Americans ask Reddit about getting out, Guru’Guay answers

I need to leave the country right now, can I just fly to Uruguay before doing ANY paperwork?

Yes, depending on where you come from you can start the procedure to become a resident as soon as you land. Most countries don’t need a travel permit at all so you can just book a flight and stay three months in the country. If you’re from the US, Canada, the UK or any other European country, you don’t need a visa.

Once you get to the end of your 90 days, you can just take the ferry to Argentina for the weekend (or even the day) and get a new 90 day stamp in your passport.

Can I have dual citizenship?

Yes, a lot of Uruguayans do. Uruguay allows naturalised citizens to retain their original citizenship.

Do I have to speak Spanish?

Not at first if you are a remote worker or digital nomad, since you won’t need it if you retain your job abroad. Definitely yes if you intend to find employment here (not something that we recommend unless you work in IT. See an interview that will help explain). Uruguayans have a pretty strong accent so even if you learnt Spanish in your home country you’ll need some time to get used to the many differences in the way people speak here.

Find out where you can learn Spanish

Do I need a relocation specialist?

We would recommend it. The bureaucracy in Uruguay can be tedious and slow. Having a relocation specialist helps you streamline the process and saves you unnecessary delays from messing up the paperwork or missing deadlines. Some documents need to be translated and that must be done by an official translator. Save yourself nerves and headaches and contact the experts.

I have adult children, do they have to apply for residency independently?

Yes. If they’re over 18 they are not eligible for residency as minors. Family reunification doesn’t apply to adults.

I’ve read there’s good LGBT protections, how easy is it to overturn them?

Not very. Laws in Uruguay are enforced country-wide and are hard to overturn. To change a law in Uruguay, there has to be approval by the General Assembly through a legislative process that includes proposal by lawmakers, the president, or citizens via popular initiative, committee review, debate, and majority voting in both chambers, Senate and Deputies (simple majority for most laws, absolute majority for certain cases like tax laws).

If approved, the president may enact it or issue a veto, which can be overridden by a three-fifths legislative majority. After all this the law takes effect. Constitutional reforms require an even stricter process, including dual legislative approval and possibly a referendum.

Are Uruguayans hostile to Americans?

No, Uruguayans are very welcoming towards foreigners in general. English-speaking ones especially because even now they are still a bit of a novelty. There’s a push by the government to facilitate immigration as a way to mitigate the demographic crisis caused by an aging population and low birth rates.

We regularly interview expats in Uruguay and they say Uruguayans are really kind and friendly, including towards children.

Are there drug problems? (in r/uruguay people complain a lot about that)

Yes, but not as prevalent and serious as in the US. The difference in the drug of choice affects the behaviour of the users. Whereas in the US the crisis is driven by opiates such as fentanyl and heroin, in Uruguay it’s driven by pasta base, a byproduct of cocaine production with a very short yet intense high, and doses going for a dollar each.

Reddit Uruguay can be a bit hyperbolic at times. You may see homeless people on the streets like anywhere else in the world, but unless you engage with them they tend to be harmless. There are high murder rates in Uruguay, but these figures vary greatly depending on the city and part of the city. Unfortunately criminal activity is more prevalent in poorer neighbourhoods in Montevideo on the outskirts—not areas travellers or foreigners would be likely to go. Read more about safety in Uruguay

Can I get a student visa?

Yes, but you may not even need one. Most countries do not require a visa. You can even enrol in university with your passport.

Can I get a degree in Uruguay?

Yes, but you need to be fluent in Spanish. There are public and private universities in Uruguay. Universidad de la República is public, free and open to all. No entrance exam are required apart from certain majors (mainly in the medical field). You can enrol from the first year or by getting your foreign qualifications accredited. Read more here.

Do I have to pay taxes?

If you work for a Uruguayan company or set up your own business, in most cases you have to pay taxes. There are some exceptions in the software industry. There’s a specific sub related to Reddit Uruguay called r/CharruaDevs where programmers and IT workers discuss the local market and this topic has been covered there.

Uruguay does not enforce double taxation so if you come from a country like the USA—where you cannot escape paying tax—, then your income generated abroad is not taxed here. If you do need to pay taxes here, there is a way to get a tax holiday here through applying for fiscal residency.

Can I just go and teach English?

We wouldn’t really recommend it. There’s a lot of competition. Schools won’t hire you just because you’re a native English speaker, and the pay won’t generally be good enough to support yourself financially (see minimum wage). Bilingual schools are picky and job vacancies really limited. Make sure you have a job before you rock up is our recommendation. Whether that’s in teaching or not.

Will I be at risk of deportation?

Unless you commit a crime while in Uruguay your chances are next to none. Overstaying a visa will get you a slap on the wrist at the airport and you’ll have to pay a minuscule fine. Serious crimes or repeat offences can lead to expulsion after due legal process. It is rare, but possible for individuals deemed a risk to public order or security to be deported. Just avoid engaging in any sort of criminal activity to stay in the clear.