Uruguay is the latest country to pass legislation to welcome digital nomads

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Digital nomads and remote workers can now obtain a residency permit to work legally from Uruguay for six to twelve months.

“Uruguay is in the sweet spot between the US West coast and Eastern Europe” says Chris Roe, 42, a global communication coach from New York City. “I have a new client from Dubai and when we meet: it’s 9am for me in Uruguay and 4pm for him.”

Roe found himself stuck in Uruguay in 2020 when the borders closed during the pandemic and opted to stay for over a year. He returned for the Uruguay summer season (December-February) this year.

He has loved the great internet connectivity, finding it easy and very affordable to connect on high-quality wifi anywhere in Uruguay—from the beach to the hills as well as the city.

Move to Uruguay as a digital nomad or remote worker

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Roe, who has been a digital nomad for over three years and worked out of countries as far flung as Indonesia and Mexico, praises the quality of life in Uruguay. “There's a really nice work-life balance that doesn't exist in other places that I've been.”

Lack of community is a big issue for many digital nomads. In Uruguay, Chris found himself approached by business contacts on LinkedIn interested in inviting him out for a coffee.

Unlike most countries where digital nomads tend to stick together out of necessity, Chris says “the locals in Uruguay are actually willing to help and they want to meet you. It’s so refreshing.”

Uruguay’s president, Luis Lacalle Pou, stated his desire to attract thousands of foreigners to live in Uruguay. Coming to work remotely is a great way to test Uruguay as a future home. It’s an easy place to fall in love with and now remarkably easy to apply to live and work legally as a digital nomad for six to twelve months—and eventually apply for permanent residency.

Uruguay is one of the 50+ countries in the world to provide a digital nomad permit

Since the pandemic tens of countries have launched special residencies designed specifically for remote workers. Commonly called "digital nomad visas", they allow independent business people and remote workers for multinationals and other companies to live and work abroad legally.

Countries as diverse as Brazil, United Arab Emirates and Spain offer digital nomad visas. Now Uruguay—celebrated by The Economist as “modest yet bold, liberal and fun-loving”, renowned for its quality of life and with a population of just 3.5 million people—has opened up the possibility for travelling professionals.

A very simple application process

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The residency is for people who work for themselves or for companies abroad.

The process is two-part. To apply to stay for six months as a digital nomad, after entering Uruguay as a regular tourist, applicants complete an online form with personal details and sign an affidavit that they have the means to support themselves financially.

Once you have your permit, you must make an appointment at the National Civil Identification Office in order to obtain your uruguayan document.

Digital nomad process: step by step

Please note that this ID will be required to extend your permit for another six months and to leave the country after your first three months here.

After six months, applicants can apply for a further six-month extension or—if they love Uruguay and want to settle—permanent residency.

For the digital nomad extension, applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record in all of the countries they have lived for more than six months in the previous five years. A vaccination certificate issued in Uruguay is also required.