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Immigrating to Uruguay? The country doesn’t ask for a great deal—a monthly income of around 1500 USD and a clean criminal record. Lawyer Mark Teuten takes us step-by-step through the process. This article is currently one of the most read on the Guru’Guay website so we update as needed.
Make sure you start getting everything together before you travel:
Without going into detail, this can involve getting the country authority to confirm that this is an original document or copy of one and then going to the nearest Uruguayan consulate for them to confirm that the stamp from the country authority is indeed what it says it is.
[Note from the Guru: I remember being horrified as the Uruguayan Embassy in London stamped all over my original birth certificate. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do]
The Uruguayan immigration office (Migraciones) applies a criteria of “intent to reside permanently” to all applicants. And they actively examine immigration records. If they see that a person has come into Uruguay, filed for residence and then immediately left and has not come back, or has filed but is out of the country most of the time and not really living in Uruguay, then they will reject the application.
[Note from the Guru: When I quizzed Mark on this, he said: “This is the FIRST thing they check. It is absolutely fundamental to getting residence. Everything else has a solution, this can’t.” So take this seriously, folks.]
You can book an appointment to file for residency in advance. At the time of writing, appointments are being given for four months’ time. To get a head start you can apply without all the documents we talked about, as long as you have them ready within a few months. The minimum documentation to apply is the passport, vaccination certificate and photo.
Once you’ve applied for residence you’ll receive a temporary Uruguayan ID card known as a cedula (pronounced SEH-doo-la).
[Guru note: Once you have your cedula, so many things become so much easier. As Uruguay is such an online society, anything that involves registering your name becomes so much easier – from legal stuff to buying cinema tickets]
Assuming that you are able to file all the necessary papers within a few months of the original filing and you meet the requirement to actually live in the country–with only temporary short term absences–, then you may receive the application for permanent residence within around one year (though this may vary).
If you are from a country where you need a (tourist) visa to get into Uruguay, then you should be aware that actually getting your visa is probably the hardest part of the whole process. Professional firms are not allowed to act as sponsors for visitors, making it hard to find a sponsor unless you have personal contacts. Usually, a sponsor needs to be a Uruguayan national who is prepared to go the immigration office and sign a sworn declaration that they will be responsible for the person whilst they are in the country and will ensure they leave.
However always check actual requirements for a tourist visa at your nearest Uruguayan consulate. They may vary.
Getting permanent residence status in Uruguay is not hard in terms of the general requirements, especially if we compare it to other countries. But it is heavy on red tape. The process takes place in Spanish and if you speak nothing or very little, it’s important to attend appointments with an interpreter.
If you speak little or no Spanish or don’t have much time or live far from the immigration office, a professional adviser will make the immigration process much less painful and generally faster. At times the authorities make life difficult for applicants. For instance, calling them in for very minor matters. For a professional firm dealing with a number of client applicants that is not a problem. But for a private individual who may live a long way away from the immigration office that can be a real waste of time and money.
[Guru note: Having done the application process myself and being a very forgetful person who misses deadlines, it took me almost four years to get my residency. As I speak Spanish it didn’t actually occur to me to hire someone! If I had known what I know now I would definitely have used a professional and saved myself a lot of time and frustration.]
Mark Teuten is a British lawyer based in Montevideo since the 1990s. He has law degrees from both the UK and Uruguay. He can help you with your residency applications, setting up a registered company and other legal matters. Guru’Guay has recommended him to our readers who have praised his trustworthiness, clarity, prompt communication even over great distances and careful advice regarding courses of action.
This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a lawyer as to your particular circumstances.
Photos: Jimmy Baikovicius and Christian Schnettelker
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90 Responses
Thank you for the great article, there is tons of great information on this site about Uruguay! I do have a few situational questions if I may:
Is it possible to stay on a tourist visa in Uruguay more than once? Like if I were to make an entry on a tourist visa, spend the 90 days in country, leave for a day or 2, then make another entry? Is this allowed back-to-back? Several times?
The reason I ask is because I want to know if I have more than the 90 days on a tourist visa, to explore more and get the documents in order to apply for permanent residency. Like say I enter, leave, and make a re-entry a few times before finally applying?
Just curious about the amount of time I have to get everything in order. I went to Uruguay not too long ago and found it amazing, am very much considering moving in the near future.
Also, I would be entering Uruguay as a U.S. Citizen, but my girlfriend would be as a Mexican Citizen. As far as I know, both the U.S. and Mexico have Visa-free access to Uruguay. Is the tourist visa / re-entry situation different for Mexican Citizens at all to your knowledge? I don’t think it is, but I am curious to get your thoughts on this.
Thanks again Guru! 🙂
Dyson
Hey Dyson, thanks so much for the kind words! So happy you are loving the site. It’s common for tourists to enter Uruguay multiple times. Most folks go to Argentina for the weekend and return. So you shouldn’t have a problem. Same for your Mexican girlfriend. I just checked and Mexico does not need a visa to enter Uruguay. Hope this helps! — Karen
Hi. I’m from Pakistan & want to know the process of getting resident visa/immigration of Uraguay.
What are the requirements? And procedure? If I want to be assisted by a lawyer who can take it up for me.
I’ll be looking forward to hear from you.
Bests
Hi Fatima, you can contact any of the relocation specialists featured on our Living in Uruguay section. They are specialists we trust and recommend and can absolutely help you. Best wishes from the Old City of Montevideo, Karen
Hi,
I am considering moving to Uruguay, but I know that in Uruguay people use their parents name. I have changed my surname to different one. This surname is fixed in my birth sertificate. Can I save it in Uruguay as a resident and if I want to apply for citizenship?
Hi Ian, I have no idea! Let me ask Mark if he can give you an answer. — Karen
Hallo, ich haette gerne ein Information, Sie schreiben hier das ein Rentner Monatlich mindestens 1500,- Dollar haben muss, in einer anderen offiziellen Seite habe ich folgende Information gefunden,
…< Notarielle Einkommesbescheinigung – Hierzu hat die Notarin Unterlagen einzusehen, aus denen
entnehmbar ist, dass den Antragstellern monatlich mindestens USD 500 pro Person zur Verfügung
stehen.
Anerkannt werden: Miet-, Renten-, Zinseinnahmen oder Gewinnbeteiligungen bzw. -entnahmen,
Einkünfte aus einer (selbständigen) Tätigkeit, sofern diese in Uruguay bzw. online ausgeübt wird.
SPAREINLAGEN werden dahingegen NICHT akzeptiert……..??
Hello,
Thank you for very detailed article.
I have a question about income proof, I work for the British company and my contract is temporary (6 months). However the company extends it regularly and I can prove it with former contracts and bank statements. Would it be ok to show this contract together with bank records or I would need to have a permanent contract? Thank you in advance!
Hi Nikita, I contacted Mark Teuten, the author, and he has this response for you: He can use the UK income for residence purposes but will have to register with the Uruguayan Tax and Socia Security office as a sole trader (unipersonal) and pay income tax and social security contributions on the income declared. If he is living and working in Uruguay then this would be income of a Uruguayan source under our law. – Hope that helps!
ciao, ho bisogno di una informazione: posso richiedere la “cédula de identidad uruguaya” direttamente in Italia? come devo procedere per averla?
grazie in anticipo
Hi Flor, Mark is travelling and asked me to post a response to you.
The answer to this one is No. You have to be in Uruguay to get the ID card (Cedula).
Best wishes, Karen
Hola karen soy de Honduras, cuáles son los requisitos para obtener residencia permanente en uruguay, soy Hondureño, será que es factible, cuál sería el valor de los honorarios por favor. Mi correo electrónico carlosbendeck05@gmail.com
Hola Carlos, pedi a Mark Teuten que comparte los costos para que tengas un idea, el costo trabajando con su bufete tiene un costo de 2600 USD mas gastos (apx 750 USD). Espero que ayude. Saludos desde Uruguay — Karen
I see that you mentioned you have to have a “clean criminal record” in order to be eligible for immigration to Uruguay. Is there any type of statute of limitations to this, or some records that can be forgiven? I’m a US citizen, and I’ve gotten in trouble once for Marijuana Possession in Colorado in 2007. I was charged with felony possession, even though I only had 1 ounce on me. Marijuana is now legal in the State of Colorado in the US – if I had the same thing on me today, I wouldn’t be in any type of trouble under our current laws. I haven’t been in trouble since, and other than that one charge, my record is clean. I own my own Tech Business now, and feel I could contribute to Uruguay with my knowledge in Telecommunications/Broadband infrastructure and engineering. Would my chances of becoming a citizen be eliminated because of the one charge I have, or is there a way to move beyond it? If I got the record sealed (which I’m told I can), would the charge still be relevant in the immigration process?
Thanks!
Hi Jeff, how are you doing? Sorry for the delay getting back to you. I was visiting family in the UK for the first time since the pandemic and I’ve only just seen your question.
Uruguay is really positioning itself as a tech exporter, so I would expect them to be sympathetic to a case like yours, especially as marijuana is legal here! However of course each ministry is their own domain, so you’d really want to check with a legal expert like the author. Why don’t you drop him a line? mteuten@teutenabogados.com Very best wishes — Karen
Hi, is birth certificate mandatory to get permanent or temporary residence in Uruguay. I do not have a birth certificate, is there any alternate documents that I can produce?
Hi UKiran, I would suspect that you will need your birth certificate. Let’s see if the author, Mark Teuten, has anything else to add. Sorry not to have better news, Karen
Hi Karen! What does this mean exactly? “USA nationals do not need to get a criminal record report as they can get one from Interpol in Montevideo.”. Does this mean it wouldn’t need apostilled in the USA if I get it done here? Or it still would need mailed to Washington, D.C. to be apostilled, and then mailed back to Uruguay for translation?
Hey Jessica, how are you doing? The author, Mark Teuten, is away and asked me to respond to you on his behalf: It’s all done in Uruguay. They don’t need to bring anything from the USA. — so good news for you! — Best, Karen
Thank you, Karen, for you sympathy! I really hope Uruguay will become my second home, as it was for my ancestors.
A heartfelt hug to you and your family, Esther. — Karen
Hi! Your website has been such a fantastic and helpful discovery! Thank you! It’s clear you are passionate and put a lot of time and effort into it and the work you do. My wife (66) and I (56) are exploring immigrating from the US and expect to be in touch with you soon. I’ve explored your website and others to find out what accommodations might be made for my 81-year-old mother who lives with us. It does not appear she will be able to sign up for any of the health care options. Do I understand that correctly? She’s a world traveler, in great health, on no medications, and we expect her to be with us for a long time. Can an 81-year-old immigrate to Uruguay? Or are there other options? I understand that it’s in our best interest to work with attorneys in this process but I’m looking for some helpful/reassuring information I might share with my mom when we begin this discussion. Thanks so much! I look forward to meeting you! P.S. Just a heads up…I tried using your contact page and it did not appear to be working. I kept getting this message: Google reCAPTCHA verification failed, please try again later.
Hi Deirdre, thank you so much for your kind words! Uruguay and Guru’Guay are indeed my passions 🙂 Have a look at the end of this interview on Living in Uruguay. The final question covers the issue. I’m sure you’d like more details as to your specific case. In which case, a one-on-one session with me will allow you to ask all those burning questions. Not only will you get yourself the answers you need, but you’ll be contributing to support our work. I look forward to speaking at your convenience! To contact me directly, sign up to our newsletter and you’ll get access to my email contact. Greetings from Montevideo — Karen. PS, thanks for the flag re the contact page.
Hi! Thanks for such a good article!
My family is currently in Ukraine, in a zone of military conflict. My grandfather was born and raised in Uruguay, I have all the necessary documents confirming his origin and kinship, already apostilled and translated.
I have two questions:
1. I will go to the consulate in a European country, present all the documents and I will receive my passport within 30 days (that is what they told me). Will it be a full citizenship? Or a residence permit with a passport?
2. My husband and young son will be with me. Can they apply for a passport (after I receive it) when they are in Europe, before leaving for Uruguay? Or upon arrival, how quickly can they get citizenship and a passport?
Hi Esther, I’m so sorry for your situation. My heart goes out to you. I’ve asked the author, Mark Teuten, to respond to you himself. I’m sure he’ll be answering you shortly. A huge hug, Karen
Hello, Is their a professional relocation company you would recommend? One that is reasonable and takes care of everything!
Thank you… Bruce
Hi Bruce – yes. Download the Guru’Guia, our free guide, for up to date relocation recommendations. All the best, Karen
Hi Karen,
Question regarding:
Income You’ll need to show evidence of a minimum monthly income, the source of that income (such as your retirement pension, the rental of a property in Uruguay or abroad) and that the income is being paid into a Uruguayan bank account. A ballpark figure for a minimum income for single person could be around 1,500 USD. A Uruguayan public notary will need to certify it.
Is this the income status of your latest paycheck of your previous job?
What are the requirements when you come to Uruguay without a job. With other words you come with a amount of cash to start over with your family…and find a job in Uruguay or start as a freelancer to work for abroad customers online?
With kind regards,
Pieter
Hi Pieter, I’d never recommend coming to Uruguay without having your income already sorted out. If you haven’t already, do check out our new series about living, working and investing in Uruguay. All the videos will be helpful to you but you’ll definitely want to watch the videos on residency and taxation.
Hallo,
Benötige ich in Uruguay einen Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis um z.b. ein Konto zu eröffnen oder Land zu erwerben?
Gruß
Tom
Hi Tom, I don’t speak German so I’ll answer in English. No, you don’t need to be a resident to open a bank account or buy land. Very best wishes — Karen
Thank you for the information. It seems like the most complicated part is the monthly income. When you say that income needs to be paid into a Uruguayan bank account, does that mean you need to open a bank account when you get to Uruguay and the $1500 USD monthly needs to be transferred into it every month? I have a bank account into my country with more than $1500 USD coming in monthly so I can definitely support myself. Would I be able to show the Uruguayan officials this bank statement or do I need to open a bank account in Uruguay when I get there and send money through a transfer? Looking foward to your reply.
I really appreciate this site and thank you all for the informative (and interesting) information. May I ask a few questions regarding the possibility of moving from the UK to Uruguay? 1. Can you enter Uruguay as a tourist and then apply to stay longer or do I need to start the process in the UK (aside from having the relevant documentation/income etc.) 2. I have a traffic conviction on my police record from 20 years ago which is now spent/stepped down, however I believe this certificate states ‘No live trace’ instead of the ‘No trace’ – are my dreams of moving dead right there? 3. What is required to show proof of income? Are UK bank statements enough? Many thanks for your time, Robbie
Hi Robbie, thanks for the kind words. Please check with a professional (we recommend several in our Moving to Uruguay section) but to give you a quick idea to being on with, in my understanding: 1. You can start it when you’re here 2. I can’t imagine that being a problem 3. you just need to be able to prove a regular income on which you’ll sustain yourself, so UK bank statements proving that are in line. Hope this helps! But as mentioned, do check with a professional – best, Karen
Hi, I am a dual Canadian-American citizen who is married to a Colombian citizen. We plan to move to Uruguay next year, taking advantage of the 2-year temporary (renewable) residency my husband and our daughter can access as Colombian citizens, under the Mercosur agreement.
However, it is unclear to me what I have to do, as a Canadian or as an American citizen, to immigrate to Uruguay. The Uruguayan Embassy here in Bogota, Colombia (where I have been a permanent resident for 15 years), has informed us that I would apply separately from my husband and our daughter, but did not provide us with further information about my case… would I look to a rentista visa as someone who earns more than USD$1,500 per month, individually? Or would it be some sort of “family reunification” visa that I would apply to after they have begun their temporary residency process?
Hi Emilie, I’ll ask the author, Mark Teuten, if he can provide some guidance. — Karen
Hi, I wanted to ask a question about this. If I receive my foreign income via paypal, is it possible to get a non resident bank account in uruguay and receive it there so that I can prove my income locally?
Hi Jean, sorry for the delay but I was checking. It’s not possible to get income from PayPal sent to a bank in Uruguay apparently. Sorry to be bringing bad news 🙁 Best, Karen
Hi Mark! I would be interested in relocating to Uruguay once the borders open back up and am comfortable with the time required each year to be in country to gain residency.
My issue is I dont have a birth certificate. I am a Canadian citizen, have a Canadian passport but I was born in Iran during the war in 1980 and my parents fled the country, and I dont have any documentation other than my Canadian passport. Would this negate me being able to get residency in Uruguay?
The first step is to get a certificado de llegada from the Immigration office. They then send that direct to the cedula office and you can book to renew your cedula.
You will need a usar profile on tramites. Gub. Uy to do this.
We can help you if you need assistance.
Mark
My cedula expires later this year. This is my first renewal. Due to covid, it seems that many governmental processes have changed. What steps do I now take to successfully complete this process?
Anne, your husband is Uruguayan and therefore entitled to come and live here and as his spouse you can also apply for residence using the fast track process at the Foreign Office for which you do not have to show any income. In any event U$S2000 per month would be enough for a “normal” residence application at the Immigration Office.
Good luck.
Mark
What good news, Anne! Thanks, Mark!
Hello, My husband was born in Uruguay but moved to the US when he was 5. We are now wanting to retire there. First, will his pension of approx $2000 likely be enough to support the two of us (no housing costs, as he owns the house his mother lives in in Canelones)? Second question is that since he was born in Uruguay, would he still need to get residency?
Thanks in advance for your response!
Hi Anne, we’ll ask author Mark Teuten to zip in and clear up your doubts. Great that you are thinking of coming here to retire! — greetings from Montevideo, Karen
Does the documentation of the source of minimum monthly income need to be apostilled in the country of origin?
Thank you. Very informative.
No, it does not.
I am thinking of relocating to Uruguay, but it looks like the minimum wage there is about 350 USD per month. Can I still get residency if I am working but making less than the 1500 USD minimum?
I would think that you’d need to earn something similar, however there is a new government now, since March 1 2020. There may be changes. Perhaps Mark, the author, will have something to add. All the best, Karen
Hi Isaac, The U$S1500 figure is not set in stone and is more applicable to people who have a source of income from abroad. If you come to Uruguay and get a job here then that in all likelihood will be sufficient for residency purposes.
This does not take into account any changes which may arise out of the current emergency.
Mark
Thank you both, this helps a lot!
Casper, as per karen’s comment you can book an appointment at the Immigration Office to check on status, but in general terms it is still early days. You need to work on the basis that it will take around 1 year for your application to be granted. Mark
Hi Guys
I entered Uruguay on January 2, 2019. I am a Teacher and have been teaching since March in Punta del Este. I have filed for Permanent Residence in July or August and have submitted Proof of income by supplying a BPS Printout as requested By the immigration office in Montevideo. How can I find out how far the Process is?
Hi Casper, you should contact the immigration office. If you are not fluent in Spanish, you may want an immigration/relocation expert to work with. It will inevitably save you frustration and time. Take a look at our recommended people here https://guruguay.com/living-in-uruguay/. Best of luck! Karen
Good day. Is there an alternative to monthly income evidence? for instance, a lump sum deposited into a bank in Uruguay, which is left untouched for the period of the application. (My husband and I have a good chance of securing employment of some sort during that period with global companies in our industry who have current representation there.)
Family consists of 7 people, if that helps to establish a reasonable deposit sum.
Also, does and 18 year old unmarried daughter qualify as a dependent if still studying online?
Hi Chantel, I would have thought so, but I’ll ask Mark the author and residency lawyer to answer your query.
Chantel, No that is not possible. They are not interested in any capital amount. They want to see an income. But there are many ways to satisfy the requirement and we would be happy to advise you further on this aspect in private correspondence.
Chantel, please see my previous answer about income requirement. For a family of 7 in general terms you must be thinking of showing at least U$S3000 per month.
As to your 18 year old daughter, if you can show that she is studying (with confirmation from the organisation of what she is studying and where) then she will be classified as a dependant.
Hi Guru,
Is it possible to convert my Residente Legal Temporario to Residente Legal Permanente. I just moved to Uruguay couple of months ago and mi empresa opened a temporary residency file for me with DNdM.
I like the country and would like to explore my options to settle here permanently.
Appreciate your response!!
Gracias!!
Hi. Yes, you can change from temporary residence to permanent residence if you meet the requirements for such. The main issue here would be if you have a permanent source of income here in Uruguay rather than just a temporary post. It would be best to wait for your temporary residence to be granted before changing category.
Do you have a company you recommend for navigating the residency / citizenship paperwork? Am I understanding this correctly that if I bring my criminal record and birth certificate (with apostille) with me as a tourist, I can submit a letter once I’m there and apply for residency within the country?
Contact the author, Mark Teuten, on mteuten@teutenabogados.com. — Best, Karen
Hi Jonas,
If you have applied for residency then you no longer need to leave the country every 3 months. If you have not applied yet then you need to leave every 3 months (or every 6 if you get an extension) until such time as you apply. Just marrying a Uruguayan does not automatically change your residency status!
Hello!
Im in Uruguay and just married a uruguayan.
Do I still need to leave the country every 3 months while I wait for my recidency?
Or is the marriage certificate enough to be able to stay in Uruguay?
Thanks!
No, 3 or 4 months residence a year is not enough to get permanent resident status. You would need to come for at least 1 year with only minimal absences in order to get permanent resident status. On the good side once residence is granted there is no on-going residence requirement so you only have to come back then once every 3 years to renew your Uruguyaan ID (Cedula). In any event you do not have to have permanent resident status in order to buy property here and as US citizens you do not need a visa to get into the country. You can stay for a maximum of 180 days as a tourist and return thereafter whenever you wish.
We were hoping to purchase or rent a home in Uruguay for about 3 to 4 months a year, I also have two residences in the USA. Can you apply for and obtain residency in Uruguay under this scenario? We, were hoping to attain dual citizenship and another passport outside of the US.
Thanks for your consideration.
I am working as a banker in my home country Pakistan. I am thinking to move to Uruguay. What are the job prospects there?
Hi Muhammad, it is advisable to come to Uruguay with your employment or income already secured. Best, Karen
The one thing no-one will tell you on here that it is more or less impossible to get residency if you come from Pakistan, India or anywhere in the Middle East. That goes the same for most South American countries. If you have millions to invest than maybe…
Hi there,
Quick question, when you give the Embassy your apostilled documents, do you get them back at the end? Eg: Your birth certificate?
Do you also get your criminal records back or do they keep the lot?
I haven’t been able to find the answer anywhere and when I asked the Uruguay Embassy in my country.
Thanks,
Sonja
Sonja,
It is difficult to get back the original documents once they have been filed with the Uruguayan authorities. In principle however it is possible to get back original birth certificates/marriage certificates, but this involves making a separate specific request explaining why the original is needed.
You can’t get the criminal record report back.
I hope this helps.
In the article it states that you have to prove that you have at least $1500 per month to sustain yourself financially. Is there a specific amount of months needed… Like you have to prove that you can sustain yourself for at least 6 months or a year. I’m asking cause I need to know how much money I will need to bring with me or have available to me.
Nicky,
You have to show that you have a source of income that will support you on a permanent basis. It is not a case of having money for xx number of months and bringing that amount with you. The source of income needs to be certified by a Uruguayan public notary or accountant and they will need to see at least 3 months’ receipt of that income before providing a certificate and then that income must continue to be received all the time the residence application is pending (around 1 year at present, if everything else is in order), in case the Immigration Office has follow up questions about it.
The U$S1500 is not a fixed figure either. For example, if you have family members you will need to show more than that.
Hope this helps!
Hello
I have construction and Trading company in my country , I am looking to move start my business at Uruguay.
From where can I start ?
How you can help me?
BR
Mustafa
Hi Mustafa, contact Mobility LC, relocation specialists in Uruguay. There is a form to fill out at the bottom of the page. Good luck — Karen
Hi, I am interested in relocating to Uruguay from South Africa. I do contract work around the world for 6 weeks at a time and return for approximately 2 weeks at a time (except for December holidays which are naturally longer). I have proof of contract and can produce fully stamped passports proving the nature of my work. Would this be considered, together with buying a fixed property, for permanent residency leading to citizenship? Thanks
Hi Bert, you’d need to consult with an expert. Check out the Uruguayan relocation experts we have vetted and can recommend without reservation and write them. Good luck! — Karen
Hello. I am planning on moving to Uruguay in January with my family. Do you know if and when the apostilles expire? Do you know how long an apostille is valid for marriage and birth certificates and police reports? Thanks for your help!
Hi Laura – let’s see what Mark has to say about this! Mark?
How can I contact/speak with you? I am planning a trip to Montevideo in the very near future.
Hi Barry, we tried responding to your email address but the mail bounces back. Please write to us from another mail that we can contact you on. Karen will be delighted to help you out.
Dear madam
I wanna to move Uruguay with my family. I want to prepare everything there before sending my wife and daughter there. I will back to my county up to retired by next 5 years
She has properties and can rent them hear and I will send the money there or can start a business there.
Hello Mahdi, Uruguay is not a perfect fit for everyone so you should do your research carefully. I offer a one hour consultation to discuss if indeed Uruguay is a good fit for your family which can save you a lot of time and money. Best wishes Karen
Hi Barry, we have tried contacting you on the email address you gave us but have unfortunately had no luck. Please email us directly. Looking forward to being able to assist you. Thanks!
This was very enlightening. I and my family are working towards relocating to Uruguay next year and unfortunately we need visas to get there. The country is much more expensive than our home country, and I don’t think they even have a lot of jobs that pay as much as they are asking for the month. We are both lawyers, and obviously cannot practice law in Uruguay.
We would definitely need a lawyer to do this. Fingers crossed that we are able to make this happen. As for getting someone to go and swear before we get our visas, fat chance. Let’s see how this goes
Good luck, Ivy!
Residency sounds like something you should do if you are going to live in the country but, it offers few benefits and takes a long time and a fair amount of money. We discussed it with some immigration attorney and they talked us out of it.
So, here are the ‘advertised’ benefits’ !
. You obtain a National Identification Document, called the CI (Cedula de Identidad).
Comment: So what, a passport fills nearly all of the requirement of a Cedula de Identidad.
. You then are eligible for public health insurance.
Comment: As an expat, you likely are not going to want to set foot into the public hospitals and opt to pay or obtain a
schema at the British or Italian hospital.
. You can live full-time in Uruguay without the need to take trips out of the country in order to renew your visa.
Comment: You can fly to B.A., or drive to Salto, Rivera or Chuy every 100 days or so and easily fulfill this requirement.
Plus, it’s nice to get away! 🙂
. You will be able to import your personal belongings and household goods duty free.
Comment: Unless you have a home with thousands of dollars of antiques that you want to relocate, the cost of shipping
a container from N/A or Europe is quite expensive. You may find yourself better served to purchased new items in
Uruguay and help out your new economy. Exception: Maybe a very exotic automobile.
. You will be able to apply for citizenship and a passport.
Comment: Why would you require a Uruguayan passport except for having the option of no VISA for some of the other
Mercosur countries.
Nice points, Troppo! Although of course this article is about HOW to get residency, not WHY get residency 🙂 I would argue with you on some of them as someone working here, a cedula makes things soooo much more easy. Thanks for taking the time to write!
Hi,
Thanks for sharing great information, Kindly i would like to know , instead of providing a source of Income, Can we show some amount “That would be enough to live in Uruguay for certain time of period”, Actually i am Pakistani resident working in Saudi Arabia , now planing to move Uruguay , & start some small business there . Waiting for your advise
Hi Shahbaz, no, I’m afraid that currently guidelines expect that you have a proven regular income stream. Best wishes