Since 2017, Ecuador has become both a transit and a destination country for Venezuelans fleeing their country because of the socio-political and economic conditions in Venezuela, Ecuador's proximity to it, and the fact that it is a passage to Peru.
A May 2022 survey of 8,500 Venezuelans showed that around 66% of the migrant and refugee population arriving in Ecuador lacked the resources to meet their basic needs, resulting in high levels of food insecurity.
When temporary permits expire, it is challenging for Venezuelans in Ecuador to legalise their status, mainly because of bureaucratic requirements that are hard for them to obtain. The main obstacles for the regularisation of the Venezuelan population are the lack of documents approved by the migration department, expired passports, and the lack of information on the processes. The lack of a legal permit of stay impedes access to basic services and the labour market and creates increased protection concerns, including the risk of exploitation and abuse.
The regularisation process for migrants with an irregular status living in Ecuador began on 1 September 2022. The process allows families to access goods and services, such as education and government assistance. Of the more than 500,000 Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador, at least 62% were still in an irregular situation as at the end of 2022.
(R4V 18/11/2022, BBC 02/09/2022, Infobae 22/11/2022)
Since 2017, Ecuador has become both a transit and a destination country for Venezuelans fleeing their country because of the socio-political and economic conditions in Venezuela, Ecuador's proximity to it, and the fact that it is a passage to Peru.
A May 2022 survey of 8,500 Venezuelans showed that around 66% of the migrant and refugee population arriving in Ecuador lacked the resources to meet their basic needs, resulting in high levels of food insecurity.
When temporary permits expire, it is challenging for Venezuelans in Ecuador to legalise their status, mainly because of bureaucratic requirements that are hard for them to obtain. The main obstacles for the regularisation of the Venezuelan population are the lack of documents approved by the migration department, expired passports, and the lack of information on the processes. The lack of a legal permit of stay impedes access to basic services and the labour market and creates increased protection concerns, including the risk of exploitation and abuse.
The regularisation process for migrants with an irregular status living in Ecuador began on 1 September 2022. The process allows families to access goods and services, such as education and government assistance. Of the more than 500,000 Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador, at least 62% were still in an irregular situation as at the end of 2022.
(R4V 18/11/2022, BBC 02/09/2022, Infobae 22/11/2022)
