To buy a mobile phone in Ecuador, citizens have several options. Go to a commercial house or to a telephone company.

Another option is to ask a relative or when traveling abroad to purchase a new one. This only applies to travelers entering Ecuador by air. The Customs of Ecuador stipulates that if personal belongings of the traveler may only enter with a used phone and a new one.

How to Consult and Verify Mobile Phone IMEI in Ecuador Arcotel

When entering the country, it is necessary to register your IMEI, which is a fifteen-digit identification number that every phone has and is different in every device.

The Agency for the Regulation and Control of Telecommunications (Arcotel) recommends that before buying the device, citizens should check that the phones are approved and can work in the country.

Similarly, you can also check the status of the phone regarding its legality if it has been reported stolen in any country. To find out the phone’s IMEI, type *#06#.

This process should not only be applied to phones purchased abroad, but also in Ecuador.

Arcotel has enabled the Tu Celular Legal portal where both aspects can be consulted. To check if the equipment is approved:

To check IMEI status, you need to: