Important change in Uruguayan passports affects naturalized Cubans

In a development that could transform the migration experience for thousands of Cubans residing in Uruguay, the Ministry of the Interior of the South American country announced structural changes to the passports issued to legal citizens.

Although the measure aims to comply with the international recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), its impact will be deeply felt by a community that has until now experienced a half citizenship.

Starting this month, Uruguayan ordinary passports will no longer include the "Place of Birth" field, and for the first time, the terms "Nationality/Citizenship" will be unified under the code "URY," for both natural and legal citizens.

In other words, a Cuban with Uruguayan citizenship will no longer see a direct reference to their country of origin in their official document, a distinction that has for years highlighted a subtle, yet very real, inequality.

For the Cuban diaspora in Uruguay, which is estimated to exceed 20,000 residents, this change is much more than an administrative update: it is a legal recognition that corrects a documented form of exclusion.

"Historic in Uruguay!" celebrated the account Cubanos Libres in Uruguay on social media. "The new Uruguayan passport now recognizes legal citizens as Uruguayans, regardless of where you were born."

Second-class citizens

So far, many Cuban naturalized Uruguayans faced a bureaucratic maze when trying to travel abroad. Although their passports were Uruguayan, the immigration authorities of other countries detected their original nationality in electronic records, which automatically excluded them from benefits such as visa-free travel.

This was the case for Alejandro and Luis, a couple of Uruguayan citizens of Cuban origin, whose vacation plans to Colombia were thwarted when one of them was denied boarding their flight. "The electronic reader flagged my nationality of origin and they did not allow me to board the flight," Alejandro reported.

For migrants fleeing contexts like Cuba, where the national passport is one of the most restricted in the world—according to the Henley & Partners index, second only to Haiti in Latin America—the Uruguayan document represented a new life and freedom of movement. However, in practice, that promise came with hidden conditions.

Article 73 of the Uruguayan Constitution establishes a distinction between natural and legal citizens, which until now justified differences in documentation treatment, despite both groups holding the same citizenship status.

"What the Constitution says today does not measure up to a society that is redefining itself through its migrants," expressed Jorge Valdés, activist and founder of Cubanos Libres in Uruguay.

A promise yet to be fulfilled

The issue escalated to an international level in March 2024, when the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) called the Uruguayan State to a special hearing to address the case.

There, government representatives committed to reviewing the passport issuance criteria and to work together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on an immediate solution.

This recent official announcement would be the first tangible consequence of that commitment. According to sources from the Ministry of the Interior, the changes aim to "guarantee the legal security of the bearer" and to more accurately reflect "the legal bond between the individual and the Uruguayan state."

Beyond the paper

The measure comes at a crucial time for the migrant community in Uruguay. Of the 9,129 registered asylum seekers last year, 7,293 were Cuban, a figure that confirms the central role of this group in the country's new demographic fabric.

Moreover, the national census of 2023 revealed that population growth in Uruguay is almost exclusively due to immigration, a fact that reinforces the need for inclusive and sustained policies.

However, some lawmakers warn that this is merely a superficial solution.

"The problem has constitutional implications. To eliminate the distinction between legal and natural citizens, it would be necessary to reform the Constitution and subject the change to a referendum," explained deputy Desireé Pagliarini from the Colorado Party. "In the meantime, the government has chosen to proceed with what it can modify: the passport," she added.

A gesture that reconstructs identities

For Cubans in Uruguay, this advancement is a form of symbolic reparation, officially acknowledging their citizenship to the world, not just on paper.

In a world where documents open doors or seal destinies, this small change of three letters — "URY" — in a passport represents much more than an international abbreviation.

For thousands of Cubans in Uruguay, it is a strong step towards equality, belonging, and the hope for citizenship without asterisks.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Change in Uruguayan Passports for Naturalized Cubans