If you’re planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2025 or 2026, there is an important update to the entry requirements that you should know about.
As of May 29 2025, the the Governing Council of the Galapagos Islands, an organisation known as CGREG (Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos), introduced a new digital system for obtaining a key document, the Galapagos Transit Control Card (TCT). The card is now a digital document that you can save as a QR code to your smartphone rather than a physical card.
What is the Galapagos Transit Control Card (TCT)?
The Galapagos Transit Control Card is an immigration control measure set by the Ecuadorian government so they can manage tourism levels in the Islands.
The TCT is used to keep track of who is entering and leaving the Galapagos, and how long they are staying. It is like your own personal Galapagos ID that you will need to keep safe for the duration of your trip. You won’t be allowed to board your flight to Galapagos if you do not have a valid TCT.
You will also be required to show this card upon arrival to Galapagos at the airport and also at the airport when you depart the islands. The Galapagos TCT is administered by an organisation called CGREG – the Governing Council of the Galapagos Islands.
How to get your Galapagos Transit Control Card (TCT)
The Galapagos Transit Control Card costs $20 and you must purchase one for each traveller in your group.
You can apply for it here: https://siig-cgreg.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/tct/emission?lang=en
How to complete your TCT Registration form:
- Visit the official website (please note that this page can take some time to load)
- Watch the short introductory video
- Accept the personal data use agreement
- Enter your travel details – this includes your full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, flight details, travel and accommodation details and length of stay on the islands
- Confirm your details and verify your email address
- Accept the liability declaration and pay the correct fee online using a debit or credit card
- Once payment is complete, click ‘Recargar página’ – Reload Page – to access your digital TCT
- You will be able to print a copy of your TCT and also save it to your smartphone. We recommend doing both
Please keep your TCT safe as you will need to show it upon arrival at Quito or Guayaquil and also when entering and leaving the Galapagos Islands.
Upon arrival to the airport in Quito or Guayaquil for your flight out to Galapagos, you will need to go to the CGREG counter to present your passport, your flight tickets to and from Galapagos and TCT for validation.
The new system is designed to speed up airport check-in and reduce paperwork, however we strongly recommend arriving at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure to give yourself plenty of time to get your TCT validated and have your baggage checked.
Please note, if you book your trip with Think Galapagos, we will do your TCT registration for you as part of our service, to make life as easy as possible for our guests! There may be a rare occasion when we can’t, but if this is the case we will let you know. For most of our guests, you will be sent your QR code along with all your final trip information so don’t need to worry about this process.
Want a step by step guide on travel to Galapagos? Read our blog Arriving in the Galapagos Islands – a step by step guide
