Uruguay is a relatively small country compared to its South American neighbors, but it still offers plenty of opportunities for expatriates and businesses looking to expand internationally. If you’re planning an Uruguayan expansion for your company, one of your first challenges will be building a team of employees to lead operations in your new location.
Whether you plan to relocate existing employees, hire new team members abroad, or a combination of the two, you’ll need to make sure any foreign employees have the appropriate visas and work permits to stay compliant in Uruguay.
Types of Work Visas in Uruguay
Like any other country, Uruguay offers a variety of visas to foreign nationals who are seeking entry. Available visas include:
- Tourism visas, which allow multiple entries and are valid for 90 days
- Business visas, which are valid for 90 days and multiple entries
- Student visas, which are single-entry and valid for 30 days
- Family reunification visas, which allow a single entry and are valid for 30 days
- Work visas, which are valid for 30 days and a single entry
- Humanitarian and emergency visas, which are single-entry and valid for a 30-day period
Foreign employees will need to obtain a work visa to enter Uruguay. To remain in the country beyond the initial 30-day period the visa allows, they will need to get a residency visa as well.
Requirements to Obtain Uruguay Work Visas
To be eligible to obtain a visa to work in Uruguay, applicants should be at least 18 years old. During the application process, foreign nationals will need to provide the following documents:
- A completed visa application form
- A recent passport photograph
- A passport with a minimum of six months of validity
- A copy of the main page of the applicant’s passport
- An offer of employment from a company registered in Uruguay, which should include information about the job position and the company as well as a signature from the company’s legal representative
- A copy of the ID of a reference in Uruguay
- Proof of payment of the visa fee
Application Process
Foreign nationals should begin the work visa application process by gathering all of the required documents listed in the previous section. When all the paperwork is ready, applicants should reach out to the embassy, consulate, or diplomatic representation of Uruguay in their country of residence to schedule an appointment for a visa interview.
Applicants can either mail the required documents to the embassy or bring them along on the day of the meeting.
During the interview process, applicants should expect to answer questions regarding the reasons they plan to travel to Uruguay and the activities they intend to engage in there. The officials will also ask simple questions about the applicant’s day-to-day life in their country of residence.
After the interview, Uruguayan officials will begin processing the visa application. It typically takes 14 to 20 business days to fully process the application, after which the officials will reach out to the applicant to inform them that the visa is ready.
After obtaining a work visa, foreign nationals can travel to Uruguay to start working for your company. The work visa is not eligible for renewal or extension, so employees should begin the process of applying for residence as soon as possible. They have 30 days to complete the process.
Other Important Considerations
Visa fees vary depending on the nationality of the applicant, so it is best to ask the diplomatic officials at the Uruguayan embassy or consulate for confirmation of the price before the day of the visa interview.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
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