More cases of doubtful marriages They are investigated in the Galapagos Islands. He Governing Council of the Special Regime of Galapagos reported that, as a result of technical and administrative processes, the revocation of 45 temporary residences in the canton of San Cristóbal when inconsistencies were evident in the accreditation of marital ties or real and effective de facto unions.
This is because couples united by marriage or de facto union are monitored.
Complaints and the investigation process
A woman from Napo said, in Teleamazonaswhich delivered $13,000 to a resident who later refused to sign marriage documents and even threatened her.
Carlos Ortegaminister-president of the Government Council of Galapagos, maintained that this province has the character of a special regime and is a natural heritage of humanity.
He added that there is a special law for its conservation and the development of its activities, and within those particularities it has immigration control.
From November 2025He explained that inspections have been strengthened, which involves following up on several complaints of possible fraudulent marriages.
On social networks there are advertisements for sales of residences in Galapagos even with entry and easy payment.
The official mentioned that they activated a complaints channel.
Ortega expressed that the number of complaints has increased and there are already more than 140 under investigation. He pointed out that the 45 revocations were applied in San Cristóbal, but possible similar events would have occurred in Isabela or Santa Cruz.
In the case of complaints, a follow-up is carried out, the information is collected and the data presented in the complaints is verified, in order to show that the marriage or de facto union is not actually being fulfilled.
“There are people who are in the Galapagos and the cohabitant is in other parts of Ecuador or even outside the country,” he said.
Revocation of residences and sanctions
The official maintained that there is no evidence of the existence of a network that is profiting from these temporary residences. However, he maintained that Galapagosbeing a natural heritage of humanity and a special regime, just as there is a lot of tourist interest in visiting it, there is also a lot of interest from people in staying to live.
He argued that, due to geographical conditions and economic activity, the salary is much higher than in continental Ecuador.
He pointed out that the process they carry out is administrative, based on the Galapagos Special Lawof revocation, by which a person automatically remains in an irregular status and is expelled or voluntarily removed from the province.
He added that, when the entire administrative process is finished, they will decide to move forward with the judicial part; However, it has not been defined yet, as it is an external issue.
“This has been an open secret and, for the first time, a process of revoking residences has been initiated for this type of people who have identified themselves as fraudulent marriages”said Ortega.
After the process there is a sanction and they cannot return to the islands for a certain time.
The legislation establishes that the immigration control authority will have the power to verify during the period of ten years (according to numeral 1 of article 41 of the Organic Law of the Special Regime of Galapagos, Loreg) that the marital or de facto union effectively subsists, for which random or scheduled visits will be made.
The administrative sanction is the expulsion of the offender, which can be six months, one year or two years, during which time they will not be able to return.
A financial penalty would be for the permanent resident, Ortega indicated. (YO)
