Refugee status
Comisión de Refugiados, CORE - Ley 18.076 · Official name: Solicitud de reconocimiento de la condición de refugiado (Ley 18.076)
People seeking protection in Uruguay can make a refugee claim, orally or in writing, to any national or departmental authority; it must be passed to the Permanent Secretariat of the Refugee Commission (CORE) within 24 hours. Claimants are entitled to a provisional identity document from the DNIC, valid until a final decision. The law says investigation should not exceed 90 days, but the CORE has a large backlog.
Life in Uruguay
Finance
3
Currency
Uruguayan Peso
UYU
Uruguayan Peso
Cost of living
72
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–36%
Income tax (national)
VAT (IVA) 22% · social security 15%
2026 monthly scale: exempt up to 7 BPC (UYU 48,048 a month); 36% above 115 BPC (UYU 789,360 a month).
Living
1
Happiness
#29 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals in Uruguay or at its border who fear persecution in their country.
Eligibility
Refugee grounds under Ley 18.076
Persecution or threats as defined in Uruguay's refugee law.
Minimum content of the claim
Include at least the names of the applicant and family members, nationality, and where they come from.
- Source: Ley 18.076, art. 32
- Nationality and place of origin must be stated
Official wording
At least the names of the applicant and family members, nationality and where they come from (Ley 18.076, art. 32).
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- 2 documents
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
- Parlamento - Ley 18.076 (Derecho al refugio y a los refugiados)
- gub.uy - Certificado migratorio para renovación de documento de identidad - Solicitantes de Refugio
- gub.uy - Documento Nacional de Identidad - Primera vez - Personas amparadas a la CORE
- MRREE - Gobierno establece procedimiento abreviado para solicitantes de refugio venezolanos
Other routes to Uruguay
- Visit & tourismVisiting Uruguay
- Permanent residenceResidencia legal – Temporaria, Permanente, Mercosur, and Hoja de Identidad Provisoria
- FamilyPermanent residence for family of Uruguayans
- 1 more route with Premium
Asylum & protection in other countries
- South AfricaAsylum application at a Refugee Reception Office
- ArgentinaRefugee status
- AustriaAsylum in Austria
- AustraliaCommunity Support Program (CSP) - over capacity, new expressions of interest paused; and CRISP community settlement
- BelgiumInternational protection in Belgium
- BulgariaInternational protection
