U.S. citizens living in Ecuador continue to face challenges in receiving mail and packages from the United States, according to a recent update from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate. The difficulties stem from ongoing disruptions within Ecuador’s postal system, managed by Servicios Postales del Ecuador (SPE EP).
Currently, SPE EP operates with limited resources and has only four functioning locations nationwide—three in Quito and one in Guayaquil. Mail delivery is especially restricted outside these cities. For tracked packages, SPE EP often relies on outsourcing or coordinates pickup with recipients via cell phone. However, regular mail without tracking information is frequently delayed or does not reach its intended destination.
The embassy noted that this situation affects U.S. citizens who depend on essential documents such as Social Security paperwork, checks, or other correspondence from U.S. agencies. Delays or non-delivery can impact financial stability and create hardship for those affected.
To address these issues, the American Citizen Services (ACS) team at the embassy met with representatives of SPE EP to discuss possible solutions. According to the embassy statement: "We are working to connect U.S. citizens with SPE EP to improve mail delivery. ACS will invite SPE EP to outreach events where they can distribute undelivered mail and inform the U.S. citizen community in Ecuador about their services."
Following this meeting, Servicios Postales has introduced a form that allows individuals to request undelivered mail by providing recipient details for withheld or missing correspondence.
The embassy encourages U.S. citizens in Ecuador to stay updated by visiting the SPE EP website and consider sharing their contact information with SPE EP to help facilitate mail delivery efforts.
"While challenges remain, SPE EP is committed to restoring reliable mail services, and ACS is here to assist you in navigating this process," stated the embassy.