New Decree About Permanent Residency in Uruguay

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New Decree About Permanent Residency in Uruguay

August 31st, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - News, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

On August 24th a new Presidental Decree was posted that concerns all foreigners residing in Uruguay. The official Decree is posted on the Presidential Departments web-page, in Spanish, as a PDF, found at the following link: http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/_web/decretos/2009/08/EC1320%20.pdf

Although there aren’t too many changes to the process, it is exciting to see that the “carnet de salud” which entitles ones with a low enough income to free health care in public hospitals, is now available to both legal residents and non-resident foreigners. If a foreigner has sufficient means, they wil be enrolled in the “mutualista” program just as Uruguayan foreign nationals.

While many foreigners have been taking advantage of this system for a long time, it is good to Read more

Celebrate the Good Old Days with La Noche de Nostalgia

July 27th, 2009 | The Best of Uruguay, Uruguay - Culture, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Must See or Do, Uruguay - Nightlife, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

We are one month away from celebrating the Declaration of Independence, a national, non working holiday observed in Uruguay yearly on the 25th of August. One of the best parts of not going to work on the 25th, means that on the 24th you have plenty of time to party! No need to think about waking up for work the next morning.

Rumor has it, over 20 years ago a local am radio DJ started “La Noche de la Nostalgia” (The Nostalgia Night), a party where only old hits would be played. Since that first famed night, year after year the country has grown to celebrate hold hits, with music, costumes, and celebrations on the night of August 24th, a day Read more

The Cost of Living in Uruguay

July 20th, 2009 | The Best of Uruguay, Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 6 Comments »

What is the cost of living in Uruguay? Well, for many it depends on where and how they live. What is for certain is that right now 1 US dollar is equal to about 23 Uruguayan pesos, which is better than it was last year.

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Bringing in Household Items Duty-Free

July 16th, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Relocating to Uruguay and trying to find accurate, up-to-date information on the internet regarding laws and policies can be extremely difficult. Sometimes even the Uruguay government sites and consulate sites can have conflicting information.

From a reliable source, attorney Mark Teuten, we have learned something about bringing household items duty-free. He states:

article 2 of Decree No. 119/004, which regulates Law No. 16.340 states that household goods, in reasonable quantities according to the opinion of the Custom’s authorities, can be brought in free of tax within 6 months of the grant of permanent residence.

Cara are not included in this, and it means only for the first 6 months after you have been approved for your residency, not during Read more

Real Chinese Food in Uruguay!

July 9th, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Places to Eat, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Hooray for Chinese food that is actually somewhat like Chinese food in South America!

As an extensive traveler I have found that Chinese food is actually a staple restaurant in most countries. In that statement, I use the term “Chinese food” quite loosely. What most restaurants serve up (even if you see a Chinese cook in the back) is what residents of the local country think Chinese food should taste like. You can imagine this is pretty frustrating for a Gringo who grew up pointing to items on the menu because the waiter didn’t speak any English.

Gran China, which is located on San Jose 1077 between Rio Negro and Paraguay in Centro actually does real Chinese food. The flavors Read more

Another Health Benefit of Permanent Life in Uruguay

July 2nd, 2009 | The Best of Uruguay, Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Relocation | 1 Comment »

If you are debating getting your residency in Uruguay I am here to tell you another benefit of being a resident: if you are working for a Uruguayan company and paying into BPS (social security) then you are entitled to receive health insurance via the government sponsored Health Insurance Plans.

Many who come to Uruguay, work for a Uruguayan company, and have their residency benefit from these plans. The health care is reliable, the insurance actually covers a good deal, and I think you’ll find you are way better taken care of than with some of the health insurance providers in the States.

The only issue with the arrangement of this health insurance is that the directors of Uruguayan corporations Read more

Tips for Renting an Apartment in Uruguay

March 20th, 2009 | Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Tourist Trap | 2 Comments »

When renting an apartment in Uruguay, there are a couple of things you should be aware of. The actual sitting down and examining/negotiating on the contract is not difficult in itself. The terms are usually straightforward and in general there are only 4 parties involved: you, your realtor, the landlord, and the landlord’s realtor.

In Uruguay every contract includes a deposit equal to 3–5 months of rent, plus the payment of 1 month’s rent in advance and the service fee to the realtor which is equal to 1 month’s rent. So, be prepared to fork over a large chunk of change right off the bat. If you are planning on staying in the apartment for less than a year the Read more

Tips for Deciding Where to Live in Uruguay

February 16th, 2009 | Uruguay - Relocation | 2 Comments »

The first step in moving to Uruguay is deciding on a place to live. The place you live will determine a number of other factors that you will have to face in Uruguay.

My recommendation, and that of pretty much every expat I have spoken with, is that it is always best to rent first, and buy later. I am an investor by nature and I know firsthand that deciding hastily, even when you are 100% positive it is the right choice, is never a good idea. So, before you even come to Uruguay, it is a good idea to research different areas, and make a list of the places where you are seriously considering relocating. Then, when you arrive Read more

Attending University in Uruguay as a Foreigner

February 7th, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Relocation | 1 Comment »

Recently someone wrote me about studying abroad in Uruguay, and since going back to school seems like a pretty popular thing to do at the moment, I decide to write a post about the International Eduaction Programs offered by Universidad ORT Uruguay.

Universidad ORT Uruguay has developed a special semester program for international students who are coming from non-partner universities. To qualify for the program you have to have completed 6 months of Spanish study at your home institution.

The program at ORT includes a Spanish course/workshop – 3 hours per week/ 6 ECTS credits, orientation and academic advisors, and up to 5 regular courses from the programs offered at the University, according to your background and Spanish level.

For Read more

Casino Victoria in Montevideo, Uruguay

February 2nd, 2009 | Uruguay - Adults Only, Uruguay - Places to Stay | No Comments »

The Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel is not only one of the most comfortable hotels in Montevideo, it also boasts the city’s largest casino, the Casino Victoria.

The Casino Victoria is actually two grand casinos, with slot machines and table games, and climbing jackpots. Games include baccarat, blackjack, bingo, horse races, and for the European guests, trendy French roulette tables.

As far as casinos go, Casino Victoria in Montevideo is a nice one. It opens daily at 2 pm, and offers a relaxed atmosphere where you can hang out with friends, grab a drink, and enjoy the evening.

Casino Victoria is constantly adding new games, and working to provide guests with a variety of games to play. The staff is Read more