'Uruguay Residency ' Expat

Uruguay Residency

Any foreigner with temporary immigration status in the country (i.e., tourist) may request permission to change his or 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 (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) or at any of the equivalent inspection offices around the country. The DNM will proceed with the request within the established legal period.

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That is how I started my residence 5 years ago... I had to write a letter saying why I wanted to be a resident and come back in 10 days to see if they accepted it.

Now, you just make an appointment to file your papers.

They have have other bogus requirements listed on the website:

"owning a property in the country and/or a bank account with adequate funds, having a clean police record in the country of residency, and having proof of income in Uruguay or a work permit"

There is no requirement of owning property or having adequate funds in the bank (just the $500/mo income).

This is quite odd being from International Living when they are pushing Uruguay Residency in their emails.. .they could have a bit more updated and correct information on their website!

Another International living error.

Applicants must have a clean police record for the last 5 years and in the case of convictions prior to 5 years ago, must show that they paid any fines and/or that they served the appropriate sentence.

The last FA government changed the previous rule as they seem to believe in the rehabilitation of offenders.

I had to present police records from Ireland, England and Thailand.

I have a conviction from the UK (from the early 1970s) for being a member of a proscribed organization and for assisting in the publication of a seditious newspaper (International Times) but the ROU regulations are clear that such convictions are viewed as "spent" after 5 years on condition that the former offender has paid the fines and/or served the time. The applicant still has to inform immigration about them but they are no longer an impediment. The funcionarios at immigration had a good giggle reading them and told me that prior to early 2006 I would have had to undergo a special interview with the Ministry of Justice but because of the new law, I was spared.

Perhaps its because certain high-up members of our government have "spent" convictions themselves :-)

When I went to the DNM, the nice lady said, "Oh, Senor, since you are married to a Uruguayan citizen you only need the Marriage Certificate." So, I got that Translated, $100 US, and went through the Tramite of waiting, and waiting , then it was finally done at Migracion. Went then to the Identificacion Civil and Registro Civil to be entered in the big book, and get my card, and "Surprise!" They said I needed the Birth Certificate too!! After going through all that Tramite twice, I finally went to get the paperwork and got my appointment at the Identification Civil. A week later I had my appointment and after taking my photo the lady says, "Where were you born Sir?" The lemon in the pit of my stomach needed, if not some tea or a double Gin, at least the Rind taken off!

The Registro Civil had written in the 'Big Book' that I was born in the United States of Mexico!!! )o: So, after going back to the Registro Civil, I was told it would take twice as long as the first time to correct the one word their Escribana had written wrong!

Actually it only took 1.5 times the original wait time, since I was in their lobby almost every day (that wasn't a Holiday) for about 3.5 weeks. They were getting tired of my jokes, I only know two. Then they tried to charge me twice, so I went to the top, (ok, ok, ok the Secretary of the Top!)and they bowed graciously to not charging me double.

So, the long and longer of this is, - "Read every single word of every document and ask if anything else is needed all through the process!"

The second time around I did find a less expensive Translator, only $60US.

But, in the end of it all, Uruguay needed neither my Certificate of Good Conduct nor the Health exam, both of which have now disappeared, and my whole process took only 5 months even with the double deal and everything.

Some folks have taken much longer, right Lee?

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