Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Codeine (Medication) → Ecuador
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-07-23
Codeine (Medication) is restricted for travelers entering Ecuador; declare above the personal allowance.
Details
Codeine (Medication) requires declaration at customs (and in some cases an import permit) when carried by travelers into Ecuador. Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador (SENAE) applies a personal-allowance threshold per item category; quantities above attract duty + the destination's VAT/GST rate (12%) plus, for select categories, an additional excise tax. Pacific Alliance / Mercosur / CAFTA-DR / USMCA / Andean Community preferential treatment for member-state goods. Travelers should consult Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador (SENAE) for the current quantity threshold + documentation requirement before departure.
Leaving with this item
Codeine is a controlled opioid analgesic subject to personal-export limits when leaving Ecuador.
Practical advice
Carry Codeine (Medication) in carry-on where applicable (medication / lithium battery / valuables). On arrival, walk the Red Channel and declare on the customs form. Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador (SENAE) computes duty + VAT at the published rate. Have the purchase receipt + (for medication) the original prescription available.
Customs authority
Servicio Nacional de Aduana del Ecuador (SENAE) · https://www.aduana.gob.ec/