Area: 176,215 km²
Residents: 3,360,148 (July 2017)
Population density: 19 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Presidential democracy
Neighboring countries: Argentina, Brazil
Capital: Montevideo National
language: Spanish
Religions:
74% Catholic,
2% Protestant,
2% Jews,
0.35% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
1 UYU = 100 Centésimos
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 52.46 UYU
100 UYU = 1.87 EUR
1 CHF = 47.40 UYU
100 UYU = 2.07 CHF
(rate from March 11th, 2021)
Telephone area code: +598
Time zone: UTC-3 standard time (UYT)
Mains voltage: 230 volts
In 2020, 68 Germans officially emigrated to Uruguay and 96 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 1,120 Germans officially emigrated to Uruguay and 988 moved back to Germany.
About 10,000 Germans currently live in Uruguay, a country starting with U listed by Countryaah. There are also around 40,000 people of German origin. The people here are mostly friendly like the weather and open to foreigners. Uruguay has pleasantly warm summers and mild winters. The rainfall is usually distributed over the whole year.
Travel and Visa
Changed travel regulations during and after the corona pandemic
Currently, only Uruguayan citizens and foreigners residing in Uruguay (resident) are permitted to enter the country with a mandatory seven-day quarantine. Entrants must present a negative PCR test upon arrival, which must not be older than 72 hours at the time of departure. After the seven-day quarantine, either a repeat test must be carried out or, alternatively, if the symptoms persist, the quarantine at home must be extended for a further seven days. There are exceptions to the mandatory quarantine for those who have been fully vaccinated and those who have recovered with appropriate evidence.
For temporary entry for business, professional or judicial reasons, an application for an exemption from the entry ban can be requested from the Uruguayan immigration authorities. It must be proven that the trip is necessary and cannot be postponed. Furthermore, proof of a health insurance valid in Uruguay must be carried with you.
The national borders with Argentina and Brazil remain closed to passenger traffic.
Source: Federal Foreign Office on July 29, 2021
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
Germans, Austrians and Swiss who enter the country as tourists do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. If you want to stay longer in the country, you have to apply for an extension of your stay at the responsible immigration authorities before the 90 days have expired. If you are planning to extend your stay, it is still an advantage to always have a return ticket. Entry is only possible with a passport. The identity card is not enough.
Immigration and permanent residence
To apply for a “residencia legal” (legal residence) you need the following documents:
- Original entry document (passport)
- Health certificate (issued in Uruguay) and vaccination certificate
- Passport photo
- Police clearance certificate (from your home country or the country where you have been for the last 5 years)
- Birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- Proof that you can earn a living on your own (you will find the necessary information on what constitutes recognized proof of income in the text)
All public documents that are issued in Germany must be apostilled or legalized by the responsible Uruguayan consulate in Germany. Furthermore, these must be translated into Spanish by a publicly recognized translator in Uruguay and presented to the Foreign Ministry in Montevideo.
Recognized proof of livelihood security is for:
Employees of a legal person:
- Notarized salary statements for the last 3 months, which prove that you can pay for your maintenance and your position in the facility
Employees of a natural person (for example as a domestic worker):
- Notarized employment contract, name and address of the employer, monthly salary, registration number at the BPS (Banco de Previsión Social)
Freelancer:
- Notarized proof of salary, tax and legal residence, registration number at the BPS (Banco de Previsión Social)
Businessman / shareholder:
- Notarized income certificates
Pensioner:
- Notarized pension notification and bank statement
Evidence such as land register extracts, pension notices, employment contracts, articles of association, etc. should be supported by appropriate account statements if possible.
The decision on the permanent residence permit is made individually for each individual case by the immigration authorities, which is why it is also necessary to submit the application in person. At https://www.gub.uy/ you will find all the information you need to read again (all information in Spanish).
Real estate – buy or rent
The acquisition of a property in Uruguay is easily possible for foreigners. Foreign investments in real estate are supported by the state and are not subject to any restrictions. Foreign investors enjoy the same rights as local investors. All that is required to buy a property is a valid passport. Not even a personal presence in Uruguay is necessary.
Immigration Service – Immigration Assistance
Manfred Burger is the longest-serving immigration worker in Uruguay (since 2003). He publishes the contents and costs of his service package for immigrants in a detailed and transparent manner. His website UruguayInfo.com (since 1999) always provides up-to-date and reliable information about immigration regulations, the documents you need and everything relevant to the topic. Contacting us via e-mail ([email protected]), Skype (manfred_burger) or WhatsApp is completely non-binding. Questions about Uruguay and the immigration process are answered free of charge.
