Working in Uruguay

Uruguay is a South American nation located in the southeastern region of the continent next to Brazil and Argentina.

The country was originally founded by the Portuguese in 1680 before the capital, Montevideo, became a military position for the Spanish in the early 17th century.

Uruguay won its independence in 1811 following a four-way struggle between Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil.

Today, the country has a relatively small population of about 3.3 million, with about half of those located in Montevideo.

The Work and Holiday visa arrangement between Australia and Uruguay, which started in April 2013, allows holiday and travel between the two countries for Australians.

Under the arrangement, university-educated Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to work and holiday in Uruguay for up to 12 months.

The arrangement was introduced with the aim of strengthening cultural exchange and widening economic ties and links between the two countries.

Uruguay’s Work and Holiday visa summary

Visa: Working holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 12 months
Processing time: n/a

Requirements / Eligibility for Work and Holidays

If you want to travel to Uruguay under Work and Holiday arrangements, there are additional eligibility requirements. These include, but are not limited to:

• Hold an Australian passport
• Meet health and character requirements
• Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
• Have no dependent children accompanying you
• Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
• Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday.
• A letter of approval from the Australian Government supporting the application
• Tertiary education
• Speak basic Spanish

The letter of government support can be issued by the ACT and Regions Office in Canberra, where the following details must be provided:

• Certified copy of a valid passport
• Certified copy of one other form of identification with current residential address
• Certified copies of the applicant’s tertiary qualifications, a letter from the university confirming the level of study or originals of academic transcripts.

Emergency

Emergency telephone numbers
police, fire and medical emergency          911

Australia does not have an Embassy in Uruguay, but the DFAT states that Australians may obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy in Argentina. DFAT also suggests Australians travelling to Uruguay, whether for tourism or business, register with the Department online, which would assist in the event of an emergency.

Australian Embassy, Buenos Aires
Villanueva 1400,
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Telephone: +54 11 4779 3500
Fax:             +54 11 4779 3581

Australian Consulate, Montevideo
Cerro Largo 1000
Montevideo, Uruguay
Telephone: +598 29010743
Fax:             +598 2900 5241
Email: ausconur@gmail.com

Tax System

The tax system in Uruguay is attractive for expats in the country. People who decide to spend more than 183 days per year in Uruguay will have a five-year window during which they will not pay income tax on any type of foreign income. After the five years are up, if you are still a tax resident of Uruguay, then you would pay a 12% income tax on two types of foreign income: interest and dividends. Any other type of income is untaxed, including capital gains, pensions or retirement income and lease income.

Bank Account

Opening a bank account as an expat in Uruguay usually requires several pieces of documentation, including: passport, proof of employment and proof of address in the country. Each bank account will usually include a debit card and an option to open a savings account.

The major banks in Uruguay include: Banco República and BHU. Several foreign banks also operate in Uruguay, such as Santander and Citibank.

Working in Uruguay

Teaching English is an excellent option for expats looking at starting a working holiday in Uruguay. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is a high demand for English tuition in Uruguay. However, don’t expect a high salary for this work as wages in Uruguay are low in general.

Another option while traveling in Uruguay is to look for agricultural work. This is a great way to explore the country, enjoy the outdoors and supplement your stay with a small amount of funds.

Communication

Uruguay is well serviced by telecommunications with three mobile phone providers for expats to choose from. The major telecommunications companies in Uruguay are:

•     Antel
•     Movistar
•     Claro

To sign-up for a phone contract in Uruguay, applicants will need to provide identification, such as a passport, proof of address and proof of employment.