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Permanent Residence & Citizenship - Uruguay

  • Type: Permanent Residence & Citizenship
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Duration: 1-3 years
  • Status: Active

1. Initial Requirements for Permanent Residence

To start the residency application, the following documents are required:

• Passport (original with which you entered Uruguay + photocopy of entire document).
The Immigration Office does not keep the passport during the proceedings; they just need to compare it with the photocopy.

• Criminal Record Certificate: From the FBI (for U.S. citizens) or equivalent authority in the country of birth and any country lived in during the last 5 years. Must be apostilled and translated in Uruguay. 

• Proof of Income:

– Minimum monthly income of approx. USD 1,500 (pensions, salaries, rental income, etc.).

– Must be certified by a Public Notary in Uruguay. A Notary Public from our Uruguay partner legal team shall assist you pursuant to the requirements of the Residence Office; therefore, you will be requested to provide supporting documentation according to your specific case.

These three items (passport, criminal record certificate, and income proof) are enough to initiate the proceedings.

Most Common Types of Monthly Income to Prove

I. Employee of a Legal Entity (Company Worker)
II. Employee of a Natural Person (Domestic or Private Worker)
III. Independent Worker / Sole Proprietor (Empresa Unipersonal)
IV. Business Owner or Shareholder (S.A., SRL, etc.)
V. Rentista (Person Living from Passive Income)
VI. Pensioner or Retiree (Jubilado o Pensionista)
VII. Dependent Minor (Child Residency under Parents)

 

Income for residency in Uruguay can come from either inside or outside the country, as long as it is stable, sufficient for living, and properly documented.

 

For official requirements and detailed information, please refer to the official PDF from the Uruguayan government.

2. Additional Documents Required to Complete the Process

To finalize and ensure issuance of the Identity Card (Cedula de Identidad) and full permanent residency:

• Birth Certificate – Apostilled in the country of birth, translated in Uruguay. After that, you need to register this certificate in the Civil Registry Office, Registration of Aliens Division, and then obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate registered in Uruguay for its submission for residence proceedings.

• Marriage Certificate (if applicable) – Apostilled and translated in Uruguay.

• Vaccination Certificates – For adults, the MMR & Tetanus vaccines; for minors, the full vaccination program. Certificates from abroad are valid if officially certified. To obtain such a certificate, you must be up
to date with vaccines, and your original medical certificate should indicate the date on which they were received (measles and tetanus vaccine for people born after 1967, and tetanus vaccine only for people born before 1967).

• Health ID – Health Card issued by a public or private healthcare service provider authorized by the Ministry of Public Health. Can be obtained at Ministerio de Salud Pública at (Durazno 1242 Phone 900 29 51) (free) or private hospitals (approx. USD 70). 

• Two passport-type photos.

• Date of entry stamp into Uruguay (as per immigration record).

3. Important Notes

• All foreign documents must be apostilled and then translated by a Public Translator in Uruguay.

• A proper quotation shall be given after reviewing the documents. However, Estimated translation & notary costs: around USD 1,000 (depends on length/number of documents).

• The Immigration Office requires proof of intent to reside permanently in the country. If applicants apply and then leave Uruguay for extended periods, their residency may be denied.

4. Citizenship Eligibility

• Timeline:

– Single applicant: Eligible after 5 years of permanent residency.

– Married couple/family: Eligible after 3 years of permanent residency.

• Requirements:

– Proof of real residence (utility bills, invoices, rental contracts, property purchase, etc.).

– Witnesses to confirm actual residence.

• Processing time: Between 1 and 3 years, depending on bureaucracy and location (Montevideo is slower; smaller cities like Colonia are faster).

5. Additional Services Offered

• Document Pre-check: Clients first send scanned copies; we verify correctness before originals are submitted.

• Translations & Notarizations: Full assistance with certified translations and notarial processes.

• Health & Vaccination Assistance: Coordination with public or private health providers.

• Real Estate Legal Assistance: Help with property purchases or rentals in Uruguay (via partner real estate brokers).

• Assistance with registering companies in Uruguay and abroad