Digital nomads will be able to legally live and work in Uruguay

Uruguay offers a residence permit that seeks to encourage the arrival of foreign talent to live and work in the country as digital nomads. This initiative was made effective through the approval of decree 238/022 and the implementation of a digital form to initiate the application process.

The residence permit for digital nomads (temporary identity document - nomads) is intended for people who are self-employed or work for companies abroad and allows them to settle in Uruguay for a period of six months. The permit is renewable for an additional six months or, should they decide to stay, they may choose to apply for temporary or permanent residence.   

After entering Uruguay as regular tourists, applicants must complete an online form with personal information and sign an affidavit stating that they have the means to support themselves financially during their stay.

This initiative reflects the growth of digital nomads as a way of life and employment at a global scale. During the Test & Invest event organized by the Inter-American Development Bank at the end of 2022, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou said that during the pandemic the country was an attractive destination for many people to settle or invest.

Uruguay's appeal is due to a combination of attributes such as its infrastructure, political stability, economic, social, and legal security, as well as the quality of life it offers, the president added.

In recent years, Uruguay has established itself as a business and innovation hub in the region and the government agency Uruguay XXI, in its role as an investment promoter, has included attracting talent as a focus of its work.

Digital nomads are people who work remotely from anywhere in the world using technological tools. This way of life is not a recent development; however, the pandemic has contributed to making work more flexible and there are currently 35 million digital nomads in the world, according to data from the World Economic Forum. This number is expected to grow exponentially in the upcoming years. A report by U.S. business platform MBO Partners published in 2022 stated that 72 million U.S.-born individuals planned to become digital nomads in the next two to three years.

The most common positions held by digital nomads are linked to marketing, software development, design, e-Commerce, and content writing. However, it is not the area of business that defines a digital nomad, but the ability to do their work remotely.

Find the tutorial on how to access the digital nomad residency here.