Deep coverage17 verified routes across visit, study, work, investment, family and more.
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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Uruguay.
2 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Uruguay Tourism Visa (consular)
Nationals of countries not on Uruguay's visa-exemption list (for example China, India, Pakistan and many Middle Eastern and African states) must obtain a tourism visa before travelling for leisure, recreation or visiting. The application is lodged at a Uruguayan consulate and forwarded to the Direccion Nacional de Migracion for approval. The consular fee is around USD 54. The visa is multiple-entry, valid 180 days from issue, and authorises a stay of 90 days extendable by a further 90 days through the DNM. Applicants should apply at least about 20 business days before travel; once approved the visa must be stamped at the consulate within the stated window. It does not permit local employment or convert into residence.
Family: Each applicant files individually.
Government fee
$54
Processing time
20 days
Max stay
90 days
Validity
180 days
Document checklist (6)
Visa application formCompleted and signed tourism visa application form.
PassportValid for at least 6 months from arrival and in good condition.
Round-trip ticket reservationReservation of return or onward travel.
Proof of accommodation or local referenceHotel reservation in the applicant's name or a reference contact in Uruguay.
Proof of income/fundsEvidence of means to cover maintenance and accommodation for the declared stay.
Tourist Visa
Uruguay Visa-Free Tourist Entry
Nationals of around 84 jurisdictions - including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, all EU/Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Mexico and all MERCOSUR/South American countries - may enter Uruguay for tourism, recreation or business meetings without a visa for up to 90 days. The stay may be extended once for a further 90 days by request to the Direccion Nacional de Migracion (DNM). Travellers must hold a passport valid at least 6 months, and may be asked at the border for an onward/return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds. This entry does not authorise paid local employment and does not convert directly into a residence permit; applicants wishing to stay long-term apply separately for temporary or permanent legal residence with the DNM.
Family: Each traveller is admitted individually under the same rules.
Government fee
$0
Max stay
90 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (4)
PassportValid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and in good condition.
Onward or return ticketOptionalEvidence of travel out of Uruguay within the authorised period, presented on request at the border.
Proof of accommodationOptionalHotel reservation or host address for the stay, presented on request.
Proof of sufficient fundsOptionalEvidence of means to support the stay, presented on request to the border officer.
Not yet researched
Transit Visa
Business Visitor Visa
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Uruguay Temporary Legal Residence - Student
Temporary legal residence for foreign nationals enrolled at a recognised Uruguayan educational institution. Granted for 6 months to 2 years, renewable once for an equal period; renewal must be requested within 90 days before expiry. Applicants present an official enrolment certificate and proof of financial means to cover living expenses (own funds or family support). The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card. Study time counts toward habitual residence, so graduates may move on to permanent residence and, with the required years (3 with family/means, otherwise 5), to legal citizenship.
Work: Legal residence allows work; primary purpose is study.
Study: Full enrolment rights at the named institution.
Residency after 3 years
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (7)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; valid visa if required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Enrolment certificateOfficial enrolment/admission certificate from the Uruguayan educational institution.
Proof of financial meansEvidence of funds or family support sufficient to cover living expenses during studies.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from country of origin and residence (past 5 years), for applicants 18+.
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
2 routes
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
Uruguay Provisional Identity Card for Digital Nomads
A streamlined permit (created in 2023) for remote workers and freelancers who provide services to employers or clients located outside Uruguay. The application is filed entirely online via gub.uy and there is no minimum income requirement - the applicant signs a sworn declaration of self-support. The provisional identity card is issued for 6 months and can be renewed once for a further 6 months (12 months total); to renew, the holder obtains a Uruguayan national identity document and submits an apostilled criminal record and Uruguayan vaccination proof. The government fee is about 55.71 UI (roughly UYU 350 / USD 9) and cannot be paid from abroad. Foreign-source income is generally not taxed in Uruguay. The permit does not by itself convert into legal residence, but time and presence in Uruguay can support a later application for temporary or permanent residence.
Work: Remote work for foreign employers/clients; the permit is designed for this.
Study: Incidental study allowed; formal long programmes use a study residence.
Residency: Does not auto-convert; presence supports a later residence application.
Identity document copyCopy of the passport or ID used (or to be used) to enter Uruguay.
Sworn declaration of self-supportSigned sworn statement, with the signature matching the identity document, confirming the applicant supports themselves through remote work.
Uruguayan national identity documentOptionalRequired for renewal: the cedula obtained during the initial 6-month period.
Criminal record certificateOptionalRequired for renewal: legalized/apostilled and translated (except Brazil) record from countries of residence over the past 5 years, for applicants 18+.
Vaccination certificateOptionalRequired for renewal: Uruguayan vaccination record confirming compliance with Decree 136/2018.
Skilled Work Visa
Uruguay Temporary Legal Residence - Worker
For non-MERCOSUR foreign nationals coming to work in Uruguay under an employment contract. Temporary residence is granted for 6 months to 2 years and is renewable once for an equal period (up to 4 years total); renewal must be requested within 90 days before expiry. The applicant must present a contract on company letterhead specifying duties, duration and a monthly salary at least equal to the national minimum wage, backed by a notarised company certificate or BPS (social security) labour history. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90), plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card. After a continuous period of legal residence, holders can apply for permanent legal residence and, with the required years of habitual residence (3 with family/means, otherwise 5), for legal citizenship.
Work: Full work authorisation tied to legal residence status.
Study: May study while resident.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members apply for their own residence, including via the Uruguayan-link route.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (7)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national identity document, plus a valid visa if the nationality requires one.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Employment contractContract on company letterhead specifying duties, duration and monthly salary (at least the national minimum wage).
Employer certificationNotarised company certificate or BPS labour history confirming the employment.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled and translated record from the country of birth and from countries of residence over the past 5 years.
Health recordCurrent carne de salud (health card) from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Not yet researched
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
3 routes
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Available
Tax-residency-by-investment route (with 11-year foreign-income tax holiday) repriced by Law 20.446 from 1 January 2026 to ~USD 2M in real estate or USD 100,000/year to the National Innovation Fund; ordinary legal residency remains open without an investment requirement.
Permanent residence for foreigners who support themselves from stable, lawful passive income generated abroad - rents, dividends, annuities, intellectual-property income or similar. In practice the DNM expects regular, verifiable income (commonly benchmarked around USD 1,500/month, the level long applied to retirees/pensioners), documented and apostilled. Uruguay does not tax most foreign-source income, making the route attractive to financially independent residents. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus the identity-card fee. Filed online with the DNM and finalised at an in-person appointment. Permanent residence has no fixed expiry and counts toward legal citizenship after 3 years of habitual residence (with family/means) or 5 years.
Work: Permanent residents may work, though this route is based on passive income.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members apply for residence on their own basis.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (8)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; visa current where required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Proof of passive incomeApostilled, translated evidence of regular lawful income from abroad (rents, dividends, annuities, IP or financial assets).
Proof of means / bank statementsBank statements or income certificates showing stable, verifiable monthly income.
Proof of intention to resideOptionalRental agreement, property deed, accommodation declaration or host letter.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from the country of origin and residence (past 5 years).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Business Investor Visa
Uruguay Permanent Legal Residence - Investor / Business Owner
Uruguay has no separate 'golden visa'; investors obtain ordinary permanent legal residence in the company-owner / shareholder / self-employed category, showing a Uruguayan business (S.A., SRL or SAS) and sufficient income. There is no fixed minimum investment for the residence permit itself. Separately, Uruguay's tax-residency-by-investment regime (Law 20.446, in force 1 Jan 2026) lets new tax residents elect an 11-year tax holiday on foreign-source income if they invest about USD 2,000,000 (12.5 million UI) in Uruguayan real estate, or contribute about USD 100,000 per year to the National Innovation Fund - earlier, lower real-estate thresholds were raised in 2026. These investment tests grant favourable tax residency, not the residence permit, which still follows the standard DNM permanent-residence process (fee ~557.30 UI / USD 90). Permanent residence counts toward citizenship after 3 years (with family/means/property) or 5 years.
Work: Full work and business rights under permanent residence.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members apply for residence on their own basis.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (7)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; visa current where required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Company registration documentsConstitution/registration of the Uruguayan company (S.A., SRL or SAS) and proof of the applicant's ownership/shareholding.
Income or investment certificateAccounting or notarial certificate of income, or evidence of the qualifying investment (e.g. real-estate deed for the tax-holiday election).
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from country of origin and residence (past 5 years).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Permanent residence for retirees and pensioners. Foreigners obtaining permanent residence as retirees are expected to show regular and permanent receipt of a pension or retirement income - a long-standing administrative benchmark is a minimum of about USD 1,500/month from abroad, documented and apostilled. There is no separate visa fee category: the standard permanent-residence government fee of about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus the identity-card fee applies; Brazilian and Paraguayan nationals are exempt. Uruguay generally does not tax foreign pensions. Permanent residence has no fixed expiry and counts toward legal citizenship after 3 years of habitual residence (with family/means) or 5 years.
Work: Permanent residents may work; this route is pension-based.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Accompanying spouse/children apply for residence on their own basis.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (8)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; visa current where required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Proof of pension incomeApostilled, translated pension/retirement statements showing regular receipt of income (benchmark ~USD 1,500/month).
Proof of means / bank statementsBank statements confirming stable monthly receipt of the pension.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from country of origin and residence (past 5 years).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Marriage certificateOptionalIf accompanied by a spouse, dated within the last year, legalized/apostilled.
Working Holiday Visa
Vacaciones y Trabajo (Working Holiday)
Available
Foreign youth aged 18-30 (some partners to 35) from Uruguay's 8 agreement partners — Germany, Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, UK and Sweden — obtain a temporary residence via Uruguayan consulates to holiday and work temporarily for up to 12 months.
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Uruguay Permanent Legal Residence - Uruguayan Family Link
Permanent legal residence for foreigners with a family tie to a Uruguayan citizen - spouse, registered concubine/common-law partner, child or sibling. The relationship is proven with an apostilled marriage certificate, concubinage registration or a court ruling, generally issued within the last year. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card; Brazilian and Paraguayan nationals are exempt. Permanent residence has no fixed expiry; because of the family link, holders typically reach the 3-year habitual-residence threshold for legal citizenship rather than 5. (Spouses and minor children of foreign residents instead apply under the standard permanent/temporary residence categories.)
Work: Full work rights under permanent residence.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Route is itself based on the family link to a Uruguayan.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (6)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID of the applicant.
Uruguayan relative's IDValid identity document of the Uruguayan spouse, partner, child or sibling.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Proof of family relationshipMarriage certificate, concubinage registration, or court sentence proving the link (under 1 year old, legalized/apostilled, translated if needed).
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from country of residence (last 5 years, 6+ months).
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018 from a Uruguayan vaccination centre.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Ley de nietos (Law 19.362)
Available
Since 2016, grandchildren born abroad of natural Uruguayan citizens born in Uruguay can register as natural citizens (cedula/passport via DNIC or consulates); nearly 1,000 people had used the law by 2018.
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Religious Worker Visa
Uruguay Temporary Legal Residence - Religious Personnel
Temporary legal residence for members of recognised churches or congregations coming to Uruguay to perform spiritual, pastoral or charitable work. Granted for 6 months to 2 years, renewable once for an equal period. The sponsoring institution must provide a certificate detailing the religious activities, their duration and how the applicant will be supported, supported by notarised organisation documents. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus the identity-card fee. As legal residence, it counts toward permanent residence and eventual legal citizenship after the required years of habitual residence.
Work: Authorised for the religious/charitable activity stated.
Study: May study while resident.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members apply for their own residence.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (7)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; valid visa if required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Institutional certificateCertificate from the recognised church/congregation detailing the activities, duration and means of support.
Notarised organisation documentsNotarised documentation of the religious organisation.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled record from country of origin and residence (past 5 years).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Under the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement (Law 17.927) nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana - may obtain temporary residence on the basis of nationality alone, without proving a job or income. It is granted for 2 years, renewable once for an equal period, and gives the same labour, social and economic rights as Uruguayan nationals, including the right to work in any lawful activity. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card; Brazilian and Paraguayan nationals are exempt under reciprocity. Before expiry the holder can convert to MERCOSUR permanent residence.
Work: Full right to work in any lawful activity, equal to nationals.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members may apply under the same agreement.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Validity
730 days
Document checklist (6)
Identity documentValid passport or national identity document of a MERCOSUR/associated state.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Birth or naturalisation certificateBirth certificate, or naturalisation certificate at least 5 years old, evidencing the qualifying nationality.
Criminal record certificateRecord from countries of residence over the past 5 years; apostilled/legalized and translated (except Brazil).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Uruguay's main residence route for non-MERCOSUR nationals intending to settle permanently. Eligible profiles include employees of a Uruguayan company or individual, self-employed/sole traders, company owners or shareholders (S.A., SRL, SAS), and employees working remotely for a foreign company. Applicants must document a sufficient and stable monthly income through a notarial income certificate, BPS labour history or accounting certificate. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90), plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card; Brazilian and Paraguayan nationals are exempt. The application is filed online with the DNM followed by an in-person appointment with original documents. Permanent residence has no fixed expiry and counts toward legal citizenship after 3 years of habitual residence (with family/means/property) or 5 years otherwise.
Work: Full work and business rights under permanent residence.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Spouse/partner and children apply for residence, often via the Uruguayan-link route once one member is resident.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (8)
Identity documentOriginal valid passport or national ID; visa must be current per Decree 356/18 where required.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Income certificateNotarial income certificate, BPS labour history, or accounting income certificate proving sufficient monthly income, depending on the activity.
Company registration documentsOptionalFor self-employed, owners or shareholders: business registration / company constitution documents.
Criminal record certificateLegalized/apostilled and translated record from the country of origin and residence (past 5 years).
Health recordCurrent carne de salud from an authorised provider.
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Marriage certificateOptionalIf applicable, dated within the last year, legalized/apostilled.
Permanent legal residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana. Under Law 19.254 (2014), South American nationals (and family members of Uruguayans born abroad) can be granted permanent residence on the basis of nationality, without needing to hold prior temporary residence or prove employment. The government fee is about 557.30 UI (roughly UYU 3,540 / USD 90) plus about 55.70 UI for the identity card; Brazilian and Paraguayan nationals are exempt under reciprocity. Permanent residence has no fixed expiry, grants full labour and social rights equal to nationals, and counts toward legal citizenship after 3 years of habitual residence (with family/means) or 5 years.
Work: Full right to work, equal to nationals.
Study: Full access to study.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Family members of MERCOSUR nationals included under the agreement.
Government fee
UYU 3,539
Document checklist (6)
Identity documentValid passport or national identity document of a MERCOSUR/associated state.
Passport photographOne passport-style photo.
Criminal record certificateRecord from country of residence (last 5 years, 6+ months); apostilled/legalized and translated (except Brazil).
Vaccination certificateCurrent vaccination record per Decree 136/2018.
Birth certificate (minors)OptionalFor minors: birth certificate under 1 year old, apostilled/legalized and translated if needed.
Parental authorisation (minors)OptionalFor minors: authorisation for residency from the parents/guardians.
Permanent Residence
Uruguay Legal Citizenship (Naturalisation)
Foreigners of good conduct may apply to the Corte Electoral for legal citizenship (carta de ciudadania). The residence requirement is 3 years of continuous habitual residence for applicants with a family established in Uruguay, capital/property, or who practise a science, art or industry, and 5 years otherwise; absences over 6 consecutive months reset the count. Applicants must be 18+, show a means of livelihood (BPS work or pension history, professional-fund certificate, or property with proven rental income) and demonstrate they can understand and express themselves in Spanish, supported by two qualifying witnesses (25+, unrelated, who have known the applicant for the qualifying period). The procedure has no fee. Legal citizenship grants civic rights but is distinct from natural citizenship; Uruguay does not require renouncing prior nationality.
Work: Full rights as a legal citizen.
Study: Full access.
Residency: Confers legal citizenship (civic rights); distinct from natural citizenship.
Government fee
UYU 0
Document checklist (6)
Proof of nationalityBirth certificate, passport or national ID (apostilled/visaed and translated as applicable).
Age verificationNational ID, birth certificate or other public document establishing age (18+).
Residence and migration certificateCertificado de Residencia y de Movimientos Migratorios from the Direccion Nacional de Migracion.
Proof of means of livelihoodBPS work/pension history, professional-fund certificate, military/police pension, or property title with proven rental income, covering the 3 or 5 year period.
Two witnessesTwo witnesses aged 25+, not relatives or employers, who have known the applicant for the qualifying period and hold a credencial civica.
Spanish language abilityDemonstrated comprehension and expression in Spanish (assessed during the procedure).
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