Consular Information
Information about permanent residence in Uruguay
Note: the following text is a non-official translation, provided for informative purposes only.
Requirements to apply for legal residence in Uruguay for persons 18 years old and older.
Any foreigner bearing temporary immigration status in the country (i.e. tourist), may request permission to change his/her status to legal resident provided the maximum period of 180 days since arrival to the country has not been exceeded.
The immigration authority ("Dirección Nacional de Migración" from now on in this document will be referred as DNM) will resolve on a case by case basis.
The change in status will be requested in written form.
The letter will be presented at the main office (Montevideo city) or at any of the equivalent inspection offices around the country.
The DNM will proceed with the request within the established legal period.
The letter requesting the change of status should contain the following information:
First and last name of the requestor
Place and date of birth
Address and phone number in Uruguay
Entry/departure card (issued by immigration when entering the national territory), or photocopy of the passport showing the country entry stamp. If previous documentation is not available requestor must inform exact date and point of entry to the country.
Motive to apply for Uruguayan permanent residence.
For those nationalities that require consular visa to enter the national territory, the letter must enclose photocopies of passport pages in which personal information, passport validity, last Uruguayan consular visa obtained and entry stamp are shown.
In the case of Uruguayan's sons/daughters or spouse the category change request is also required but permanent residency can be initiated prior to obtain the authorization from the immigration authority.
This also rules for son/daughters under 18 years old and spouses of foreign legal residents or foreigners who have already started their change category procedure.
When the DNM authorizes the category change request, the foreigner must start the legal residency procedure presenting the following documentation:
Documentation required:
1. One passport photo.
2. Sources of funding/income (most common options).
a. Employees of legal entities ( i.e.: a company), some options:
i. Job offer in written in company's letterhead signed by the entitled person/s detailing position or work to be developed by the requestor, monthly salary amount –which should be enough for his/her maintenance- and a notary public certificate certifying company existence stating: legal capacity, validity, socal term, purpose, address in Uruguay, inscription in the Social Security Bank ("Banco de Prevision Social"/BPS) and the Tax Office ("Dirección General Impositiva"/DGI) and person/s entitled to sign on behalf of the company.
ii. Job contract subject to performance requires notary public certification detailing the company information and contract terms ( i.e. job description, remuneration and period).
b. Employees of individuals (i.e.: maid services). Sworn declaration signed by the employer and notary public certification of: employer's signature, job agreement, monthly salary amount and BPS registration. These requirements could be substituted by a notary public certification as indicated above without the sworn declaration.
c. Entrepreneurs and shareholders must present a certification issued by a public notary or accountant, including company information (legal capacity, validity, social term, purpose, address in Uruguay, registration in BPS and DGI) and stating the requestor's role in the company, and estimated monthly incomes.
d. Entrepreneurs and independent workers must present a sworn declaration stating the activity and a notary public certification of the signature, company information (address, purpose) registration in BPS and DGI and estimated monthly incomes.
e. Persons who live off interest/rents, retirees and pensioners in foreign countries must present a notary public certification indicating their status and monthly incomes he/she will receive in Uruguay (minimum required United States dollars 1.500,00/one thousand five hundred).
f. Retirees in Uruguay must show last receipt from the public entity.
g. Uruguayan government employee's or Uruguayan retiree's spouse: must present last receipt from the public entity –salary or retirement benefit.
h. Religious. Must present a letterhead certificate issued by his/her congregation or church stating that they will take responsibility on requestor's expenses together with a notary public certification of legal entity status (personeria juridica) and other information of the congregation/church. The notary public certification requirement could be substituted for a letter from the Curia or the Archbishopric.
i. Students:
i. Demonstrate student status by official certificate from the educational institution. In case of a private institution a notary public certificate certifying the existence of the institution and stating its information: legal capacity, validity, purpose and address.
ii. Statement of sources of funding/income by notary public certification or bank certification issued by a bank established in Uruguay evidencing sources of funding/income of the student.
j. Real estate owners:
i. Present a notary public certificate certifying that the requestor is the only owner of the real estate (information to identify the real estate). It is accepted that the ownership of the real estate is a household (spouses, spouse and sons/daughters). It is not accepted that the real estate is owned by a company owned by the requestor.
ii. Present a notary public certificate certifying that the requestor intents to buy the property (the requestor has signed a buying compromise agreement) and that this agreement has been registered at the corresponding office "Registro de promesas de enajenación de inmuebles a plazo".
To take into consideration: The certificates stating sources of funds/income can be issued by public notary or accountant . In both cases they must be presented with "montepío" notary stamp or professional stamp, respectively.
I ncomes must be indicate d on a monthly basis
Once the procedure is started, each time the sources of funds/income are updated, the requestor must present a new public notary certificate .
Incomes of applicant's concubine are not accepted, unless they have a Uruguayan descendant
3. Health Certificate: issued by the Health Department of Uruguay or by other authorized medical institutions. In all cases it must show the purpose of legal residence in Uruguay.
4. Date of entry: Entry/Departure card (tourist) or verbal confirmation.
5. Judicial Certificate: (criminal background investigation):
From the country where the applicant lived for the past five years prior entrance to Uruguay. Last address must be provided
From the country of his/her nationality
6. Identity card: This refers to document borne by the requestor when entering Uruguay or the current valid document of identity. If there is a difference between the last name stated in the original identity card and the one stated in the Uruguayan identity card, the requestor must present a legalized birth certificate translated into Spanish if applicable or the certificate of birth registered in the Uruguayan Civilian Registry ("Registro Civil").
7. Marriage license or certificate: If the requestor is married to a Uruguayan citizen or to a Uruguayan legal resident, he/she must present the spouse's identity card ("cédula de identidad").
All the required documents must be presented to start with the permanent residency procedure
If you do not speak Spanish you need to come with an interpreter
All foreign documents presented must be legalized by the Uruguayan Consulate in the country of origin and the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations and translated into English if applicable.
If the requestor is less than 18 years old, besides the previous requirements, he/she must present an authorization from his/her parents to become a Uruguayan legal resident. Must demonstrate student status (from the age of 5 years old), by official certificate from the educational institution. In case of a private institution a notary public certificate certifying institution existence and stating its information is requested. If the requestor is not going to live with his/her parents, they must state who will be the adult responsible in the country. Consent from this person will be requested.
Provisional Uruguayan identity card: the requestor will be able to obtain the first provisional identity card (as requestor for legal residence) only when the criminal background report is filed.
Information about Health Certificate: can be obtained at the Uruguayan Department of Public Health or at other authorized medical institutions. In all cases the purpose of legal residence must be shown.
Ministerio de Salud Pública (Department of Public Health)
División de Clínicas Preventivas
Address: Durazno 1242 and Carlos Quijano, Montevideo
Phone: 900 29 51 / 902 90 00 / 901 78 91
From Monday to Fridays
Link to its Website
Please call to obtain information about schedules and requirements.
In all the "Departamentos" (States) around the country there is an office of the Department of Public Health where you can obtain the health certificate for legal residence.
LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS
The procedure to be followed for the legalization of documents is as follows:
1. Notarization:The document must first be signed by a notary public .
2. Authentication: The notary publics' signature must be authenticated by the county clerk where the notary has commission or by the Secretary of State. Please note that the Secretary of State's signature is not necessary if the document has been signed first by the county clerk.We do not accept Apostilles.
3. Legalization: Once the previous steps have been concluded, the original document, a money order or company check in order to cover the cost of the legalization, extra photocopy of the document and a prepaid, self-addressed return envelope must be submitted to the Consulate. Please be aware that each Consulate can only legalize documents that have been authenticated by authorities within their jurisdiction.
Important: All the Divorce Documents must be accompanied by a letter from the Court or the Judge saying that the Sentence of Divorce have not been appealed and is definitive.
| You must present an extra copy of all documents to be legalized by the Consulate General of Uruguay. |
Fees:
The cost of each legalization will depend on the nature of the document being submitted:
1 . Certificates of incorporation, merger, free sale, foreign government, amendment, good standing, manufacture, pharmaceutical product, etc.: US$ 112, 00.
2. Patents, power of attorney involving two Companies or Enterprises, assignments, trademark, affidavit and all related matter with patents: US$ 140, 00.
3. Certificates of Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates, Official Transcripts: $42.00
4. Certificates of Divorce: $182.00
Make check payable to : Consulate General of Uruguay- Chicago
VISAS
All applications for Visas must be presented in the Consulate General of Uruguay at least 15 days before the date of travel.
US citizens do not require visa to visit Uruguay, for tourist or business purposes, for a period that does not exceed 90 days. However, a visa is required for US Official and Diplomatic passport holders.
In the case of all Indian citizen travelling to Uruguay for business, they must contact our office in order to set an appointment to have the visa stamped the same day.
There's no fee for Indian Citizen travelling for Business.
Important: The Consulate General of Uruguay can not assist with visa's requests without a prior appointment.
Foreign Citizens
A complete and updated list of the citizens of countries that require visa to visit Uruguay may be found on the Direction of Immigration's web page:
http://www.dnm.minterior.gub.uy/html/visas.htm
The requirements for obtaining a visa are as follows:
1. A Visa Application Form must be completed and signed.
2. We suggest to present Passports valid for 6 months beyond the arrival date in Uruguay.
3. Two passport size photographs.
4. Photocopy of roundtrip ticket fully paid or signed statement thereof by travel agency or passenger carrier, as well as a copy of the travel itinerary.
5. Consular Fee: US$ 42,00 (forty-two dollars). Money orders and checks must be made payable to the Consulate General of Uruguay - Chicago.
