Who Is Refugee Status as a Way of Moving to Uruguay Suitable For?

Moving to another country can take many forms, as can the reasons for moving. The subject of our interview is Marat, who moved to Uruguay with his partner and went from applying for asylum to receiving refugee status, finding his first job and starting a new life. Today we will talk with him about his experience in Uruguay. We thank Marat for this candid interview and wish him nothing but good luck in his new country.

Tell us a little about yourself. I am Marat. I am 47. I am a hairdresser by profession. I was born and spent most of my life in Siberia. At the beginning of 2023, my partner and I left Russia and lived in Georgia for a while. Then we moved to Uruguay.

Why did you decide to seek asylum specifically in Uruguay? When choosing a country, we mainly considered its political system, respect for human rights, legislation concerning LGBT+ people, and the possibility of regularising our status, including through asylum. In the end, Uruguay was the country that most closely met our wishes. Among other things, we wanted a country that was not large and had the most stable economy possible. How did you get to Uruguay? We flew here via Qatar and Spain. How much did the move cost? In total, we spent around $4,000 on flights.

What documents did you have with you? We had our passports, certificates of no criminal record from Georgia and my partner's education documents. Mine, unfortunately, remained in Russia.

How did the asylum application work? We came in and said that we wanted asylum. We were given application forms, which we filled out. The staff then copied our passports and gave us a certificate on the basis of which we obtained ASSE health insurance and, some time later, our cédulas en trámite.

Where did you apply? The application is submitted at the Centro de Referencia para Personas Migrantes. (note

What documents were needed? We submitted only our passports.

Were there interviews? What questions did they ask? About a year later, I received an email notifying me that an interview had been scheduled. I had to say in which language I was prepared to take it and whether I needed an interpreter. I chose Russian and was provided with a free interpreter. At the interview, they asked why I needed asylum, what threats existed for me and for us as a couple if we returned to Russia, whether there had been physical, sexual or emotional violence while we lived there, and what opportunities were unavailable to us in Russia.

What are the grounds for your refugee claim? I will briefly describe the reasons for requesting asylum. First, we are a same-sex couple. I do not think there is any need to explain what threats such people face in Russia. Second, I have a clear anti-war position, which I have publicly expressed since the war began. While living in Tbilisi, I volunteered with Volonters Tbilisi, an organisation that helped Ukrainian refugees. Overall, I cited several articles of the Criminal Code here.

What documents did you receive after applying? Within about one to one and a half months, a reply arrives by email. In our case, it was a decision granting asylum. Within six months after that, you need to apply for a new document. You choose a date on the website and receive your legal. That is all! Live your best life)

Can you work officially and open a bank account with these documents? As for questions about work, banking and so on, I would say that in these matters regularising your status in Uruguay through asylum is no different from other routes. Until you receive asylum, you have a document and health insurance. You can work officially, open a business, use payment systems, pay taxes, rent housing, and so on.

Did you receive any assistance from the state or organisations? Uruguay does not pay benefits to asylum seekers, but there are various social-support programmes that you may be able to access. We received one-off assistance in the form of a virtual card worth 21,000 pesos (about $500 at the time), which could be used in the Ta-Ta chain of stores. Free language courses are also offered.

Where did you live immediately after arriving? For a little more than a year after arriving, we rented rooms because we could not arrange the guarantee needed to rent a separate home. Now we rent a separate apartment for 13,500 pesos a month, plus about 2,000 pesos in gastos, 1,600 pesos for internet and electricity (from 2,000 to 7,000 pesos in winter); in summer it came to less than 1,000 pesos a month.

How long did it take you to find work? I was lucky: I found work in my profession, as a hairdresser, almost in the first few days! I am immensely grateful to Artyom for hiring me in his salon and giving me a chance to start. Now I am self-employed and pay my own taxes, but I continue to work in his salon. My partner looked for his first job for about two months.

Is it easy for a refugee to find work? It is not easy for a foreigner to find work, especially if you do not know the language well.

What level of Spanish did you have when you moved? When we moved, our Spanish was limited to a vocabulary of about ten words.

How important is Spanish? But I think that if you have an opportunity to start learning Spanish in advance, you should do it!

Have you used healthcare in Uruguay? In your view, are there problems with healthcare in Uruguay? ASSE health insurance provides access to free healthcare and medicines. In my opinion, the main drawback of healthcare here is a shortage of doctors. Because of this, waiting times for appointments are often very long.

How much money do you need at the beginning? There cannot be one clear answer. Of course, the more you have, the calmer and more comfortable settling into a new place will be. But situations differ! We arrived with $1,500. I would not recommend such an adventure, but with a strong desire and need to make this move, it is possible to try).

How much does it cost you to live each month? We currently spend about 50,000 pesos (USD 1,250) a month on living expenses. That covers housing with all utilities, taxes, communications, transport and food for us and our cat. It does not include entertainment or clothing and shoes.

Which expenses were the most unexpected? Probably the fact that most apartments are rented without furniture or appliances. That means you initially need to buy everything, including a water heater, refrigerator, cooker and more.

What was the hardest thing after moving? Moving is inherently difficult and stressful; the main thing is to remember ‘Why did I come here?’ and ‘What did I leave behind?’ If you do not forget that, you can overcome anything.

What surprised you most about Uruguay? What surprised me in Uruguay was the absence of ostentation. It is simply not done here. At first glance, it is often hard to tell whether the person in front of you is rich or homeless) And in general, locals are much less demanding about their everyday surroundings. Local people are quite friendly and patient. If there is any negativity, they certainly try not to show it.

Do you feel safe here? Personally, I feel very safe in Montevideo. There is certainly no threat from the state or police.

Is there a Russian-speaking community? Does it help? There is a Russian-speaking community in Uruguay, and that is very important! Support from people who speak and think in the same language as you and have, to one degree or another, a similar experience is invaluable when living abroad. For me, the funniest myth is the theory of the capital's ‘dangerous neighbourhoods’. I assume there really are a couple of places in Montevideo where you may not feel very comfortable, but there are certainly far fewer than people tend to think. What pleasantly surprised you about the country? In summer, Montevideo blooms with an incredible number of different flowers and plants! It was very pleasant to find myself in a place full of greenery and colour)

What disappointed you? I am not disappointed. I am only slightly disappointed by the continuing division of citizens into natural and legal citizens. I am an idealist, and in my world that is discrimination and segregation.

Is it worth coming to Uruguay specifically through the asylum route? If, after weighing all the pros and cons, you think it is worth going to Uruguay, whether you become a refugee or regularise through the usual route depends only on your choice or situation. Overall, there is only one difference. Refugees cannot visit their country of origin or its embassies and consulates. Otherwise, you may lose asylum. Of course, you will not be expelled from the country and your documents will not be taken away, but protection from political persecution will no longer be provided.

Who do you think Uruguay is definitely right for? Uruguay is certainly suitable for people seeking a calm, unhurried life.

Who, on the contrary, would this country not suit? It will be difficult for those looking for constant hustle and bustle and who love the urban style of life in a megacity. Everything here is more provincial.

What three main pieces of advice would you give someone who is just about to seek asylum in Uruguay? Three pieces of advice? Be clear about what you are moving away from and toward. Do not make anything up; tell the truth. And estar tranquilo) ... This country does not like rushing around)