'Interested In moving to Uruguay.' Expat

Howard C. Lockamy (68.221.180.229) - 07/26/06 00:20

Ive always wanted to live abroad and have done my research on South America and am Interested In living In Uruguay or maybe Argentina.Any help I can get with will be appreciated.I can share my findings with others as well.

Sincerely,

Howard

Comment #1 Roy (64.76.36.108) - 07/26/06 06:09

What kind of information are you looking for? When do you plan on visiting the area? Montevideo and Buenos Aires are close, so you can check them both out during the same trip.

You'll probably find a better selection (and prices) for flights to Buenos Aires. Then you can hop over the river to check out Uruguay.

You can go by bus for about 20 bucks. You can go by boat (I found the prices on the web to be nothing close to buying a ticket here -- ie: the web prices were very expensive). You can fly (American charges $62 round trip for Buenos Aires to Montevideo -- though there is another $42 or so in taxes). The Brazilian airlines are less expensive though sometimes booked.

The biggest danger you'll find in either country is the problem of eating too much since the food (beef) is so good and inexpensive.

Comment #2 Howard (68.221.170.50) - 07/26/06 08:28

Roy,

I would like to leave by the end of the year and the Ifo I need are things like, can I work without being a resident,apartment searching etc.

I know all about the distance and travel between Argentina and Uruguay.The boat trip always seemed Interesting.I was told by one guy an easy way to renew my visa was by going over the border to another country and back again.

Tahnks for the response.

Comment #3 Roy (64.76.36.108) - 07/26/06 09:14

Here is a great website for finding houses and apartments. Most have photos. The only confusing points are which ones have furniture (I think you'll find MOST of the apartments DO HAVE!).

Also if a price is $5000 it is probably pesos and not dollars. the US$500 would be in dollars. You may find that the deposit requirements and commissions are higher than what your used to. The law allows up to a 5 month deposit on apartment rentals. You may get away with 3 or 2 (on a very short term like 3 month rental). You will also find the property owners are very good at return the deposit at the end of the term. You'll also find the rentors and renters generally pay a commission to the agency when you rent an apt (1 month rent on a year term). Each party uses their own agency.

Both Argentina and Uruguay should give you a 90 day stamp when you enter. You can probably renew those without much effort... or a trip across the river.

Once you apply for residency you have no trouble staying while they process the application. The immigration office has signs telling to you bring a translator if you don't speak spanish and there don't seem to be many lawyers or others pushing residency services (in english) as you find say in Costa Rica. I'm sure you can find english help in that arena if you go looking.

I don't think you'll find any country that permits to you "work" without permission. However, unlike Costa Rica, all types of residency in Uruguay allow you to work. I don't know if they allow you to work while they process your application.

• Buscano Casa

Comment #4 Adrian (24.1.108.164) - 08/14/06 00:12

Dear expat,

1. How diffcult is it for a middle-aged couple (50+) to settle down in Uruguay (i.e to get a permanent residency status)? Is an investment in Uruguay (say, in the turist industry) manadatory? What about people who want to have a free-lance career (writers, etc) in Uruguay?

2. I would like to know about health care in Uruguay. What about pre-existing medical problems? Are there any government health insurance plans that will cover such conditions? What about public health care in Uruguay (quality, cost)?

Thanks a lot in advance for your answer,

Adrian

ADRIANRODICAVEXLER@comcast.net

Comment #5 Ed (200.2.55.249) - 08/14/06 07:09

Hi Adrian

I answered your questions in two new messages "Settle down in Uruguay" and "health care in Uruguay". I made the new messages since they are really completely different topics and I hope some others will offer their insight as well.

How did you become interested in Uruguay?

Ed

Comment #6 Gordon (168.209.98.43) - 01/12/07 06:54

I live in South Africa. I am 32 years old. I work in the Information technology sector. I would like to work/migrate to Uruguay. Possibly even start my own buisness.

What would the best route to take, seeing that I am sitting in South Africa.

Do I need a sponsor??

Can I seek employment from here??

Could anyone please assist me?????

Comment #7 peekaboo from my frozen igloo - 03/14/07 08:01

Do you need to know how to speak latin in order to live in this country, or do they speak fluent english as well?

Comment #8 Lee from Pocitos - 03/14/07 08:43

It sure helps to speak Spanish, though they use their own version... for example ll is prounced as sh intead of y.

Many speak English, though you will be severly limited by a lack of Spanish.

Comment #9 Cinderella from Cinderella's Castle - 03/15/07 20:32

I would definitely have a general fluency in Spanish before moving to any Latin American country. Peekaboo, that's cute, but no one speaks Latin anymore unless you're at high mass at a Catholic Church, maybe. ;-) Although, taking Latin in school helps tremendously with learning other languages, especially Spanish and Portuguese.

Comment #10 Lee from Pocitos - 03/15/07 21:04

I found it easier to understand Portuguese in Rio than my wife who's first language is Spanish. I think the reason is that I have lived where I am not fluent in the language for many years. So I am used to trying to grasp the concept of with as few a words as possible... before trying to understand the full meaning of something.

For example in a restaurant, once I figure out if something if beef or chicken then I'm 90% ready to order without worrying about the little details like what comes with it.

I am told there is a colony of brits here who speak only English in their community.

Comment #11 RiverQueen from EARTH, MILKYWAY - 03/26/07 19:09

I have very little Spanish and some French, which I understand is supposed to be close to Spanish???

What I was wondering is if you need to have Spanish before you move there or do they have night schools where Gringos like myself can learn conversational Spanish in a short time or immersion courses during the day?

It would be helpful to know ahead of time so if it is necessary to learn it first I can get started now.

Comment #12 Lee from Pocitos - 03/26/07 20:39

The more you know the better you'll do. There are lots of English schools around (and some of the schools for kids are 1/2 day in Spanish and 1/2 day in English).

Some of the Americans here have private tutors for Spanish. I enjoy learning it on the street and can communicate in Spanish well enough to get into lots of trouble.

Comment #13 Ali (87.247.169.110) - 05/18/07 09:19

Hola amigos, how it's possible for a extranjero medico to continue in uruguayan universities for phd?

Comment #14 Javier from Montevideo - 08/27/07 00:18

Hello,

I'm sure I can get most of your questions answered. Please check my homepage (it's on my profile) or contact me at javier.r@adinet.com.uy

Comment #15 joe montalto (67.161.93.208) - 08/29/07 19:45

Interested in moving to Uruguay. I would like to know how much two people(husband & wife)would need as income if housing and car is paid for would $1000-2000-3000? be enough to live comfortable or middle/upper class.

Also was interested in Piripolis to purchase a home is that a good area? and how is the best way to transfer funds to buy such property.

Thanks

Joe from Seattle, WA

Comment #16 Steve Bowman from Piriapolis & Savannah, Ga - 08/30/07 10:34

Joe-

Hello fellow Seattleite. We have a second home in Piriapolis.

This is a tough question about how much it takes? Without knowing your US budget, it's hard to say.

What we found if you live well, not lavishly, UY is about 25% less than the US. The wild card is housing costs.

Drop by our site; there is stuff about Piriapolis and real estate in general.

Please drop me a personal email or call and I'd by happy to answer questions. The US phone and email is on the site.

Steve

• Coastal Uruguay

Comment #17 Irv in Pocitos from Montevideo, Uruguay - 09/02/07 15:00

Hello Joe. I agree with Steve.. In our case about 30% less.

The biggest singular expenses on our spreadsheet are spending cash and visa bills. Middle/upper class is going to go through U$S4K/month in cash. Add another U$S1500-2K on plastic. There's almost U$S6K right there. If you're interested, drop me an email (irv.fisher 'at' tonidercorp period com, and I'll send you an average breakdown for cash and plastic I've been keeping for the past 18 months.

Fixed expenses like electricity, water, gas, property taxes, telephone, etc are not the lions share of a middle/upper class lifestyle here. You can live in a very nice ocean front condo for less than U$S1K a month if everything's paid for.

Comment #18 Steve Bowman from Piriapolis & Savannah, Ga - 09/02/07 17:02

Yeah Irv, for you it's 30% with the macho CN$.

For us poor folk to the South, and our cheap third world living standards, it's more like 25%! :)

• coastaluruguay.com

Comment #19 Linda from Montevideo - 09/02/07 19:41

Depends on your lifestyle as well... cooking or eating out, local or foreign brands and all that great stuff.

Comment #20 Susan (196.40.13.178) - 06/04/08 11:23

Two questions.

1. How difficult is it to open a dollar checking account and what is required for same?

2. Does the National Health Plan cover you with residency and for what price per month? Is it a good health plan? What are health prices like?

Thanks!

Susan

Comment #21 Lee from Pocitos - 06/05/08 06:33

1) The currency of the account doesn't matter.. Pesos.. Dollars or maybe even Euros...

You don't mention your nationality... when it comes to U.S. Residents/Citizens the private banks tend to be a bit picky (too much paperwork for Uncle Sam, I guess). I'm told Banco de Repubica (the Uruguayan Govt Bank) will open an account with US$500 and a passport.

2) From what I can tell there is no "national health plan" though there may have been some recent changes. You can become a "members" of the hospital (health association) of your choice. You pay a monthly fee and get all your services from the organization you pay.

If you are employed, for example, our Maid, the Uruguayan government pays for her membership at the hospital of her choice (though the list is more limited). We pay the government a portion of the "cost" and she pays a portion (other things are included there too... social security, and the like).

At the British Hospital I pay just over US$100/month. Here is a link... they have an idiotic website so I can't link you right to their health plan.. click on "The British Hospital Scheme"

• hospital britanico

Comment #22 Dennis P. Williams (69.19.14.21) - 08/05/08 22:17

Can you give us a short course on firearm regulations/laws?

Thank-you,

dpw

Comment #23 Christof (63.176.159.107) - 10/22/08 22:24

I think there is no need for you to bring firearms for protection. Uruguay is a pretty safe place for foreigners and expats.

Are you gun and arms enthusiast?

Comment #24 BW from the great white north (cold & SNOW!) (216.139.121.251) - 11/11/08 01:31

Great info, the link to the real estate is great!.....I am surprised at some of the questions here, and can only defer to Jimmy Buffet "Changes in laditude brings changes in additude!"

If you have enouph money you can fix it so you can't tell you've ever left Gringo land, but then, what was the point?...But if you what to live the lifestyle of the people that live here, to get away from all the crap in el norte...for very little money, this is the place.....housing, food, transportation, entertainment is plentiful at every price point, but folks need to check their expectations at the door! This place is what it is.....and if you accept it, and become a part of it, it will do the same for you......otherwise you will leave poorer in every way....sorry for the lecture....don't come to change your enviroment, come to let it change you!

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