Moving to Uruguay from Canada

    How difficult  is it to retire to Uruguay from Canada?
Thanks,
William
   

It will be more difficult if you do not speak Spanish.  But you can still do it.  Of course you are advised to make at least several visits to hopefully find out whether it is a suitable place for you.

I suggest doing an internet search for

how to retire to uruguay

...and you can have hours and hours of reading all about it.

@OsageArcher Thanks I am currently doing but thought it good to cross check with those that have dine it before or may be going through the process at the moment.

Hello, William!

I only saw your question today,  Very busy setting up (construction, garden, farm) here after coming from Canada myself. 

It depends on the reason why you are leaving Canada and what you expect from your new home, whether Uruguay would be your first choice.  For me it was the only choice.  From the countries you have in your selection, you are looking for different things than I, so Costa Rica may be the easiest for you and closer to your daughter.

As for me, I truly love Uruguay as it is now, but there is an election coming up ...  The people are of exceptional character, the country is fertile and tranquil the weather not extreme.  On the downside is the cost of living, much bureaucracy, how cold you feel in the winter despite the lows being only around the 0 Centigrade mark.  Except when a NorEaster blowing I never felt as cold in Canada as here.

How much do you need to live comfortably?  What do you need for living comfortably?  When you have your own place to call home, you should be able to do with between USD 1000 - 2000.  I am sure there are people who spend much more. Less than 1000 will be hard to achieve.   

What is expensive in Uruguay:

Food, except meat and dairy products

Gas and Diesel

Electricity

Clothing

Electronics

Cars

traffic tickets

Just to give you and example, for a 13 year old Corsa I paid USD 8000 plus notary fees 1 1/2 years ago.  But having said that, cars last "forever" around here.   A basic Hyundai costs around USD 15000 new.

I had my permanent residency in 1 1/2 years, but I was a complicated case, It can be accomplished more quickly.  If you should come here make sure to get a police record based on finger prints.  The regular Canadian police record will just not do.

May you make the decision that is right for you.  It is such an important one.

Armin

Thanks!

So far Uruguay has a lot of what I am

looking for. My wife was more into the other countries as we have been to those before. Ii think Uruguay has more to offer me that Costa Rica and I do believe it is a safer country

1. Do you think the election will negatively impact immigration by making it harder or eliminating it?
2. One question I also have is proof of income. I understand that rental income and savings don’t count. I am asking as one of us will not yet have qualified for or the  government pension here as it starts at age 60 for early retirement. We would be using our private pension but it would better to start those later as we would have enough funds to use outside of the pensions, this would allow us to maximize the pension amounts by delaying starting withdrawals a couple years.

1. How difficult is it to pass the medicals if understand what I have read so far is you need to pass a government medical and then one for private health insurance  in order to get a health card. Are their age limits one of us will be 61-62 and the other 57-58
2. How difficult is it for someone in their early 20’s 21-22 to get residence as well. Just checking in case our daughter may want to come.

Thanks,

William

You are welcome, William!

I agree with you that Uruguay is in many ways better than Costa Rica, it is just that Costa Rica is easier than Uruguay and cheaper.

The election may have an impact on security.  Uruguay, I am told was not always as secure as it is now.

Proof of income needs to be notarized based on three months of bank deposit and supporting documents.  Foreign and domestic rental income seems to have worked for me.  It needs to be passive income but strangely interest from bank deposits do not work.

I answered in response to another post of you that I am 68 and I had no problem with either medical including as far as age is concerned.  I was accepted into one of the mutualistas too.  For ASSE (governmental system you do not need the second exam.

Regarding your last question I can not speak from personal experience.  But I do know families that include persons that must be close to the age of your daughter that made it.  I would have to inquire how they did it.

Hope this helps.

Armin

Thanks Armin! again very helpful.

Hopefully the election does nit change anything with retiring there.

if we retire early CPP will be reduced a lot. i will check into rental income as to if it still qualifies. we can rent our house but would not want to do that before we know for sure we qualify for residence…taking CPP before 65 reduces it by almost 1/2 I think and waiting till I am 65 would meant 7 more years, my wife would be 60 and my daughter 26

seems do far away to wait that long.

Rentals here are quite high I think we could rent for 3500 Canadian. which would be nice. We would want to keep the house to pass on to our daughter.

Do you know of anyone that provides consultations regarding moving to Uruguay?

i have found a few online but may be better if i can get someone by referral.

William

Hola, William!

It is my pleasure to help if I can.

I agree it makes no sense to reduce the pension by taking it early and, yes, 7 years are a long, long time.

You will have to show monthly receipts in your URUQUAYAN bank account and a rental contract plus a new acknowledgement of the conditions of the rental contract by the tenant.  These payments have to continue until you have received your permanent residence.  This last part does not sound bad but it is a costly proposition.  The banks here are legally approved highway robbers.  The monthly fees are high and the costs of incoming transfers too.  The exchange rates on small amounts are even worse than the preceding two costs.  At least you can avoid the latter by converting into USD in Canada.  You will need to convert money to UYU here but do that in one large lump sum instead from your monthly income.

I have had experience with immigration constants and lawyers.  I can share that with you via private messaging.  The ones I have experienced are much better than those in Canada which are neither trustworthy nor helpful (from my experience).  And the price is OK too, IF you prepare everything before you come here.  While very few people speak English in Uruguay I know consultants who do, and that is really the main reason you need a consultant, they help with the communication, make things easier.  Spanish speakers who live in Montevideo could do it themselves, with a little bit of extra effort.   What you need in any case is a good notary - I have a very conscientious one.  Unless you start a business or something similar in my opinion you do not need a tax consultant.

No matter who you hire you should always be on the look out for potential problems yourself too, especially if you should hire construction contractors.

Armin

@armin31

Thanks how can we do private messages. i can give you an email?

is that the best way?

thanks,

william