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Uruguay: Residency,

Citizenship and Second Passport

November 2012

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Obtaining Uruguayan Residency

Welcoming, friendly and open immigration policy

No need to invest

Simple (but bureaucratic) process

12 to 18 months

After 3/5 years:citizenship/passport

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What documents do I need?Most documents are obtained abroad:

1. Birth certificate

2. Marriage certificate

3. Proof of income

4. Police record. US citizens can do FBI check or Interpol in

Uruguay

* # 3 and # 4 expire after 6 months.

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Stamping your documents

The first three documents (the birth certificate, marriage certificate and proof of income) need to be apostilled in the state where they were issued.

Instructions on how to apostille:http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=authorities.details&aid=353

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What if my country is not part of the apostille treaty?

Canada, for example

You send the documents to the Consulate of Uruguay

The Consulate stamps (“legalizes”) them

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What other documents do I need?

Other documents (which do not need apostille or stamping):

Tetanus shot report

3 passport size pictures

For ladies: pap smear and mammogram

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Proof of Income: Key Requirement

Prove that you have an income stream consistent with your living standard

There are many options to prove this: Pension from abroad, retirement fund Tax returns Lease of a property abroad or in Uruguay Dividends or interest Work contract in Uruguay

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Proof of Income: Key Requirement

There isn´t a minimum amount. Income has to be consistent with your lifestyle.

Income must be received in Uruguay, so it´s convenient to open a bank account.

If your proof of income document is from overseas, it will have to be apostilled.

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Address and time-in-country

Uruguay requires that you provide a real address (it can be a temporary one).

The way to prove it: certificate issued by the neighborhood police station.

Presence in Uruguay, you must show intention to reside (Uruguay = home). Spend at least half the year in Uruguay.

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The Application ProcessTiming is key. The process is different in Montevideo from the rest of the country:

If you file in Montevideo:First, get your birth certificate apostilled at homeFind a property in Montevideo, certificate of address.Request appointment at the NMO. Date: 6 months later

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The Process (Montevideo)You will have 5/6 months to gather your documents and send them to our office 15 working days prior to filing date.

Proof of incomeMarriage certificate (if applicable)Non US police records (if applicable)

We translate them and prepare them.

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The Process (non-Montevideo)

If you file elsewhere (Punta del Este, etc), to request an appointment at the NMO:

Bring all your apostilled documents Find a place to live, get certificate of addressRequest your appointment at the NMO (date: 15 days later)

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On the Appointment Date:

We will escort you to the NMOYou will be issued a document to get

your temporary cédulaGet the NMO to issue a document for

Customs to bring your goods duty free

Once you have requested your appointment you can stay indefinitely

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The Cédula (ID)Every citizen and legal resident (including

temporary ones) are issued with a national identity card called “cédula de identidad”

Temporary one: 1 year, and can be renewed

Permanent one: 3 years, and can be renewed every 3 years

CIs are used for almost everything in Uruguay

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The Cédula (ID)

Uruguayan natural citizen

Resident in process

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Bringing Your Personal Belongings

You may bring (free of import duties) all your household belongings

How? Moving agent Arrival certificate (NMO) + post bond. When residency is granted, the bond is returned.

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Act 16.340 for retirees Benefits

Quicker access to Uruguayan passport, familyPossibility ot import vehicle duty free

RequirementsUSD 100,000 investment for 10 yearsIncome must be retirement type (USD 1,500+)

But…Passport does not include citizenship

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Citizenship After residency: option to obtain

citizenship (and a full passport)

Citizenship can be obtained 3 / 5 years since you have first arrived in Uruguay

4 to 6 month process

Requirements are simple: gather them over the 3/5 years

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Useful Tips

Send your immigration lawyer copies of the documents before travelling, so they can be verified and translated in time for the filing.

Work on the wording of your income proof document with your immigration law firm

Do the FBI check in the US: faster

Open a bank account in Uruguay.

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Further Information

www.fs.com.uyor write to:

cpiaggio@fs.com.uy