Venezuelans will need a visa to enter Ecuador

The measures imposed by the Ecuadorian government could complicate migrants who have plans to move overland to other countries in South America

Venezuelans stand in line to cross into Ecuador from Colombia, most of them to reach Peru ahead of a June 15 deadline of new migration laws, at the Rumichaca International Bridge in Tulcan, Ecuador June 14, 2019. REUTERS/Daniel Tapia
 

Reuters | Alexandra Valencia

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Ecuador will ask for a visa to Venezuelan citizens who want to enter their territory, those who until now could enter only with an identity document or passport, said the government of President Lenin Moreno on Thursday.

Leer en español: Venezolanos necesitarán una visa para ingresar a Ecuador

The new requirement was decreed as part of a government order and security plan for migrants and follows higher demands also in Peru and Chile.

"The president mentioned that he signed a decree that establishes the visa as a requirement (…) In addition, the permanence of people of Venezuelan nationality who are already in the country and who have not violated the law through an exceptional humanitarian visa will be regularized of temporary residence, "the presidency said in a statement.

Quito will recognize the validity of passports and identity documents up to five years after their expiration date to grant visas.

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Ecuador has received some 320,000 Venezuelans who have fled from a political and economic crisis, and the government believes they could increase to about half a million by the end of the year.

The measures imposed by the Ecuadorian government could complicate migrants who have plans to move overland to other countries in South America.