Your first 90 days in Uruguay: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The FBI background check and birth certificate must be apostilled in the US — apostilles cannot be obtained from Montevideo, so arrivals without them face months of courier ping-pong.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
File residencia legal at the DNM (Migración) after arrival, then get the provisional cédula 'en trámite'
Before the 90-day tourist entry lapses — the filing itself has no statutory deadline
The provisional cédula (2-year validity, renewable) arrives within weeks of filing and unlocks daily life while the residency itself takes months.
Get your cédula de identidad (the everyday ID and tax reference); RUT from DGI for business
The cédula number is what banks, employers, utilities and DGI use for individuals.
The provisional cédula issued by DNIC once residency is in trámite already carries the number; a RUT is registered with DGI only for business activity.
Open a bank account
Banks open accounts once a cédula exists (the provisional one counts); expect proof-of-income and source-of-funds questions. Some banks are FATCA-shy with US persons, so Wise bridging is common early on.
Enrol in healthcare
FONASA contributions from formal work buy membership in a mutualista (private-style hospital); non-working residents pay a mutualista directly as private members or use the public ASSE network.
Sort your driver's license
A full exchange treaty exists only with Spain; US licenses are revalidated for the car category at the intendencia with cédula, an apostilled license certification and a medical exam — practice varies by intendencia.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Uruguay: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Uruguay?
File residencia legal at the DNM (Migración) after arrival, then get the provisional cédula 'en trámite' — Before the 90-day tourist entry lapses — the filing itself has no statutory deadline. The provisional cédula (2-year validity, renewable) arrives within weeks of filing and unlocks daily life while the residency itself takes months. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the cédula de identidad and do I need one?
cédula de identidad (the everyday ID and tax reference); RUT from DGI for business is Uruguay's personal tax/ID number. The cédula number is what banks, employers, utilities and DGI use for individuals. The provisional cédula issued by DNIC once residency is in trámite already carries the number; a RUT is registered with DGI only for business activity.
Can I drive in Uruguay on a US license?
A full exchange treaty exists only with Spain; US licenses are revalidated for the car category at the intendencia with cédula, an apostilled license certification and a medical exam — practice varies by intendencia. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Uruguay?
FONASA contributions from formal work buy membership in a mutualista (private-style hospital); non-working residents pay a mutualista directly as private members or use the public ASSE network. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Uruguay's system treats foreign residents.