Uruguay Citizenship – It’s been 23 years but I’m finally applying!

It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally be starting the process of applying for Uruguay citizenship.

First step towards Uruguay citizenship

The first step is to be at least 5 years in Uruguay (or three years if you apply as a couple) and then get an appointment at the electoral court. I live in Montevideo but it’s been impossible to get an appointment. I can hardly believe that in the capital city, only 15 slots are available each week? That’s just 60+ appointments for prospective new citizens in any one month. What???

So Mark suggested we try in a less busy department (as Uruguayan provinces are called).

We drove 1.5 hours (pleasant drive on deserted highway) to the city of Maldonado to try our luck at the electoral court there. We were told we needed to be there in person (Mark could not do it for us).

Once there the clerk outlined all the paperwork we would need and gave us a number to call to schedule our first appointment once the Maldonado agenda opens up in mid November. She also told us that once we submit the paperwork, there’s an interview shortly after, so that assuming we’re accepted, we could have our Uruguay citizenship in a matter of weeks after the paperwork-submission appointment.

Keep your fingers crossed we have more luck than in Montevideo!

Uruguay citizenship specialist

Thanks to our lawyer Mark Teuten for his perseverance. The electoral court encourages applicants to “do it themselves”—but if I have the chance to avoid the bureaucracy I will!

Mark is one of our recommended relocation specialists.