The national government authorized this Tuesday the entry and stay in the country for humanitarian reasons of Ukrainian citizens for a period of three years for humanitarian reasons in the context of the war that this Eastern European country has been going through since it was invaded by troops from the Russian Federation, with the option of being able to obtain definitive residence after that period.
“As a result of the armed conflict, the Ukrainian civilian population is affected by a humanitarian crisis that requires our country to provide a response in line with the human rights instruments to which it has committed itself and international humanitarian assistance actions such as the current mission of the White Helmets in the conflict zone,” remarked a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There it was indicated that, “due to joint work with the National Directorate of Migration, measures have been adopted to facilitate the protection of those Ukrainian foreign nationals and their direct relatives who want to enter our countryas well as, to enable the rapid family reunification of Ukrainian citizens.”
Argentina grants temporary visas to Ukrainian foreign nationals and their direct relatives for humanitarian reasons.
The joint work with @Migrations_AR is in line with our commitment to Human Rights.
– Argentine Foreign Ministry ?? (@CancilleriaARG) March 8, 2022
Therefore, it was specified that “the category of temporary resident for humanitarian reasons to be applied in the case of Ukrainians who are affected by the conflict”.
“This instrument will enable the issuance of temporary visas at Argentine consulates abroad, the admission and permanence in Argentina of those who are still in Ukraine, and of those who have managed to flee to neighboring countries and they cannot return, taking into account the restrictions and difficulties in obtaining the necessary documentation to enter our country,” added Palacio San Martín.
In this framework, “residence may be granted for humanitarian reasons and with an authorized period of stay of three years to those Ukrainian foreign nationals and their direct relatives, regardless of their nationality, who at the time the measure is issued are outside the the Argentine Republic.
Also “entry permit and temporary visa may be granted for humanitarian reasons and with an authorized period of stay of three years to those Ukrainian foreign nationals and their direct relatives, regardless of their nationality, who make such an application for entry before the offices of the Argentine consular network.
The Foreign Ministry indicated that in order to facilitate these procedures, “Argentina will exempt them from the payment of consular fees and immigration fees and exemption from entry requirements to the country for people in a situation of vulnerability generated by the armed conflict.”
In the recitals of Migration provision 417/22, published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette, it states that “Ukrainian nationals are affected by a humanitarian crisis caused by a war conflict.”
In relation to this measure, the General Director of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, Ana Clara Cachazarecalled that “the chancellor santiago cafiero He had advanced days ago, when he was in Geneva (Switzerland) to participate in the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, that Argentina was willing to receive Ukrainian citizens affected by the war with Russia”.
— Migrations (@Migrations_AR) March 8, 2022
“Our country has a long tradition in granting refuge for humanitarian reasons“Cachaza said in statements to Télam.
Along these lines, the official indicated that the Migration Law 25,871 contemplates the possibility of granting these visas that have “temporary protection status to guarantee the entry and stay in Argentina of Ukrainians and direct family members, with a stay period of up to three years “.
“Once that period has expired, the beneficiaries can apply for and access definitive residence in our country,” he explained.
Article 23 of that law lists the circumstances under which a foreigner can be considered a “temporary resident” in Argentina, and among them are -as established in subsection M of that section- “humanitarian reasons”.
Based on this paragraph, those foreigners “who invoke humanitarian reasons that justify, in the opinion of the National Directorate of Migration, special treatment”, such as “not being able to stay or return to their country” as a result of the war, may stay up to three years in Argentina without the need to have the status or protection of asylum or political refuge.
“The purpose of the measure is to provide protection to those people who, not being refugees or asylum seekers, are temporarily unable to stay or return to their country,” they stressed from Migrations, and linked the decision to “the human rights protection policies that forward Argentina”.
With great courage and fortitude, Gloria and her son arrived safely at the Argentine Embassy in Poland. That gives us peace of mind and hope.
There are already 84 Argentines who left Ukraine thanks to the work of our representations and the assistance of @whitehelmets. pic.twitter.com/7eomRaFYGb
– Santiago Cafiero (@SantiagoCafiero) March 8, 2022
In this context of war and humanitarian crisis, Cafiero posted on Twitter an encouraging video of an Argentine woman who, together with her son, left Ukraine and was received at the Argentine embassy in Poland.
The foreign minister said that “with great courage and integrity, Gloria and her son arrived safely at the Argentine Embassy in Poland. That gives us peace of mind and hope.”
In this sense, he deepened: “There are already 84 Argentines who left Ukraine thanks to the work of our representations and the assistance of White Helmets.”
The Foreign Ministry specified that, from the health point of view, “and with the same logic of upholding the human rights of people in vulnerable situations”, it coordinated with the Ministry of Health that “those who have left Ukraine in the context of the conflict war -regardless of their nationality- and they could not prove any of the health requirements for entering the country (complete vaccination schedule, tests and medical insurance) will be exempt from doing so, having to perform a test upon entering Argentina of antigens and the required isolation, as appropriate”.
