Many consider Uruguay the “Switzerland of South America” for its free-market, low-tax policies, and its relative wealth and security.
Investors can obtain permanent residency by spending only 60 days a year in the country if they make an investment in either real estate or in a business that creates new employment.
While investors receive permanent residency in the country as soon as the application is approved, the processing time for the investor visa is a rather lengthy 12-18 months, investors can remain in Uruguay on a temporary status while awaiting approval.
To qualify for an Investor Visa in Uruguay, the applicant must make one of the following real estate investments:
In either case, the applicant must be physically present in Uruguay for at least 60 days per year.
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. Note that, for purposes of applying for citizenship (unlike for the purposes of applying for PR), applicants will need to be physically present in Uruguay for most of the year.
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 Finance and Economy Ministry Decree 163/2020.
As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:
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See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.