Cuban migration surges toward Uruguay and Brazil

Cuban migration to South America is seeing a significant surge, with Uruguay and Brazil emerging as primary destinations. In Uruguay, Cubans have become the largest group of asylum seekers and recipients of permanent residency.

In Brazil, the scale of migration is substantial, with approximately 90,000 Cubans currently processing asylum claims. During the first half of this year, 35,000 Cubans applied for asylum in Brazil. Data indicates that in 2025, the number of Cuban asylum requests surpassed those from Venezuelans for the first time.

Factors contributing to this shift include the crisis in Cuba, stricter border policies in the United States, and changes in visa requirements in Nicaragua. The profile of migrants is diversifying to include professionals, merchants, and families. However, this movement often involves dangerous journeys through transit countries like Guyana, frequently facilitated by irregular migrant smuggling networks.