Moving To Uruguay

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Moving to a new country means you will need to start a new life from scratch. Moving to Uruguay from the USA may have a variety of reasons. But you can always make the moving process easier, by hiring the best moving company.

Moving to Uruguay from USA

Uruguay is emerging to be an emerging player in the wine market each year, especially when it comes to the local cuisine of the country and an extensive mix of cultures. The country has a booming economy and an affordable housing system. Due to all this, Uruguay is known to attract many expats from all over the world.

About Uruguay

Officially named the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, the South American country. Montevideo, which is both the capital and largest city in Uruguay.

Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America after Suriname, but is ranked first in Latin America for democracy, peace, lack of corruption, e-Government and quality of living. It also ranks first in South America for freedom of press, size of the middle class, prosperity and security.

In 2013, the Economist named Uruguay “Country of the Year” and it’s considered one of the most liberal and socially developed nations on the planet-same-sex marriage, abortion and the sale and consumption of cannabis are all legal. Uruguay also performs well on a global scale when it comes to personal rights, tolerance and inclusion.

Some quick facts about Uruguay

  • Uruguay has a stable political system, and it is known to be one of the least corrupt countries present in Latin America.
  • Around 3.42 million people reside in Uruguay.
  • Uruguay has an average literacy rate of 97.3% as compared to other countries in South America. In this country, education is taken very seriously, and it was the first country to offer free laptops to their students.
  • Mate is one of the most popular drinks in the country. It’s an alternative to tea and coffee. It was so famous that the citizens would carry an exclusive Mate mug with them wherever they went.

Customs Regulations for Uruguay

  • Inventory (itemized in Spanish and legalized by the Uruguayan Consulate at origin country)
  • Foreigners require one of the following:
  • A resident visa issued by the Uruguayan Consulate at origin country
    • Resident visa stamped in customer’s passport
    • Certificate of Permanent Residence granted by the Migration Office in Uruguay
      • If documents are not provided, customer will have to deposit a bank guarantee letter, the value of the shipment in cash, or provide a guarantee from his or her employer. This guarantee is to be returned once the shipment leaves the country or the customer has obtained permanent residence.
  • Returning citizens are required to provide:
    • A Certificate of Residence (issued by the origin consulate stating that the customer has lived abroad for a minimum period of two years)
  • Bank guarantee letter
  • Shipments must arrive within 90 days of customer
  • Non-permanent residents may be required to make a bank guarantee deposit which is refundable when the shipment leaves the country

 

In Uruguay, some articles may not be imported in a customer’s baggage whatsoever. These items include, but may not be limited to:

  • Narcotics
  • Alkaloids
  • Pornography or subversive materials
  • Counterfeit items
  • Cultural artefacts and other objects of cultural importance
  • Explosive and flammable materials
  • Plants and any parts derived from plants
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Soil, seeds (including items made from vegetable seeds), flowers and flower parts
  • Animal feed and other veterinary related products (biological or chemical)
  • Trees and parts of trees
  • Fresh dairy products like cream, milk, etc. (with the exception of long life milk)
  • Birds
  • Bees and honey
  • Any meat

Some articles may have restricted quantities or require special authorization/ payments of duties and taxes to clear Customs in Singapore.

Some articles may have restricted quantities or require special authorization/ payments of duties and taxes to clear customs in Uruguay. These items include, but are not limited to:

  • Endangered species and products and parts thereof as outlined by CITES (mayonly be brought in only with CITES permission)
  • Medication (accompanied by prescription and in original container with original label)
    • The quantity should not be greater than what is needed for the length of your stay
  • Currency (amount exceeding equivalent of $10,000 USD must be declared)
    • Currency includes negotiable instruments, jewelry, precious metals, etc.
  • Mobile telephones (need to be declared and tax paid if customer is planning to switch to Uruguayan telephone provider)

In Uruguay, new cars are dutiable and foreigners are not allowed to import automobiles. You may import a car into the country if you are a returning citizen who meets the following requirements:

  • Owner of the automobile must have lived abroad for at least three years
  • Vehicle must have been in owner’s name for minimum of three years
  • Owner must apply for authorization from the Ministry of Finance before Customs clearance can begin

When importing a vehicle you will need the following documents:

  • Commercial invoice (original)
  • Car title or Certificate of Register or Matriculation
    • Documents must by legalized by the Uruguayan consulate at customer’s country of origin
    • Documents must be translated into Spanish (obtained in Uruguay)

When importing a pet into Uruguay, they will need to have the following documentation:

  • Health certificate
  • Vaccination certificates

 

  • Used household goods and personal effects showing evidence of use may be imported duty-free if customer has lived abroad and owned the items for at least two years and customer has a permanent residence
  • The following may be imported duty free is the customer is over 18-years-old:
    • 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco
    • 2 liters of alcohol
    • Non-commercial gifts and other items for personal use distributed as follows:
      • Land entry – goods worth up to $150 USD or equivalent (once a month)
      • Sea or air entry – $300 USD for traveler’s from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay (once a month)
        • Allowance is up to $500 USD for traveler’s from other countries (once a year)
  • Customers under 18 are allowed a 50 percent corresponding allowance for:
    • Sporting goods and musical instruments (when used and for personal use)
    • Electrical equipment (for personal use)

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International Sea & Air Shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

Things you should consider before moving to Uruguay

  • Uruguay has an outstanding public healthcare system, and all the residents of the country will have access to it. If you are an expat permanently living in the country, you too can enjoy the great healthcare system, which Uruguay has got to offer you. Moreover, private plans are available at a feasible cost to boost the public services provided.
  • As an expat, you can rest assured that the medical equipment is conventional, and the doctors are well-trained. Overall, the treatment cost in this country is very competitive as compared to the cost in other countries.
  • Pets are allowed in Uruguay and there won’t be any quarantine period for them.
  • Many friendly people are living in Uruguay like any other Latin American country.
  • Buying, selling, and renting properties is a simple process in Uruguay. Anyone in the country can possess property and enjoy the same rights as a citizen owning the same property.
  • The real estate market has huge prospects in the country and there are ample opportunities in the coastal towns as well. Also, you will be able to buy apartments and other properties at a reasonable price in this country.
  • The government of the country is a constitutional republic and is highly stable and consistent. Uruguay has a low level of bureaucracy and corruption, mostly when compared with the other countries of South America.
  • Uruguay has clean streets, clean air, and clean water. Additionally, the pollution level in the country is also very low which attracts expats suffering from asthma as well as COPD.
  • Uruguay is one of the costliest countries in Latin America and any grocery, clothing, and electronics comes with a high price tag.
  • Import opportunities from outside South America are very low, mostly in the case of food items.
  • Apart from the capital city of the country, the roads and sidewalks are too bad.
  • The cost of transport in the country is too high. In Uruguay you can expect to sell a used car that isn’t in pristine condition at around USD 20000 and the cost of gas is expected to be somewhere around USD 6.50 per gallon.

Climate of Uruguay

Uruguay enjoys a consistent and temperate climate with mild seasons. Most of the residents of the country live without a heater or even an air conditioner, regardless of the city in which they are living. Though Uruguay has beautiful beaches the water there is cold for around 9 months in a year.

So, if you are a person who enjoys such kind of a climate, get going, apply for the visa, start packing your moving boxes and relocate to this new destination.

Cost of living in Uruguay

As per Numbeo.com (August 2023), the living cost at Uruguay is 18.6 % lesser than the cost of living in the United States. This estimation doesn’t include monthly housing rentals that you will need to pay. Numbeo.com is a website which surveys the costing data from the citizens of the country.

If you are planning to moving to Uruguay from USA, you must create a monthly budget of around $3000. Moreover, the living cost in Uruguay will depend upon the kind of lifestyle you choose and the location you prefer to stay.

If you are planning to moving to Uruguay after your retirement, you can expect to find an affordable and a good quality housing system.

Tips to get the VISA for moving to Uruguay from USA

If you want to go to Uruguay as a tourist, you will be offered a temporary visa of 90 days once you are done with the airport immigration. In case you want to increase the validity of your visa, it’s recommended to get it done at the immigration office in exchange for an additional fee.

If you need to exit the country by air, you can expect to pay a departure charge of about USD 30. Also, if you want to change the status of your visa from temporary to permanent, you can get it done at the immigration office before you complete 180 days in the new country.

Types of Visas for Uruguay

Rentista Visa

This is one of the most common types of visas an expat moving to Uruguay will be issued. Currently, there isn’t any specific income requirement for expats to get their visa, but the amount generally expected will be something around USD 1500 per month for each applicant. Moreover, with this type of visa, you can move your household items duty-free to the new destination.

Retirement Visa

Like the rentista visa, with a retirement visa you ship any household items duty-free to the new country. Additionally, you can import a car, bike, or any other vehicle and apply for the Uruguay passport as well.

The application process for a retirement visa is very easy-going as compared to any of their neighboring countries but the process is changing with time.

Tip: To obtain up-to-date information regarding the retirement visa, you must either go to the nearest Uruguay Embassy or check with an immigration lawyer.

Work Visa

To obtain a work visa you must have a legal agreement or a commitment letter from an employer in Uruguay. The document you submit must be notarized, and include relevant information about the company, compensation, and terms of employment. Mostly your employer will apply on your behalf for a work visa.

Regardless of the type of visa you will apply for, all the required foreign documents must be legalized by the Consulate of Uruguay. All such documents should be translated to Spanish and the proof of income should be certified by an accountant or a public notary.

Once you receive an application number for your visa you can apply for the ID card of the country known as the cedula. With the cedula, you will enjoy all the rights of a citizen, regardless of whether your application has been processed or not.

How to obtain permanent citizenship and residency in Uruguay?

To obtain residency in Uruguay, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Provide a letter of intent for immigration to the government of Uruguay.
  • Submit your birth certificate and marriage certificate which has been duly attested by the Uruguay Consulate. The submission of the marriage certificate isn’t mandatory, but if you are submitting it, you need to submit income proof of either yourself or your spouse.
  • Submit a steady income statement like stipends, rental income, dividends, or even a work agreement.
  • Undergo a medical examination by an authentic clinic in Uruguay.
  • Submit proof that you have an authorized address in Uruguay. You can do this at a local police station by showing your passport and two witnesses who will give you address proof.

To obtain citizenship in Uruguay, you must meet the following criteria:

  • If you are a married couple and have been living in Uruguay for at least three years and have already obtained a residency in the country, you can definitely apply for citizenship.
  • You will be eligible to get the citizenship of Uruguay, from the day you have set foot in the country, regardless of when your residency has been approved.

Start a business in Uruguay

If you want to start a business in Uruguay, you must have a permanent visa. The cost you must bear to start a business in the new country will be comparatively less, but the tax associated with starting a business will be on the higher side. Don’t forget to consult a lawyer who has good experience in immigration business law for starting a business in a new country.

Excellent Experience Moving from Baltimore to Vienna

“We moved from Baltimore to Vienna, Austria and had an excellent experience with this company. All our items were packed well and arrived in good condition. The movers on both ends were courteous and efficient (even in the face of some hurdles), as were all that we communicated with by phone and email. The quoted price was competitive and accurate. A couple of billing errors were corrected without delay, and there were no surprise charges. We would absolutely recommend International Sea & Air Shipping to others.”

– Ingvild Bjornvold

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Uruguay from USA

Now that you know everything about moving to Uruguay from USA, what are you waiting for? Start packing your moving boxes and hire professional movers who will help you relocate to the new country. You can shortlist a few international moving companies, request moving quotes from them, check whether they are licensed or not, and select the most suitable one accordingly.

In addition, you need to check the mode of shipping offered by each of the shortlisted international movers. Whether you will move your belongings by sea, land or air, can be decided based on the money you will need to spend for each country.