🇺🇾 Uruguay
Stable, high-trust South American democracy with a major (newly reformed) tax holiday for new residents
Visa Options
- Rentista (Independent Means) Visa (Permanent residency track) — ~$1,500/mo passive foreign income (pension, rental, dividends); higher for families
- Real Estate Investment Residency (Permanent residency track) — UI 12,500,000 (~$2,000,000) in Uruguayan real estate — threshold raised sharply for 2026 arrivals
- Investment Fund / Innovation Fund Route (Permanent residency track) — $100,000/yr contribution to an approved government innovation fund
- Employment/Work Visa (Renewable, tied to employment) — Local job offer or business registration
Tax Overview
- Income Tax (IRPF): 0% – 36% progressive on Uruguay-source/employment income
- Tax holiday for new residents: New residents can elect exemption on foreign passive income/capital gains for 11 years (arrival year + 10)
- Post-holiday foreign income tax (2026 reform): 12% flat on foreign dividends, interest, capital gains, and rental income (was largely untaxed before this reform); 6% transitional rate for 5 years after the holiday for some cohorts
- Corporate Tax (IRAE): 25%
- VAT (IVA): 22% standard (10% reduced rate on some goods)
Cost of Living
- Comfortable living (single, typical): $1,800 – $2,600/mo (higher than most of Latin America)
- 1BR Apartment (Montevideo — Pocitos): $700 – $1,200/mo
- 1BR Apartment (Punta del Este, off-season): $600 – $1,000/mo
- Groceries: $300 – $450/mo
- Utilities: $100 – $170/mo
- Dining out: $12 – $25/meal
- Public transport: $40 – $55/mo
- Private health insurance (mutualista): $80 – $180/mo
Relocation Checklist
- Consult a Uruguayan tax/immigration attorney before arrival — the 2026 tax reform materially changed thresholds
- Gather apostilled documents (birth cert, marriage cert, police record)
- Apply for residency (temporary first, in-country) via Dirección Nacional de Migración
- Obtain your Cédula de Identidad (national ID)
- Elect IRNR/tax-holiday status early if eligible — the election has filing deadlines
- Open a Uruguayan bank account
- Register with a local mutualista (private health cooperative)
- Track physical presence days for tax residency purposes