The Cuban Erick Ugás, a content creator residing in São Paulo who shares guidance for the Cuban community in Brazil, warned about a common mistake when requesting asylum in that country: presenting economic difficulties as the sole reason for leaving Cuba.
In a video posted on Facebook, Ugás shared that a follower had written to him after receiving a negative response to his request.
"Yesterday, a follower wrote to me and told me that his asylum application had been denied. Honestly, in all the time I have been here, there are very few people I have heard say that," he explained.
According to his account, after speaking with the affected individual, he identified a problem that he considers common among those undergoing this process: explaining their departure from Cuba solely due to low wages, food shortages, or other material difficulties.
«When you go to apply for asylum, whether in person, online, or however you choose. Sir, you cannot state there that you left your country because your salary was insufficient, or because there was no food, or because you didn't have shoes. Because those are not valid reasons for asylum in any country in the world, not here in Brazil, in none,» he affirmed.
Ugás insisted that applicants must pay attention to the reasons they present during the process.
"Don't make that mistake, gentlemen... about the power being cut off, about the lack of milk. Don't start talking about those kinds of things, because that won't guarantee your shelter," he pointed out.
The content creator explained that the shelter is related to situations of persecution and violations of human rights. His final recommendation was: "Pay attention to what you say during the interview."
What does Brazilian legislation establish?
The Brazilian Law No. 9,474/1997 provides for the recognition of refugee status for individuals with well-founded fears of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinions.
It also includes those who are forced to leave their country due to a serious and widespread violation of human rights.
Economic difficulties alone are usually not enough to achieve that recognition. However, mentioning them during the procedure does not automatically lead to the denial of an application.
The National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) must assess the circumstances of each case and determine if the legal requirements are met.
A person can face economic difficulties while simultaneously being in a situation that justifies international protection.
Therefore, applicants must completely and truthfully explain their actual circumstances, without omitting relevant facts or presenting reasons for persecution that have not occurred.
In the event of denial, the applicant may appeal the CONARE's decision within 15 calendar days following receipt of the notification, as established by Brazilian legislation.
The confusion regarding the provisional document
In a second video, Ugás addressed another confusion among some Cubans in Brazil: believing that receiving a provisional immigration document means their asylum application has already been approved.
“This document is a provisional document; it even states that within the document itself. Your case is still with CONARE and will be assessed later when they deem it appropriate,” he clarified.
In Brazil, the National Migration Registry (RNM) is the identification number assigned to the registered foreigner.
It should not be confused with the Provisional National Migration Registration Document (DPRNM), which individuals may receive while their asylum application is being processed.
According to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security of Brazil, the applicant initially receives a Refugee Protocol, which certifies their regular migration status while the processing is underway. The DPRNM also serves as a provisional identification document.
These documents establish the status of the applicant and facilitate access to rights and services while the case is being reviewed, but they do not constitute definitive recognition as a refugee.
The protocol and the provisional document must remain valid and be renewed according to the instructions of the Brazilian Federal Police.
Cubans among the top asylum seekers
Cubans have taken a prominent role in the asylum applications submitted in Brazil.
Between January and April 2026, another 13,414 Cubans applied for asylum, a figure that represented approximately 58% of the total recorded during that period.
The high number of applications does not mean that all of them result in the recognition of refugee status. The decisions rest with CONARE, which reviews the cases according to the criteria established by Brazilian legislation.
The procedure does not have a fixed timeframe for resolution, and its duration depends on the circumstances of each case, the complexity of the file, and the information available about the country of origin.
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