Uruguay offers legal residence to foreign nationals who can show stable income or a qualifying investment, with a separate tax residence pathway. A 2026 law changed the investment thresholds, so this page explains the position and points you to the official source.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Uruguay grants legal residence to foreign nationals who can demonstrate stable income or an economic tie to the country. There is no single fixed investment minimum for legal residence, and real estate ownership or a business can support an application.
Tax residence is a separate matter from legal residence. It carries its own rules and thresholds and is administered with the tax authority. Confirm which status you are seeking and verify the rules with the official authority.
For legal residence, common routes include showing a stable monthly income, often called an independent means route, or making a business or real estate investment. Applicants are generally expected to be present in Uruguay during key stages of the process.
For tax residence through investment, Law 20.446 raised the thresholds with effect from 1 January 2026. The figures below reflect that change. Verify the current amounts with the official authority and a licensed professional.
Processing depends on the route and on document legalisation. Applicants typically need to be in Uruguay at points during the process. Confirm current processing times with the official authority.
Legal residence does not set a single fixed investment minimum. Tax residence through real estate now requires a substantially higher investment under the 2026 law, with an alternative route through an investment in the national innovation fund. See the table and verify every figure with the official authority and the tax authority.
Legal residence lets you live in Uruguay, and after a qualifying period of residence the law provides a path toward naturalisation as a citizen, subject to its own conditions. Tax residence is a separate status that can carry a tax holiday on certain foreign income for a set number of years.
Because legal residence and tax residence differ, do not assume one grants the other. Confirm both with the official authority and a licensed professional.
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal residence investment minimum | No single fixed minimum | Income or investment may support the application, per the migration authority |
| Tax residence through real estate | From about USD 2,000,000 | Threshold under Law 20.446 in force from 1 January 2026 |
| Tax residence through innovation fund | From about USD 100,000 per year | Alternative tax residence pathway under the 2026 law |
| Government and processing fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Set by the migration and tax authorities |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Direccion Nacional de Migracion (DNM), Ministry of the Interior publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Uruguay does not set a single fixed investment minimum for legal residence. Applicants generally show stable income or an economic tie such as a business or property. Confirm the current rule with the official authority.
Law 20.446, in force from 1 January 2026, raised the investment thresholds required to obtain tax residence through the investment pathway. Legal residence rules are separate. Verify the current amounts with the official authority and a licensed professional.
Uruguayan law provides a path to naturalisation after a qualifying period of legal residence, subject to its own conditions. Timing and requirements should be confirmed with the official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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