34 UGLOBAL IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE
Germany . And , in both countries foreigners can apply for citizenship after three years of residence ( though in the case of Uruguay one needs to live there with a spouse – otherwise the period is five years ). Of course , foreign freehold land ownership is permitted and discriminatory practices like dual pricing ( for locals and foreigners ) are unheard of . And both countries can rely 100 % on renewable , green energy , are free from natural disasters like earthquakes , volcanoes etc . and guarantee food security as they are major exporters of agricultural commodities .
THREE YEARS TO CITIZENSHIP
For immigration purpose both countries require applicants for residency to provide civil documents such as birth , marriage and police clearance certificates with apostilles ( respectively with attestations from the relevant embassy or consulate in case the country of issue of such documents is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention ). The citizens of both enjoy visa-free travel to the UK , the Schengen area , Russia , UAE , South Africa ,
Singapore , Hong Kong etc . Uruguayans can also travel to Japan and New Zealand without a visa . Among the major countries only China , USA and Canada require visas from them . It is noteworthy that permanent residents of either country can travel to the other MERCOSUR countries without a passport – their local ID card ( Spanish : cedula ) is sufficient as long as they have a nationality which does not require a visa . MERCOSUR consists of Argentina , Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay . Citizens of any MERCOSUR member – regardless whether they are born or naturalized citizens – can easily take up residence in another member country : Usually a proof of holding no criminal record is sufficient to remain in the host member state , and one can work under the same labor laws as local citizens .
URUGUAY – THE MONACO OF LATIN AMERICA
Uruguay with its Mediterranean vibe , long coastline , beautiful beaches and ritzy beach resort towns like Punta del Este has been the Darling of Latin America ’ s rich and beautiful for a long time . For those who want to settle permanently , a key requirement – other than the civil documents - is the proof of income which allows the applicant to support himself . While there is no exact amount defined it is generally understood that a proven amount of US $ 2,000per month is sufficient , ( as this is usually deemed to be sufficient to support one ’ s lifestyle ).
An application made for permanent residence usually takes several months to get approved . It has to be made in person at the immigration authority in Montevideo or other cities throughout the country . Within a few days after submission of the application for permanent residence , however , the identity card office of the government will issue a temporary residence card . This card shall be exchanged for the permanent residence card once approved , and an applicant has 12 months to go back in person to the identity card office for the conversion . In the meantime , the temporary residence card can already be used for the opening of bank accounts , mobile and internet subscription , conversion of a foreign driving license etc . After three years of residency , an investor can apply for citizenship if the applicant has spent more than 6 months per year in the country . Unlike in Portugal , which is often compared to Uruguay , there is no written language exam but basic Spanish must be spoken and understood by the applicant when attending his hearing in a court of law .
PARAGUAY , RURAL PARADISE FOR INVESTMENT IMMIGRATION
Landlocked Paraguay sees less tourists than Uruguay , but is similarly popular among investment immigrants . There are currently two options to obtain a permanent residence . With the set up of a company and the investment of an equivalent of US $ 70,000over a period of 10 years , the permanent residence is issued directly within a few months after an application is submitted . No temporary residence card is issued in the meantime . Alternatively , an applicant who can proof sufficient income ( no amount is specified ) can obtain a temporary residence which can be converted to a permanent residence after maximum two years ( possibly earlier , but this option has only been in place since Q3 2022 ).