Uruguay has processed more than five thousand residency applications for foreigners during the first five months of 2024, the government announced on Saturday. An official statement indicated that from January 1 to May 30, 5,143 foreigners, primarily Cubans, Venezuelans, Argentinians, and Brazilians, applied for residency in Uruguay.
To handle the influx of applications, the government inaugurated a new residency office on Friday at the National Directorate of Migration. Eduardo Mata, the director of the agency, reported that about 70 migrants start their residency procedures each day.
These applications have significantly increased compared to the same period in 2022, which saw 2,425 applications, noted the official. The statement did not specify whether the surge is related to the presidential decree signed in early May, which would allow thousands of Cubans in Uruguay to resolve their immigration status—a benefit undocumented migrants had been demanding for months.
After several years of urging the government of Luis Lacalle Pou to grant them residency in the South American country, Cubans and other immigrants from nations requiring visas to enter Uruguay can finally achieve legal status through the new measure, known as the Residency by Roots Decree.
Types of Residency Under the Decree
The Residency by Roots Decree offers three types of residency: permanent residency through labor or self-employment, permanent family residency, and renewable temporary residency for educational purposes.
Currently, the Commission of Refugees (CORE), the body responsible for processing refugee applications, has over 24,000 pending requests. Most applicants are Cuban nationals or from other countries requiring visas, who have long complained that without regularization, they cannot secure jobs or school enrollments.
A census published in 2023 confirmed that Cuban migrants make up 20% of the foreign population in Uruguay. Thousands of them have been in a migratory limbo, from which they can now emerge thanks to the new decree.
However, as of April, around 5,000 Cubans were still in a "migratory limbo," lacking refugee status and unable to withdraw their asylum applications to pursue permanent residency, which would facilitate family reunification.
Understanding Uruguay's New Residency Procedures
To provide further insights, here are some frequently asked questions about Uruguay's new residency procedures and the recent surge in applications.
What is the Residency by Roots Decree?
The Residency by Roots Decree is a measure that allows immigrants to obtain legal residency in Uruguay through labor, family ties, or educational purposes.
How many residency applications were processed in early 2024?
Uruguay processed 5,143 residency applications from January 1 to May 30, 2024.
Who are the primary applicants for residency in Uruguay?
The primary applicants are Cubans, followed by Venezuelans, Argentinians, and Brazilians.