COVID-19 UPDATEImmigration • Government Offices - Open on a first come-first served basis....

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June 26th, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

LATAM IMMIGRATION


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CONTENTS COVID – 19 Immigration Update

LATAM

This informative overview is a snap shot of the on-going

immigration related matters in the top 10 major markets

throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. As local authorities

and governments continue to impose and regulate the safety and

prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, our intention

is to keep our Partners & Clients informed with the latest updates.

This overview includes:

• Entry & Travel Restrictions

• Quarantines, Curfews, & Mandates

• Immigration Solutions – Current Operational Status

• Concessions

• Document Management

Data and statistics regarding COVID-19 are rapidly evolving. This

overview is for reference purposes only, and not meant to be

conclusive as local regulations and details vary from city to city in

each country. For the latest on the global confirmed coronavirus

cases, refer to the World Health Organization’s website and

Situation Reports.

For more information on other areas of coverage, please contact us

at [email protected].

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic

Mexico

Panama

Peru

Puerto Rico

6,922

268,602

29,037

202,951

29,141

2,684

80,599

263,360

1,228,114

52,457

Puerto Rico

Peru

Panama

Mexico

Dominican Republic

Costa Rica

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Argentina

COVID-19 LATAM Cases

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

mailto:[email protected]


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ARGENTINA Entry & Travel Restrictions

Brazil, Chile, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, UK, US, all EU

and Schengen Member States have been added to the list of

high-risk countries. Anyone (including Argentinean citizens)

Immigration

• Government Offices - Closed until June 28th, 2020.

• V&I - Visa applications and processes are suspended and interviews are being rescheduled upon reopening. Online visa

applications are available.

• Concessions:

o All residence and work authorization permits expiring between May 15th and June 30th will be valid for 30 more days.

• Document Management - Procurements, Legalizations, and Apostilles are on hold at this time. Translation assistance is

available. Public notaries are available at this time.

traveling from these countries will only be permitted to enter Argentina if

they commit to a 14-day self-quarantine at a private residence or a hotel.

Travel ban is in effect until September 1st. Consequences for non-compliance

are getting a fine and/or imprisonment.

Quarantines, Curfews, Mandates

Mandatory isolation from July 1st until July 17th in the whole country. All residents are required

to wear a face mask and gloves when in public.

BRAZIL Entry & Travel Restrictions

Borders are currently closed until July 4th. This restriction is not applicable to

Brazilian citizens, foreign national residents, visa holders, those eligible for

family reunion, foreign workers for the Brazilian government, and workers on

international service mission. Foreign nationals are banned to enter U.S. until

further notice if they have been in Brazil within 14 days prior to the travel,

with the exception of US citizens.

Immigration

• Government Offices: Partially open until further notice.

• V&I: Immigration department is gradually resuming service to the public. In the first phase, visa renewals and residence status

change in Brazil will be processed, decided and published in Diário Oficial da União (DOU). Processes that require to be

submitted at Brazilian consulates abroad are being accepted, however all resolutions are suspended until the end of sanitary

restrictions. Suspension of RNM registration services is in place, except for urgent national-interest cases.

• Concessions: o Fines for expired immigration-related documents issued by the Federal Police are suspended. o Visitor visas that are expired or due to expire will not be subject to penalties. o All document deadlines and expiration dates are suspended.

• Document management: Passport issuance is available only for urgent travels with the proper evidence. Document

procurement, legalizations, apostilles, public notaries and translation assistance are available.


Government recommends social sectors to refrain from leaving their homes.

Quarantine is encouraged; however, no penalties are enforced. Visitors

arriving to Brazil are encouraged to stay in isolation for 7 days if they show any

symptoms. All residents are required to wear face mask and gloves when in

public.


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Entry & Travel Restrictions

Borders are currently closed until further notice. All-cargo

operations, returning nationals and residents, diplomats and

international organizations and crew are exempt. Nationals


Curfew is applicable from 10pm to 5am until further notice. In Santiago

metropolitan area, quarantine was extended until July 1st.

Immigration

• Government Offices - Closed until further notice.

• V&I - Consular visa services are suspended until further notice. Visa applications are accepted online. Permanent Residence

application online is available. Brazil, China, Cuba, Peru & Haiti nationals can apply for this process online in a period of 120

days since June 1st. Only a few banks are available for government visa payments.

• Concessions

o Identification cards expired in 2019 will remain valid until December 31st, 2020.

o Identification cards expiring in 2020 will remain valid for an additional year from expiration date.

o Such validity extensions are applicable only inside Chile.

• Document Management - Apostilles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are available. Procurements and apostilles at Civil

Registry offices are on hold at this time. Public notaries are available with limited staff at work.

and residents must comply with a 14-day quarantine if arriving from China,

Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.

All visitors are required to fill out passenger locator forms. All residents are

required to wear a face mask when in public.

CHILE

COLOMBIA Entry & Travel Restrictions

Borders are currently closed until August 31st. Repatriation and humanitarian

flights are exempt. Domestic Flights are suspended until further notice.

International flights will be reopened on September 1st. Land borders with

Ecuador are being flexible for humanitarian and sanitary cases.


State of Sanitary Emergency is declared until August 31st. Nationwide isolation

measures are enforced until July 15th. All nationals and/or legal residents returning

to Colombia will be subjected to a COVID-19 test and a 14-day quarantine. Fines

are imposed for non-compliance. Immigration

• Government Offices - Closed until August 31st.

• V&I - All immigration processes in person and visa applications are currently suspended. Online processes such as visas, visa

renewals, apostilles and academic diploma recognitions (convalidacion) may be filed via the current web system. Counselor visas

are not being admitted with the exception for some special cases based on the authorities’ criteria.

• Concessions:

o Safe Passages will be granted until the State of Sanitary Emergency is lifted.

o V and M visa types that expired during the State of Emergency will be valid through August 31st.

o Fines for applicants that do not complete registration or ID request are waived.

o Entry Permits will initiate their validity once State of Sanitary Emergency is lifted.

o Visitor visas validity period is suspended to foreigners outside Colombia that are unable to travel due to Covid-19

restrictions. No fines or revoked status are applicable for visa holders staying outside Colombia.

• Document Management - Procurements, legalizations, and apostilles are on hold at this time. Translation assistance, academic

diploma recognitions, on-line services like RUTEC (registry of foreign workers), SIRE (information system for the report of

foreigners) are available. Public notaries are available on a reduced schedule.


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COSTA RICA

Immigration

• Government Offices - Closed until July 18th.

• V&I - New visa applications are currently suspended, both in county and at consulates abroad. Appointments for DIMEX

(foreigner’s identification document) can only be done through the Bank of Costa Rica or Post offices at this time. Residents

and residence candidates outside Costa Rica cannot re-enter until June 30th under penalty of immigration status loss.

• Concessions

o Business visitors who entered Costa Rica after December 17th, 2019 may stay in Costa Rica until August 18th.

o Marriage-based temporary residents who have not yet filed their renewal application may do so before July 17th.

o Tourist visas expiring before May 17th, 2020 have been extended until July 18th.

o Criminal background records and birth certificates expiring before May 17th will remain valid through July 18th.

o Any penalties for overstaying in Costa Rica have been suspended until further notice.

o DIMEX ID cards for temporary residents have been granted validity until September 30th.

• Document Management - Document procurement, legalizations, apostilles and translation assistance are on hold. Public

notaries are available at this time.


Driving restrictions (with distribution of plates) is in place until June 30th. These

include weekdays from 5am to 10pm and weekends from 5am to 7pm.

Vehicles may be driven to supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and

health centers


Borders are currently closed until June 30th. Repatriation, cargo and

humanitarian flights are exempt. Anyone entering into the Dominican

Republic must quarantine in a government-assigned location for 15 days.


Quarantine is in place until June 27th. Curfews have been imposed from 7pm

to 5am Monday through Saturday; Sunday from 5pm to 5am until further

notice. Use of face masks is mandatory. Penalties are imposed if this

disposition is not followed.

Immigration

• Government Offices - Operating at a reduced capacity.

• V&I - Visa related services may be delayed due to closures in the last two months. Business visas and work permits are

suspended until further notice due to the closure of most consular posts abroad.

• Concessions:

o Appointments for renewals or first-time application for residency permits that were cancelled during the closure

are expected to be slowly rescheduled.

• Document Management – Document procurement, apostilles, legalizations and translations are available. Public notaries

are available at this time.


Borders are currently closed until June 30th. Exceptions apply

to nationals, legal residents, diplomats, and all cargo flights.

Costa Rican citizens and residents are allowed to enter, subject

DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC

only during one day of the weekend. A total vehicular restriction is enforced nationwide every

night from 7pm to 5am the following morning (exemptions may apply).

to a 14-day quarantine. Visitors in-transit are allowed during connecting flights

with verification of confirmed exit of country.


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State of Emergency is in place until further notice. Voluntary mobility-

limitation policy is observed nationwide. Most states have moved into

"orange" phase, where limited activity is permitted in public places and mass

gatherings.

Immigration

• Government Offices - Open on a first come-first served basis with limited number of applications per day. Consulates are open for

essential/emergency services abroad. Some are scheduling via MEXITEL, electronic appointment system.

• V&I - Non-essential immigration services such as new visa applications may be delayed due to closures.

• Concessions

o All immigration-related deadlines are suspended until further notice for all resident foreigners in Mexico or at Consular

representations.

• Document Management - Document apostilles, legalizations and passport issuance are available. Public notaries are available at

this time.


Borders are currently closed until July 23rd. Repatriation and humanitarian flights

are exempt.


The 24-hour quarantine, gender restrictions and license plate restrictions have

been re-instated until June 30th. Children can go outside with a parent from 4pm

to 7pm. Parks and recreational centers are opening at 25% capacity, resuming

physical activities without contact. Mandatory mask use, social distancing and

washing of hands are being enforced. Immigration

• Government Offices - Open to the public with limited staff and services. Some services are given under appointment only. Authorized

ID cards will be delivered once offices are open to public upon appointment.

• V&I - Visa application services, issuance of documentation and interviews are suspended until June 30th. Outstanding interviews are

being rescheduled.

• Concessions:

o All residence and/or work authorization permits expiring between May 17th and June 30th will be valid until September 8th.

o Suspension of expiration dates related to visa applications until further notice.

o Extension of the validity of all residence permits expiring on or after March 13th to June 30th.

o Foreign nationals with approved applications, that are yet to receive their ID cards, must carry a copy of the approval

document issued.

o Identity cards, Cedula E (permanent residence), issued to nationals of Panama and permanent residents are extended until

June 30th.

o Tourists whose status expired from March 13th to June 7th will be given a 3-month grace period without penalties.

• Document Management - Document procurement, legalizations, public notaries and apostilles are on hold at this time. Translation

assistance is available.


US-Mexico border is closed to non-essential land crossing

until July 21st. Exemption to U.S. citizens, permanent

residents, business travelers, and valid U.S. travel

document holders. No entry restrictions are being

observed for incoming flights into Mexico. Thorough

health reviews are held in different ports of entry.

PANAMA

MEXICO


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State of Emergency in place until June 30th. Curfews have been imposed from

9pm to 4am.

Immigration

• Government Offices - Closed until further notice.

• V&I - USCIS suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and Application Support Centers (ASCs). US

Consulates across the world have suspended operations. Bann of H-1B (specialty occupation professionals), L-1

(intracompany executives, managers and specialized knowledge workers), H-2B (temporary non-agricultural workers), J-1

(intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair and summer work travel program beneficiaries) visas until December 31st.

• Document Management - Procurements, legalizations, and apostilles are on hold. Translation assistance is on hold at this

time. Public notaries are available.


Borders are currently closed and have restricted all international

and domestic flights until June 30th. All visitors need to submit a

sworn health statement. The government will designate 14-day

quarantine facilities for anyone entering the country.

PUERTO RICO

PERU

Immigration

• Government Offices – Some Government agencies are working on a reduced schedule.

• V&I – Outstanding appointments will be rescheduled after State of Emergency is lifted. Foreign nationals will need to submit

their work contract to the Ministry of Labor once the State of Emergency is lifted.

• Concessions

o Immigration office has begun to process previously filled applications. An online platform will be implemented for

foreign nationals to file the following:

▪ In-Country change of status applications,

▪ resident visa renewal applications,

▪ student work permit applications,

▪ appeals,

▪ special travel permits and

▪ permits to sign documents.

o Suspension of deadlines and fines for foreign nationals in Peru with expirations after March 15th.

o Foreign nationals granted 45 days to regularize their situation in the event their processes were put on hold due to

the State of Emergency.

o Digital signatures are being accepted from companies and employees for signing extension to employment contracts

that expire during the State of Emergency.

o Biometric requirements for status change or renewal are suspended for in-country processes until further notice.

• Document Management - Procurements, legalizations, and apostilles are on hold. Translation assistance as well as public

notaries are available at this time.


Airports are open for nationals as well as business related trips. Self-

quarantine is suggested but not mandatory. Upon arrival, temperature is

taken, masks are mandatory and the COVID test is being offered to public.


Stay at home order has been lifted and a gradual opening order is in place.

A curfew is in place from 10pm to 5am until further notice. Grocery stores

and pharmacies are open until 8pm. Delivery is allowed until 12pm. Fines

are imposed if mandates are not followed.


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Servicing:

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

St. Maarten

The Bahamas

Trinidad & Tobago

Uruguay

USA (SE Florida)

Venezuela

Cuba

Curaçao

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Jamaica

Mexico

Nicaragua

Argentina

Barbados

Bermuda

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Cayman Islands

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

For additional information and/or assistance regarding COVID-19 protocols,

procedures, or service delivery measures in any of our areas of coverage,

please contact us at [email protected]

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

mailto:[email protected]

COVID-19 UPDATEImmigration • Government Offices - Open on a first come-first served basis....

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