Everything you need to know about legal residency in Uruguay
Whether because you fell in love with its landscapes or its ease of business favors you, obtaining legal residency in Uruguay is something that many people want. With a delay that varies between four and six months, this procedure requires facing the bureaucracy that characterizes this type of process.
Are you thinking about obtaining legal residency in Uruguay? We are here to help you! Did you know that this is one of the Latin American countries with the easiest conditions when it comes to processing residency and obtaining documents?
For this reason, and to speed up your search, we present the basic information you need to process legal residence in Uruguay. It is never a bad time to start a new life, you just need a little push and this can come in the form of answers to the questions that are holding you back.
What is legal residence in Uruguay?
Legal residence in Uruguay is the process carried out by foreigners with the intention of living in the country and accessing Uruguayan identity documents. It is carried out before the National Directorate of Migration and there are various types of legal residence, which depend on the amount of time that the applicant intends to stay with Uruguay.
This process allows the applicant to live, work, undertake and invest in Uruguay without limitations, as well as open bank accounts, and much more!
Legal residence in Uruguay, as in several countries around the world, can be temporary or permanent. Temporary, as its name indicates, is for those who want to reside and work in Uruguay for a period of less than two years. The permanent or definitive one is for those who decide to link with Uruguay without a specific period.
What are the types of legal residence in Uruguay?
The types of legal residence in Uruguay can be classified according to the country of origin and duration of the applicant’s link with the country. In this sense, the requirements to process legal residence in Uruguay will vary depending on these characteristics.
These are the types of legal residences in Uruguay:
-
- Temporary residence: this type of applicant will legally settle in Uruguay for a period of between 180 days and a maximum of two years. In addition, this procedure can be extended depending on the case.
- Temporary Mercosur residence: the duration of this legal residence in Uruguay is the same as the previous one and is intended for travelers with origins in Mercosur countries. Among them are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana. The requirements are lower than common temporary residence.
- Definitive legal residence: this is the procedure that foreigners who seek to reside permanently in Uruguay will carry out.
- Mercosur permanent residence: it can be done by those people from Mercosur countries who seek to reside or link with Uruguay permanently. It has lower requirements than the common permanent residence.
- Legal residence with ties to Uruguayans: like the previous ones, this will be the procedure that will be carried out by those seeking to reside permanently. In this case, it will be those who have a Uruguayan national relative such as children, common-law spouses, siblings or other relatives.
-
Residency by Investment: Uruguay offers the option of obtaining residency by investment, which means that you can obtain legal residency by making a significant investment in the country. This may include purchasing property, investing in a business or creating employment in Uruguay.
How to obtain legal residence in Uruguay?
Legal residence in Uruguay can be initiated in all offices of the National Directorate of Migration in Uruguay. The costs and documentation to be presented are updated on the website of said organization.
The process begins online, for which you must have a user on the Uruguayan government portal. There you must enter the site, attach the requested information and documentation, make the payment according to the type of residence and finally schedule a day for the in-person appointment in Montevideo or in the offices in the interior of the country.
Then you must attend in person on the scheduled date and time at the chosen office, presenting all the original documentation.
It should be noted that if you do not attend the scheduled date, you must start the process from scratch and pay it again.
What documents do I need to obtain legal residence in Uruguay?
The documents to present to obtain legal residence in Uruguay will vary depending on the type of resident.
This is, for example, the list of elements to present in the case of needing a permanent legal residence (non-Mercosur):
-
- Identity document
- A passport photo
- Vaccination card certifying that you have the Uruguayan vaccination scheme
- Certificate with a criminal record issued by the country where you resided in the last five years and the country of origin
- Current health card issued by a health center authorized by the Ministry of Public Health
- Livelihood: will vary depending on the circumstance of the interested party
- Apostilled birth certificate
- Apostilled marriage certificate, if applicable
- In any case, the recommendation is to review the official DNM site in detail to obtain information about the specific type of legal residence you wish to process. Do not forget that this procedure has a cost that is adjusted according to inflation.
Are you already thinking about processing your legal residence in Uruguay? Determine the type of residence that fits your situation and gather your documents to start that project you dream of so much.
At Residencias Uy we know that the process of obtaining legal residency in Uruguay can be overwhelming and confusing, which is why we are here to help you. We are a team of experts in immigration law and we are in charge of making this process as easy and fast as possible for you.
You are not alone in this, we are here to support you every step of the way. So if you need help obtaining your legal residency in Uruguay, do not hesitate to contact us! We simplify the entire process, so you can focus on your project in Uruguay.
Legal Residency Application Process in Uruguay
The process of applying for legal residence in Uruguay consists of several stages that you must follow carefully. Below, we explain step by step how to apply for legal residence in Uruguay:
1. Documents Collection
The first step is to collect all the documents necessary for your residency application. This includes your identification document, criminal record certificate, birth certificate, vaccination certificate and any other documents required depending on your specific situation.
2. Online Application
Once you have all your documents, you must start the online application through the official website of the National Migration Directorate of Uruguay. Complete the application form and attach all required documents in digital format.
3. Hearing and In-Person Procedure
Once you have completed the online application, you will be assigned a hearing and must appear in person at the corresponding office of the National Immigration Directorate. At this hearing, you must deliver all original documents and complete the necessary paperwork to complete your residency application.
4. Evaluation and Resolution
After the hearing, the National Immigration Directorate will evaluate your application and all the documents presented. Based on this evaluation, they will issue a resolution that will determine whether or not you will be granted legal residence in Uruguay.
5. Obtaining the Identity Card
If your residency application is approved, you will receive a provisional Uruguayan identity card, which you can use while your permanent residence is processed. Once you have obtained permanent residence, you can apply for your Uruguayan identity card.