Uruguay approved a new special mechanism to apply for permanent residency that could benefit thousands of Cubans who have been waiting for years for a response to their asylum applications in the South American country.
The official decree, dated October 8, 2026, establishes permanent residency based on roots for foreigners who entered Uruguay before January 1, 2026 and are in one of two situations: have a pending asylum application and decide to expressly withdraw it, or have received a final denial of their application.
The measure is particularly significant for the Cuban community. As of the end of June 2026, there were 30,715 asylum applications pending resolution in Uruguay, with approximately 89% corresponding to Cuban citizens, according to data from the Refugee Commission (CORE).
The magnitude of the delay had led to public demands for the authorities to provide answers to those who have been waiting for a decision for years.
The new regime does not grant residency automatically. Among the established conditions are having legally entered Uruguay through an authorized immigration checkpoint, having no obstacles to remaining in the country, and not having any other means to regularize immigration status as a temporary or permanent resident.
Those who meet these conditions will have a period of 12 months from the entry into force of the decree to apply for residency based on roots. The National Migration Directorate may extend this period, only once, for another 12 months.
Applicants must present a passport-sized photo, a valid and undamaged identification document, as well as criminal records from the country where they have resided during the five years prior to their entry into Uruguay, provided that their stay there has been longer than 180 days.
They must also demonstrate a means of self-support or that of their family unit residing in Uruguay. To do this, they may present their employment history from the Social Security Bank or a notarized certificate verifying the activity performed and a monthly income exceeding the national minimum wage. Additionally, the decree requires the corresponding certificate for the Uruguayan vaccination schedule.
The regulation, however, includes exceptions for individuals who have justified difficulties in obtaining documents from their country of origin. Migration will be able to assess humanitarian circumstances, the absence of consular representation, the high costs of the procedures, or the lack of family members who can assist in obtaining the documentation.
Likewise, the authorities may establish a rapid response procedure for individuals in situations of special vulnerability who are unable to meet certain requirements.
One of the central points for those currently seeking refuge is that they must formally renounce that application when starting the residency process. The decision will be recorded in the file and communicated to the CORE, while the responsible official must explain the consequences of this renunciation to the applicant beforehand.
The decree also establishes that, once the procedure has begun, the person may obtain the necessary certificate to manage a provisional identity document as a resident in process. If they ultimately receive permanent residency due to ties, they may request the definitive document.
The resignation of the current asylum application does not permanently close that possibility: the regulation itself clarifies that those who obtain residency through residency by roots will retain the right to apply for asylum again in Uruguay if there are subsequent reasons to do so.
The decree will come into effect 90 days after its official publication.
The decision comes at a time of intense pressure on the Uruguayan immigration system. Despite the number of applications, only 52 Cubans have been officially recognized as refugees, while numerous applicants remain with their cases unresolved for years.
Parallely, Uruguay has established itself as an increasingly important destination within the Cuban exodus. A route that crosses through Guyana and Brazil to reach the Uruguayan border has gained prominence: between January and October 2025, over 11,000 Cubans passed through the joint immigration control of Santana do Livramento-Rivera.
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