A growing number of professionals are now choosing to work remotely, either as freelancers or company employees. Alongside this, digital nomadism – the trend of working remotely whilst travelling – is also on the rise. With more professionals choosing the digital nomad lifestyle, countries around the world are taking note and starting to issue visas aimed specifically at this type of traveller. A digital nomad visa usually lets you remain in the country for longer than you can with a tourist visa, provided that you’re working remotely for an employer or clients based outside of the country.
Uruguay has recently started to issue a specific visa for digital nomads. If you’re a remote worker who is interested in working from Uruguay, read on to learn more about the country’s digital nomad visa scheme and find out whether it might suit your work and travel goals.
The Uruguay digital nomad visa is a visa intended for freelancers and remote workers who have employers or clients based outside of the country and would like to stay in the country for a longer period. It does not permit you to take up employment with a company inside the country.
A visa for digital nomads is not the same as either a business or work visa. Knowing how these visa categories differ helps you to apply for the right visa for your needs. Business visas allow you to temporarily enter a country to conduct business activities such as meetings or signing contracts. These visas typically have a short validity similar to that of a tourist visa. Work visas are valid for longer and allow you to start employment in the country. A work visa may be valid for several years and can be the first step towards permanent residency or citizenship for some people (read more about these visas in our guide to Uruguay work visas).
Note, as with most digital nomad visas, the Uruguay digital nomad visa is only available to individuals who can prove they work for an overseas employer or who are self-employed.
The Uruguay digital nomad visa allows remote workers to remain in the country for an initial period of six months. You can apply for this visa once you’ve already entered the country as a tourist. It’s also possible to extend your visa for a further six months, allowing you to live and work remotely in Uruguay for a maximum of 12 months. Unlike many digital nomad visas, Uruguay’s visa also comes with the option to apply for permanent residency after the initial six month period. At present there are no specific salary requirements for this visa but it’s important to be aware that it’s a very new option – requirements might change in the future.
You can apply for Uruguay’s digital nomad visa after you’ve entered the country on a tourist visa. You can then make a new application for a digital nomad visa. The process is generally straightforward and has a nominal fee attached to it. If successful, you’ll receive your visa via email.
To apply for the visa:
Although the requirements for applying for the initial digital nomad visa are straightforward, you’ll need to provide more documentation if you decide to apply for an extension to your visa. If you choose to apply for permanent residency instead, the requirements will be different and it’s important to familiarize yourself with what’s needed.
It’s also important to be aware that, because this is such a new visa option, it’s possible that the required evidence and documentation will change in the future. When you apply for your visa or visa extension, it’s vital to check the most current information about what is required. Missing or incorrect documents can mean your application is delayed or refused. If your application is refused it might affect your ability to apply for another Uruguayan visa in the future.
The documents you’ll need to submit to extend your digital nomad visa are:
For digital nomads who want to remain in a specific country for longer, specialist visa categories can be very useful. Uruguay’s digital nomad visa is a new visa category that could prove popular with remote workers who want to experience the country’s lifestyle and culture. It’s always worth thinking carefully about your travel plans and the visa options available so you can make the right choice for your remote working lifestyle.
With more professionals now embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, there are more than 50 countries globally that have a specific visa for this type of traveller. As the interest in digital nomadism continues, we expect to see even more countries starting to issue this type of visa. Some countries that already issue visas for digital nomads are Saint Lucia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Greece
and the Bahamas.
The cost of applying for a digital nomad visa can vary significantly between different countries. The fee to apply for a Uruguayan visa is low, costing under $10. As this visa category becomes more established, there may be changes to the fee structure.
