 Dear John, I hereby explain the process and the requirements: 1. The process: The residency application is filed before the Direccion Nacional de Migracion (DNM), UruguayŽs immigration authority. The key, when applying, is to make sure that the required documents are presented in due form (with the required stampings and wording). The process starts with the request for an appointment at the DNM. The request should be made a month ahead of the intended travel date, since slots must usually be reserved with one month's notice. The request is done through a letter to the DNM (which weŽll prepare for you) and a copy of your passport. The next step is to gather the documents that are required for the filing. The documents one submits at the DNM must be previously stamped at the Uruguayan consulate in the country where they were issued. This stamping procedure is called "legalization", and all Uruguayan consulates are familiar with it. (Note: "legalization" is not synonymous with "Apostille". Apostilled documents wonŽt be accepted; they need the Uruguayan consulateŽs stamp.) After you find your nearest Uruguayan consulate (we can help you locate it), please call the consulate, explain to them that you will be sending documents for legalization, and theyŽll ask you to send the documents, a check for the legalization fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the legalized documents to you. Some Uruguayan consulates waive the legalization fee if the applicant has a lawyer or agent in Uruguay fax a letter to the consulate stating that the legalization is intended for residency purposes. Once you have all the documents, weŽll ask you to send them to us, so we can verify that they are correct. Alternatively, youŽll bring them with you when you travel to Uruguay to file the residency application. Once you arrive in Uruguay, weŽll help you obtain the requirements that must be met locally: a brief medical check-up (which well book for you) and a police record, if applicable (see below). On the pre-established appointment date, weŽll file your application with you, and will then follow the process until your residency is granted. It usually takes eight to twelve months to obtain Permanent Resident status. Note: If you plan on bringing household goods, we can assist you with this. It will be important to know what items you wish to bring from the start, so we can coordinate actions with your international mover. 2. The required documents The required documents are: a) Your birth certificate. For those facing difficulties finding their birth certificate, there is a useful online service to obtain the birth certificate: www.vitalcheck.com (this service s only available in the U.S.). b) Your marriage certificate, if applicable. c) Your criminal record: To prove that one has a clean police record, he or she must present a police certificate from the country of origin and from those countries where one resided in the past five years. In the case of U.S. citizens, the U.S. record is requested in Uruguay, at the local Interpol office. d) Tetanus shot: If you have a vaccination report showing your last tetanus shot, youŽll avoid getting one at the medical check-up in Uruguay. e) Proof of Income. The Proof of Income requirement is fulfilled by proving that you have a steady stream of income of at least USD 6, 000 per year (or USD 500 per month). If the applicants are a married couple, only one of the spouses needs to prove an income source. The proof of income can be proven in a number of ways: a pension, a mutual fund, lease income from an property inside or outside Uruguay, dividends of any nature, salary, or a work contract with a company in Uruguay, to name common examples. You have to prove that the income is actually received in Uruguay, so itŽs important to open a bank account in the country, which is easy, and can be done in a day at some banks. Uruguay's immigration authorities scrutinize this requirement thoroughly, so the key is to prove it correctly, leaving no doubt of the authenticity and permanent or semi-permanent nature of the income source. The actual document that the applicant will submitt is a sworn statement by a Uruguayan notary/lawyer, with an authenticized copy of the relevant documents. It's important to notice that Uruguay does not require that you own property or have investments in the country in order to grant residency. On the other hand, owning property does not eliminate the income requirement. Once the documents are legalized, weŽll ask you to send them to us for further stamping at UruguayŽs Foreign Ministry, and to be translated into Spanish by a certified interpreter. 3. Advantages of obtaining Permanent Resident status a) Once you have your permanent residency, youŽll be able to apply for citizenship (and a Uruguayan passport) in 3 years (if married, or in 5 years for single applicants). b) You will be able to stay in Uruguay indefinitely (from the moment you start the filing process). c) You will be able to bring your personal belongings and household goods duty free. d) YouŽll obtain a National Identification Document, called "Cedula de Identidad". 4. Fees Our fees for the process are: One person: USD 1, 100 One couple (married or unmarried): USD 2, 000 One couple with one child: USD 2, 600 One couple with two children: USD 2, 950 One couple with three to five children: USD 3, 300 Additionally, the process requires approximately USD 350 per person in expenses. Expenses are mostly made in the first stage, and they involve certified translations of your documents, notarial certificates, stamp duties, medical certificates, and filing costs. WeŽll provide a detailed breakdown when the process is completed, and return any remainder to you. When starting the process, we charge 50% of the fees, plus the USD 350 per person for expenses. The balance of fees is paid when residency is granted. ________ When assisting you with your residency, weŽll work side by side with you along the way and make sure that you are assisted in every step: WeŽll help you contact the consulate. WeŽll determine which is the best source of income to use, and will help you draft the supporting documents. WeŽll personally escort you to the Interpol appointment to get your police record (for U.S. citizens), and weŽll book and escort you to your medical check-up in Uruguay. WeŽll put you in touch with experienced movers and work with them to make sure your belongings arrive properly. And, naturally, one of our qualified associates will be present with you at the filing, and will follow your file closely, to ensure the process does not suffer any delays. Our firm is a leading Uruguayan law firm, so our work counts with all the necessary legal knowledge and support, to ensure a speedy and smooth process. Sincerely, Juan | 
