Galapagos Transit Card.

The Galapagos Transit Control Card is an immigration control measure set by INGALA, the Ecuadorian Governmental agency that regulates all things pertaining to the Galapagos Islands. This card is designed to help control migration to the Galapagos Islands which boomed in the 1970′s due to the lifestyle offered by the islands and the higher salary wages as a result of tourism.

INGALA created this card to help keep track of who is entering and leaving the Islands, and to monitor the duration of everyone’s stay. It is like your own personal Galapagos ID and everyone who visits the islands must purchase the card before arrival to Galapagos.

You will not be allowed aboard a flight to Galapagos if you do not have a valid Transit Control Card and you will be required to show this card upon arrival to the islands.

 

The card has a cost of USD10 per person, for both Ecuadorian nationals and foreigners, and is paid in cash only at the airport. 

 

The card can be bought in Quito and Guayaquil airports, where all Galapagos flights originate from, there will be an INGALA window in the domestic flights terminal. You will need to go to this window before you check in for your Galapagos flight and present a flight reservation or boarding pass and a valid ID / Passport to obtain your card. They will need:

•  Your full name
•  Passport or ID number
•  Nationality
•  Date of birth

The $10 fee for the card is used by INGALA for many different purposes, including population monitoring on the islands, conservation and sustainable development projects and long-term planning for all aspects of life on the islands.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Waiting times to purchase the Transit Control Card at the airports in Quito and Guayaquil have become very long and are causing many passengers to miss their Galapagos flights. In order avoid having to wait at the long lines at the airport, we strongly encourage all travelers and agencies to prepay the TRANSIT CONTROL CARD (TCC) through their cruise operators or hotels. For passengers who do not prepay the TCC prior to arrival, we recommend that they arrive to the airport at least 3 hours in advance of their Galapagos flight in order to avoid any delays.