Uruguayan Citizenship

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24 Responses to “Uruguayan Citizenship”

1. JP on April 26th, 2007 4:18 pm

   Article 80 applies to citizenship but not to nationality of that persons. People in such violation lose their rights as citizens but they continue to be Uruguayan nationals. Someone in jail, for example loses his/her right to vote (then loses his/her rights as a citizen) but not his nationality otherwise he/she would become stateless and that’s a big problem concerning Human Rights.

   In Spanish the difference between citizenship and nationality is much clearer.

2. Brazzie on April 26th, 2007 4:28 pm

   Thanks JP for clarifying that point. I must admit that I was a little baffled by article 80. My wife and I spent a good part of an hour yesterday discussing the potential implications of the article I even checked the constitutions of other countries and saw that Chile’s had similar wording. Now it makes more sense. Cheers

3. Jon on April 26th, 2007 8:50 pm

   By the way, who wants an Uruguayan Nationality or Citizenship? What’s the advantage?

4. Brazzie on April 26th, 2007 9:07 pm

   Good question. If you come from the US, Canada, the EU probably none. But if your passport is from a country that you need a visa to go just about anywhere, it would be advantageous to become a UY citizen.

   Also, if you wish to escape US taxes, you could renounce the American citizenship (you may be taxed for ten years anyway). But you would need to be a multimillionaire for that to be even worth considering.

   Oh yes, you would also be able to vote and run for public office.

5. Estatu on April 29th, 2007 6:43 pm

   If one makes an investment of at least $100,000 in real estate, it makes one eligible to acquire residency. However, one needs to maintain that investment in property for a minimum of 10 years in order to maintain residency. My only question is, How long do I have to actually reside in Uruguay before I’m entitled to an Uruguayan passport?

6. Brazzie on April 29th, 2007 6:47 pm

   I think you are referring to the Ley 16.340. Unfortunately it only applies to retirees (or people living from one’s own means) and represents a special deal. It comes with a promise of passports to you and your family without waiting for the normal three year period. You need to show income of 1500 per month AND (a property worth 100,000 plus OR an equivalent investment in government bonds). The ley 16.340, however has BIG a catch: that you cannot work in Uruguay, ever (as indicated by article 5 of that law).
   _Artículo 5º_.- Los extranjeros que se amparen en los beneficios establecidos por el artículo 3º de la presente ley no podrán ejercer ningún tipo de actividad remunerada en relación de dependencia, salvo resolución fundada del Poder Ejecutivo.
   My advice to just about everybody is to forget about this offer, unless you really, really need UY passports immediately.

   By the way, any permanent resident is entitled to a UY passport after three years if you are married, five otherwise.

7. carlos on May 1st, 2007 10:52 pm

   how about thru marriage?

8. eltony on May 5th, 2007 11:35 am

   Brazzie: When you mention “the catch is that you can not ever work in uruguay”, actually, the law that you quote in spanish, it reads that you can not work as an employee. From that, I’d say that it looks that’s ok with you opening your own business, as long as you are your own boss. IANAL, but that’s what I read from the “spanish” version you posted.

9. Brazzie on May 5th, 2007 12:46 pm

   Carlos, I don’t know how that is handled. It is not in the constitution, but may be covered by a common law.

   Eltony, good point. It does say “actividad remunerada en relacion de dependencia” which seems to allow you to be your own boss. Cheers

10. BSB on May 5th, 2007 11:09 pm

    Your blog is brilliant. I just came back from Uruguay and wish I had seen it before I went! Anyway, I wanted to ask you what the Ley 16.340 you refer to means or stands for? We have been considering going down the real estate investment route to get citizenship but cannot find info anywhere. Thanks

11. JP on May 6th, 2007 2:23 am

    Does time spent under student visa counts for applying to UY Nationality? How ’bout the other categories except “working visa” that we all know it does count for the required time for you to have the right to apply for UY nationality?

    Note: After you obtain UY nationality you have the right to hold a UY passport but you are not entitled to vote until three years after you obtained your UY nationality.

12. Brazzie on May 6th, 2007 7:39 am

    JP, good question. Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer. The wording of the constitutional text in Spanish does not specify permanent residency, but another law (normativa) might. If anyone knows this for sure please write in.

13. Brazzie on May 6th, 2007 7:45 am

    BSB thanks for the compliment. You can find the text of the Ley 16.340 (in English) here: http://www.uruwashi.org/Consular.htm#Regulation_of_benefits_given_to_foreigners_by_Law_16.340_

14. BSB on May 6th, 2007 8:52 pm

    Brazzie, that’s very helpful, much obliged. I cldn’t see any reference to the minimum real estate investment amount. Is that published anywhere?

15. Brazzie on May 7th, 2007 6:38 am

    BSB, the value is in the link I provided earlier: 100,000 USD minimum. This applies for Ley 16.340. As for the requirements for applying for residency as land owner, I am not sure. Cheers

16. BSB on May 7th, 2007 6:54 am

    Thanks, that’s great.

17. Daviscup on May 27th, 2007 8:53 am

    Hi Brazzie, thanks for your great Blog. I am an Aussie now ( for the last 4 months ) living in Uruguay. I have my temporary Cedula and I am seeking confirmation of the information you posted above that,

    ” By the way, any permanent resident is entitled to a UY passport after three years if you are married, five otherwise. See details here: http://uruguaydreaming.com/2007/04/26/uruguayan-citizenship/ ”

    this would apply to me and my wife as we are now permanent residents now, so we would be eligible for a Uruguayan passport after 3 years? The link above only links to this topic, so, I was wondering where you found the information about passports being available to residents after 3 years.

    Many thanks for all your greatly appreciated efforts.

18. Brazzie on May 27th, 2007 10:57 am

    Hi Daviscup, after the three years have passed, you have to apply for a Carta de Ciudadania. See this site for details: http://www.corteelectoral.gub.uy/gxpsites/hgxpp001.aspx?1,17,192,O,S,0,MNU;E;74;4;MNU;,

    After you have your Carta de Ciudadania you can apply for a passport. You’ll need: two passport photos, a Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales, a photocopy of your cedula. See the site below for details:

    http://www.minterior.gub.uy/dnic/pasport2.htm

19. Manny Ghotra on July 15th, 2007 4:18 am

    Can i go to britain or europe after getting citizenship and can i obtain passport of Uruguay after getting citizenship or i have to wait for the next three years , same in the case when i marry an uruguayan girl. And can i work during this time and how much can i earn as a taxi driver in $ USD in uruguay and what are the living expenses in uruguay in $ USD.Can i also go to near by countries or europe ontourist visa on my country’s passport after getting uruguayan citizenship but non-issue of it’s passport.or if it is issued earlier then same in uruguayan passport.

20. Brazzie on July 15th, 2007 11:34 am

    Hi Manny, you have quite a few questions. Unfortunately I don’t have answers to all of them.

    After you become a Uruguayan citizen, you can do whatever you wish. It is not conditional on you living there. As far I know, you can apply for a passport after five years (if you are single)of becoming a permanent resident. And you need to wait three more years to be able to vote.

    It does not make much difference if you marry a UY girl, other than you may use her income as proof of means in the residence application process. Also by being married, whether to a UY or not, the process to obtain the passport shortens from 5 to 3 years.

    I don’t know how much you can earn as a taxi driver. However, it is safe to assume that it will not be much.

    You can find cost of living estimates in the Cost of Living article (see the rightside bar on the main page).

    Your original passport will continue to be valid, before, during and after you apply for UY citizenship. Uruguay does not confiscate or invalidate your other nationality.

21. Edo on July 17th, 2007 11:32 pm

    hey-
    1st of all- great page, it has good information.

    my grandmother was born in Uruguay, but moved away as a child before getting a passport issued or anything.
    I’m assuming I’d have to dig up her birth certificate or something and file the needed papers to get her citizenship.

    Then- according to Article 74 my father can apply and receive citizenship as a natural citizen too. (does he really have to go to Uruguay to do this or is it possible to do it through a UY Consulate).

    After thats done- I should be able to do the same and receive natural citizenship.

    Is it possible to skip a generation with this process? Like not making my dad have to get the citizenship in order for me to get it too..

    I appreciate any help you can give.

22. Brazzie on July 18th, 2007 8:06 am

    Edo, I am pretty sure you will not be able to skip from your grandmother directly to you.

    And in order to become a natural citizen, your father will need to go to Uruguay and register in the Registro Civico.

    You should call the Uruguayan consulate, to see what steps can be done abroad and what steps need to be done in MVD. Count on a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy.

23. AsianReader on July 28th, 2007 7:30 am

    Interesting series of posts. Let me see if I understand - and I have read the Ley 16.340 that you posted. If I am retired, can prove an income of at least US$1500 per month and buy a property worth at least US$100,000 this gives me permanent residency I can apply and get a Uruguayan passport almost immediately, not having to wait the 3 - 5 years of residency usually required? Does this also confer Uruguayan citizenship without wating the 3 - 5 years of residency? Thanks for all your info and help.

24. Brazzie on July 28th, 2007 10:30 am

    Hi AsianReader, you are correct in your interpretation. After the passport, I think there is a delay of 3 years for you to become a full citizen i.e. be able to vote and run for public office.

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