Previous Responses to Information Requests, such as ECU20896.E of 14 June 1995, provide information on the requirements and procedures for obtaining Ecuadorean passports. The information that follows was provided by a representative at the embassy of Ecuador in Ottawa, and concentrates on the question of citizenship in a case like the one described above (29 Nov. 1996).

All Ecuadorean citizens are entitled to an Ecuadorean passport. However, Ecuadoreans who have acquired another citizenship are considered by Ecuador to have lost their Ecuadorean citizenship.

The government has recently approved a constitutional provision that will allow Ecuadoreans to retain their original Ecuadorean citizenship if they have acquired citizenship in another country. However, the provision is not yet regulated and cannot be implemented; implementation will require congressional approval of a law for regulating the constitutional provision. The source stated that no deadline for the approval of such a law has been set.

At present, anyone who wants to recover Ecuadorean citizenship would have to follow the same procedure any foreigner has to observe in order to obtain Ecuadorean citizenship. This consists of obtaining a migrant visa (visa de migrante) and residing in Ecuador for five years. After five years of legal residence in Ecuador as an immigrant, the person can request Ecuadorean citizenship.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador, Ottawa. 29 November 1996. Telephone interview with representative.