Legalizing documents for use in Uruguay

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The most common reason an Expat would be interested in legalizing documents for use in Uruguay is for purposes of residency. The process it not limited to Residency and also applies for using Uruguayan documents outside Uruguay. Uruguay does not use Apostilles so it is necessary to have each document from another country you want to use in Uruguay legalized first by the Uruguayan consul in the country of origin and then at the Ministry of External Relations in Uruguay. Or the reverse process to use an Uruguayan document in another country.

The are various steps to the process and one may experience bureaucracy (ie: frustration) at any point. Prices and exact requirements may change so it is recommended that you contact the appropriate Consulate before sending document or money.  The current fee to legalize a document is US$42 to US$140 depending on the document.  See: Consular Services, Uruguay Embassy, Washington DC.

At least for documents originating in the USA there is no need to personally visit Consulate. You can do it all by mail.

Unless an original document is already in Spanish it will need to be translated. There are two basic ways the legalization process goes.

1. USA: Proper state authentications
2. USA: Uruguay Consular legalization
3. Uruguay: Uruguay Ministry of External Relations Authentication
4. Uruguay: Translation by Public Translator

OR

1. USA: Proper state authentications
2. USA: Uruguay Consular legalization and Translation
3. Uruguay: Uruguay Ministry of External Relations Authentication

The second process appears more simple but is considerable more expensive. If the consulate translates the document (not all consuls offer that service) you will need the original legalized document and the translates legalized at the Ministry of External Relations authenticated. If you do the translation in Uruguay it is done after it is legalized by the Ministry of External Relations.

Details process. Example birth certificate.

Get an "original" copy of your birth certificate from your state/county. Make sure it has a legible signature of who ever issues it: "Se deberá presentar el documento original  con la firma legible del oficial registrante o miembro de la corte." Send the original and a money order for US$42 to the Uruguayan Consulate for the area you live. For example a birth certificate in Michigan goes to the Chicago Consulate. One from Pennsylvania to the New York Consulate. Also include a self addressed stamped return envelope.

My experience is that documents are legalized and returned within a day.

Upon receipt of the document take it to the Ministry of External Relations. You can almost make it through this process without speaking any Spanish! The process is quite simple:

1. Take a number
2. When your number is called present the document(s) to the clerk. They will ask your name and phone number. If you have these written down it is easy.
3. You are then directed to go into the hallway and wait for your name to be called by the cashier.
4. After paying you are directed to go back where you were want wait for your name to be called and then you receive the fully legalized document ready for use in Uruguay

If you didn't have the consulate translate the documents, locate a public translator and have the document translated.

To use an Uruguayan document outside of Uruguay you would first take the document to the Ministry of External Relations and go through the same process. Then you would take the document to the consulate of the country it is to be used in, in Montevideo and have them legalize it for use in their country.

This process is usually without too many frustrations. The key is to ensure what signatures are needed on a document before sending it to the consulate and the current cost.

Also, keep in mind that the legalization of a document doesn't mean the the ultimate user of the document will be satisfied with it. For example, Immigration might find that your birth certificate lacks a name change or other information. You also don't want to legalize documents too far in advance as immigration may consider documents to be "expired" after a certain period of time.

The Ministry of External Relations is located at: Dirección de Asuntos Consulares, Address: Cuareim 1384, esquina Colonia, C.P. 11100, Montevideo, Telefax: +598-2-908-9142, email: diac20@mrree.gub.uy

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Residency Uruguay Legalizing documents for use in Uruguay