Uruguay residence permit (temporary legal residence)

The DNM grants temporary residence to foreigners who will stay for a determined period, longer than 180 days, because of a specific activity. The gub.uy procedure covers workers, students and members of religious organisations recognised in Uruguay. The Foreign Ministry's guide to residence types also lists scientists, researchers, teachers and specialised staff hired by public or private bodies, executives and managers transferred from abroad, journalists, athletes and artists hired in Uruguay, scholarship holders, and the spouses, minor children and parents of people in those categories. For activities lasting less than 180 days, a provisional identity sheet can be requested instead.

All applicants present the original identity document used to enter Uruguay (with a valid visa if their nationality requires one), criminal record certificates from the country of birth and from every country where they lived for more than six months in the last five years, a valid vaccination certificate from a vaccination centre in Uruguay (Decree 136/2018) and a work health card (carné de salud laboral) from an authorised provider.

Workers add a letter on letterhead stating the activity, contract term and monthly pay, which must be at least one national minimum wage, with a notarial certificate on the company or their employment history. Students prove enrolment with an official certificate from the institution, notarially certified for private institutes, and show means of support, their own or a relative's, or money received from abroad by notarial certificate. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated by a Uruguayan public translator, except documents from Brazil.

Log in with a gub.uy user or another electronic identity, accept the terms, choose the type of residence, fill in the web form and attach the documents in PDF. Pay by bank transfer or through a collection network. The DNM reviews the request: if accepted, you receive a link to book a day and time at the office of your choice; if there are observations, you correct them online. On the appointment day attend in person with all originals; the tolerance is 10 minutes, and if you miss it you lose the payment. Bring an interpreter if you do not speak Spanish.

According to the Foreign Ministry's guide, workers, transferred executives, artists and religious staff receive up to two years, extendable for an equal period up to four years; students receive up to one year, renewable while studying, without exceeding the length of the course by more than two years; scholarship holders receive up to one year while the grant lasts; family members receive the same period as their relative. Renewal must be requested within the 90 days before expiry; in Montevideo through dnm-residenciastemporarias@minterior.gub.uy. Temporary residence is an administrative act and can be revoked by reasoned decision.