New Transit Control card (TCT) procedure effective immediately for Galapagos

[DiveTheGalapagos]

Please be advised of there is a new requirement for entering Galapagos. This applies to the Visitor's Control card that you purchase at the mainland airport (Guayaquil or Quito) as you check-in for your Galapagos flight. This new requirement can mean quite long wait lines at the airport, so please do follow the link below and pre-register!

New Transit Control card (TCT) procedure effective immediately

Starting this Sunday, July 28th, passengers traveling to Galapagos are required to be fingerprinted at the airport in Galapagos as part of the process to obtain a transit control card or TCT. Passengers who do not prepay the fee will need to register themselves prior to arrival at the web site: Consejo de Gobierno del Reigimen Especial de Galapagos at this link: Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos Click on the center icon: Turistas. Just below the link, there is an option for English or Spanish and the template will walk you through the rest.

And, it is recommended you arrive UIO or GYE airports 2-3 hours prior to departure as currently, there is a long wait for this additional procedure.

 

[alien]

Link doesnt work? Is this a scam?

 

[danilocesar]

The TCT card looks to be a true thing
Galapagos Islands .com - Galapagos Tours and Cruises

But that link is a bit weird.

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

I think the government changed the link. It's real. Go here. Pre-Registration For Galapagos Visit. Click on Pre-Registro on the left menu. We have further instructions on our website here as their English site has drop down menus that are not in English. If you successfully pre-register, you will receive a letter in Spanish outlining the law of Galapagos which basically says you cannot move there or do business there and agree you are going for tourism purposes. It also says you agree to purchase the TCT Card (Vistor Migratory Control Card...in Spanish "Tarjeta de control de Transito"). You purchase this for $10 either through your liveaboard or at the mainland airport prior to checking in for your Galapagos Flight. It also says you agree to purchase round trip flights to Galapagos.

Up until now, you simply waited in line at the INGALA window (now Consejo de Gobierno) at the mainland airport and gave the agent the same information you now pre-register, received a 'customs' form, paid your $10, had your bags checked for organic goods and tagged free and clear to go to Galapagos before you went to your airline counter to check in for your flight. The lines were getting quite long causing some problems with flights. Pre-registering should save everyone time in line.

PS..The government is taking more control over the Galapagos than the National Park, has appointed a new Director of the Park who is a serious scientist and, in conjunction with the new Director of Tourism, a serious diver, should bode well for the future of Galapagos.