax-free limits. We see more cases of this during the Christmas holidays, when Ecuadorians living overseas come home bringing gifts.”

Sanchez believes the rules are fair. “The law allows travelers to bring in merchandise for personal use and I believe that allowances are very reasonable. The allowances have increased in recent years for many items. On the other hand, if large amounts of merchandise are transported in for resell, taxes must be paid on the excess.”

Sanchez has a warning for travelers who knowingly bring in merchandise above the tax tree limit. “Customs is adding additional personnel to the airport inspection staff in Guayaquil and Qutio in 2026. We will be increasing the number of inspections.”

So, what are the limits of what travelers can bring into the country tax free? The following are the allowances as of December 1 of this year that will remain in effect in 2026. For more information, click here.

Apparel & accessories
There is no specific limit to the amount of clothing travelers can bring in but the total value cannot exceed $500. If the volume or number of items appears excessive, inspectors will ask for receipts.

Perfumes and cosmetic creams
Perfumes — 500 milliliters per passenger or 1,000 ml per family group (in new bottles)
Creams or lotions — 2,500 milliliters per passenger or 5,000 ml per family group (in new containers).

Cigarettes and alcoholic beverages
20 packs of 20-count cigarettes
5 liters of alcoholic beverages
25 cigars

Electronic Equipment
Cell phones (maximum two, one used and one new)
10 video games
3 portable electrical appliances for domestic use per passenger or family group
5 memory modules for cameras, computers or mobile devices, including cell phones

Up to one new unit and one used unit are allowed of the following items:
Digital camera
Video recorder or camcorder
Electronic agenda or personal tablet
Portable Global Positioning Equipment (GPS) for personal use
Laptop and its peripherals (mouse, headphones and similar)
Video game console and maximum 2 accessories, whether they are portable or not
Smartwatch
Television up to 60″
Telescope
Computer monitor up to 32″
A drone, whose value does not exceed $1,000

Health Articles
Medicines (with a national or foreign medical prescription) if applicable
Vitamins and food supplements (maximum eight kilograms)
Technical aids for older adults or people with disabilities
Medical measuring devices (pressure, temperature and glucose), maximum two per type