Uruguay publishes special permanent residence route for certain asylum applicants
Decree 239/026 was published on 26 October. The limited permanent residence mechanism takes effect 90 days after publication, rather than opening immediately.
Uruguay promulgated Decree 239/026 on 8 October and published it on 26 October. Building on the 2024 residence-by-established-ties framework, it creates a special permanent residence mechanism. Article 11 provides for commencement 90 days after publication, not immediate opening.[1][2]
It covers people who entered before 1 January 2026 and either expressly withdraw an asylum application or have received a final refusal. Applicants must also have entered through authorised controls, face no entry or stay impediment, and lack another temporary or permanent regularisation route.[1]
Applications must be made within 12 months of commencement; the migration authority may extend that period once by up to 12 months. Identity, criminal-record, livelihood and vaccination evidence is required. Documented monthly income must exceed the national minimum wage. Limited exceptions apply to documents from the country of origin.[1]
Withdrawal of an asylum claim is recorded when the residence process begins, and the receiving official must explain its consequences. The decree preserves a resident’s right to seek asylum again. Neither provision guarantees approval; the consequences should be understood before withdrawing a claim.[1]
Official sources
This article provides general information. Individual applications are subject to the applicable rules and the competent authority’s assessment.