
Uruguay Fixes Anomaly That Made Its Passport Useless for Naturalized Citizens
For a long time, Uruguayan passports of naturalized citizens were useless for international travel. The government has now fixed that.
Uruguayan permanent residency is available after a 6-12 month application period to anyone who can demonstrate independent streams of income equivalent to US$1,500 or more.
Permanent residents are eligible for citizenship in five or three years (a shorter time frame for married couples) if they have spent more than half the year physically in the country during the years preceding the citizenship application.
To qualify for permanent residency in Uruguay, you must show your intent to settle in the country and demonstrate that you have sufficient regular income to maintain yourself.
You must prove a recurring stream of income in excess of US$1,500 per month, as confirmed by a certified public accountant or similar professional. A simple bank statement showing past transactions will not suffice.
Additionally, you must provide the following documents:
Upon filing your application for permanent residency in Uruguay, you will receive a temporary residence permit with a 2-year validity that allows you to remain in Uruguay while awaiting the approval of your permanent residence permit.
Processing of the permanent residence permit application typically takes 6-12 months.
After residing in the country for five years (three years if you’re a married couple), you’ll be eligible to apply for citizenship. Approval of naturalization is contingent on the applicant’s mastery of conversational Spanish as demonstrated during an interview, as well as the applicant’s sufficient integration into Uruguayan society.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Dirección Nacional de Migración Uruguay, Ministerio del Interior.
Legislation upon which this program is based Ley Nº 18.250 MIGRACIÓN.

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See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.