Residency status

@ltoby955

100% correct.

You can make the appointment before your arrival though, in order that the process does not stretch too long into your stay.

You will also have a health card and a cedula from very shortly after this appointment.  So only benefits to making the appoint for shortly after your expected arrival.

@ltoby955

Yes, you arrive on a tourist visa for 3 month extendable to 6.

You can apply for residency whilst in the country but remember some of the document requirements are apostilled Birth/Marriage/financial report/criminal record checks from your origin country, which can take some months to arrange.

I am currently going through the process arrived in DEC

Dom

@armin31

The problem I had when making an appointment from abroad, or even in Uruguay on line, is making the payment.

@ColoniaMan

Yes, if you apply from abroad, you get a QR code that is needed to pay in cash at a local Abitab branch, so for remote option you would need a friend already in Uruguay or a agent to physically pay it for you. There is no option to pay by bank card.