Uruguay · Citizenship

Uruguay citizenship by naturalization

Source-checked37 sources, 36 officialHow we check

Last checked 13 Nov 2026Written for US citizensSome rules are still being checked

In brief

Apply after 3 years of living in Uruguay if your family lives there with you, or 5 years without. You don't give up US citizenship.

CitizenshipAfter 3 years with family, 5 without

Visa-free (US)90 days, renewable once for 90 more

Residency income fromNo fixed minimum in law

Tax on foreign income12% on foreign interest and dividends; a 10-year break can apply

Becoming a Uruguayan citizen

Timeline: 3 years of habitual residence with your family in Uruguay, or 5 years without
Dual citizenship: Yes: you keep US citizenship. Uruguay treats you as a citizen but not a national, which shows on the passport.

What you need

Habitual residence: proved with immigration residence and travel records; when the clock starts is Needs review
Few long trips: a trip abroad of more than 6 months in a row restarts the count.
Spanish: you must understand and speak it; no formal exam is stated.
Two witnesses aged 25 or over at a hearing, and proof of your means of living for the whole period.
Good conduct, plus capital, property, or a trade or profession in Uruguay.
Fee: none.

Good to know

Voting waits: political rights start 3 years after you get your citizenship letter.
Changes ahead: bills would recognise legal citizens as nationals and replace witness hearings with documents Pending change

Checked against the lawThe 3- and 5-year rules, the voting delay and loss of citizenship, read in the Constitution.

Not yet verifiedThe absence and Spanish rules, and whether every part of this timeline is confirmed at the official source.

Pending changeA nationality bill announced Oct 9, 2026, and a witness-hearing bill reported passed by the lower house.

Sources (4)

Legal basis and exact figures

Clock: Constitución art 75: 3 years' habitual residence with family constituted in Uruguay, or 5 without, plus good conduct and capital, property, or a science, art or industry; age 18+. Proof via DNM residence and migration-movement certificates; not tied in the text to a residence-permit grant date (Needs review).
Procedure (Corte Electoral): trips abroad over 6 consecutive months restart the count; understand and speak Spanish (no formal exam); two witnesses aged 25+; arraigo for the whole period; free. Political rights only 3 years after the carta.
Dual nationality: no renunciation required in the sources read; legal citizenship is lost only by a later naturalisation elsewhere (art 81). Legal citizens are citizens but not nationals (passport nationality field).
Pending change: interpretive bill announced 09/10/2026 to recognise legal citizens as nationals (number and stage not checked); bill replacing witness hearings with documentary proof, reported passed by Representatives 06/05/2026 (trade press only). Open: whether provisional-ID months count.

Every rule, with its legal basis

The rules

Ciudadanía legal (Constitución art 75): 3 years of habitual residence for a foreigner of good conduct with family constituted in Uruguay, or 5 years without, plus capital, property, or a science, art or industry practised in Uruguay; age 18+. Counts habitual residence, proved by DNM residence and migration-movement certificates and documents of fixed date — not tied by the text to a residence-permit grant date (Needs review).

Absences: per the Corte Electoral, trips abroad may not exceed 6 consecutive months, or the 3/5-year count restarts on return.

Language: applicants must understand and express themselves in Spanish (no formal exam stated); two witnesses aged 25+ at a hearing; arraigo (means of living) proved for the whole period; no fee. Political rights only 3 years after the carta is granted.

Dual nationality: no renunciation of US citizenship is required by the sources read; legal citizenship is lost only by a later naturalisation elsewhere (art 81). Uruguayan doctrine treats legal citizens as citizens but not nationals (affects passport nationality field). Pending change: interpretive bill announced 09/10/2026 to recognise legal citizens as nationals; separate bill to replace witness hearings with documentary proof (reported passed by Representatives 06/05/2026, lead only).

Not yet verified Whether every part of this timeline is confirmed at the official source.

Other Uruguay guides

Every rule with its legal source.

Uruguay overviewKey facts, cities and every guide Entry and visas90 days visa-free, renewable once for 90 more Residency2 routes: a provisional remote-work permit and permanent residence TaxesWhat retirees and remote workers pay

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