Ecuador begins regularization process for thousands of Venezuelan migrants

FILE PHOTO: General view of Ecuador's capital city Quito with the Cotopaxi volcano seen in the background, ahead of the second round in country's presidential election, Ecuador April 9, 2021. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador on Thursday began a year-long regularization process for thousands of Venezuelan migrants who are undocumented or lack visas or a legal right to stay in the country.

Thousands of Venezuelans have entered Ecuador in recent years, fleeing the economic crisis in their country. Many of them use the Andean nation as a transit country to others in South America such as Peru and Chile.