“I’m a young, single US Citizen who is very concerned with the way things are going. I hope the government works things out fine. But in the meantime, prudence dictates that I have an exit strategy in place.”
That question came in recently for a reader asking about second passports and economic citizenship programs. The client was willing to do the following things:
- Marry a Local Citizen (with an enforceable pre-nup).
- Purchase a small property at Fair Market Value and pay property taxes.
- Start a small business and pay local taxes.
- Spend time to learn the local language.
- Live in my new country for about 4-6 months per year for 3 years.
However, he also had a clear list of things he wanted to avoid:
- I’m not willing to spend much more than 4-6 months per year.
- I’m not willing to wait much more than 3 years.
- I don’t think a Dominican Republic passport, St Kitts and Nevis Passport or Dominica passport is taken seriously so I want to avoid those countries.
- I want to Avoid Canada because their taxes are too high.
- I want to avoid renouncing my USA passport (but I might if needed)
The client’s research has already had him zeroing in on South America. Both Uruguay and Paraguay are attractive options, though they both have their clear advantages and disadvantages.
Although I don’t necessarily agree that Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis passports are not taken seriously, people in the know will certainly be aware that you’ve bought them. They are respectable programs, but still, I can understand this chap’s sentiments. If you can take the time to acquire a second passport by residence, including learning some of the local lingo, the advantages are huge. Both Uruguay and Paraguay have great visa-free travel. Feeling comfortable with your travel document is very important, so, in this case, I would definitely recommend the client goes with something from the zone he has been looking into.
“I’ve never been to Uruguay but I did the most research on Uruguay and it seems like a good country to gain citizenship. I must marry a local to get my citizenship in 3 years. I’m told a great advantage of Uruguay is that you only need to be in the country 3 months per year for 3 years if married and 5 years if single. I don’t know if this is true?”
Not exactly. A great thing about Uruguay is that although the normal waiting time for a passport for a single person is five years, anyone who is part of a “family unit” living in Uruguay can apply for naturalization and passport after three years. This does not necessarily mean you have to marry a local. It just means that if you have family in the country, it shows a greater committment, and therefore the waiting time is reduced to three years.
Marrying a citizen of any country is fine as long as the married couple live in Uruguay. Gay marriages are acceptable too. A family unit could also consist of brothers, a father and son, an uncle and nephew etc. The point is just that you should have a significant other in Uruguay.
The time you have to spend there is not set in stone but I guess 4-6 months is about the minimum. The connection you have with the country is more important than the number of days you physically spend there. Buying real estate, for example, demonstrates a connection, as does having a local corporation, paying taxes and social security etc. These are the kind of things you can expect the Uruguayan government to check up on when it comes to applying for citizenship.
Living in Uruguay is easy. More details of expat life in Uruguay, for example, can be found at Ola Uruguay. In the areas where expats typically live, services are of first world standard and there is little corruption.
All this comes at a cost, however. Compared to the rest of Latin America, both real estate and the cost of living in Uruguay is high. In the jet-set hideout of Jose Ignacio, a trendy village half an hour east of Punta del Este, I thought I was in London or Paris when I saw the restaurant bill!
So that’s living and obtaining a second passport in Uruguay, but what about taxes? For more details of Uruguay residence and citizenship, I am currently working on a free report that should be available during the summer to Q Wealth members. The report will take into consideration the new tax situation in Uruguay announced in May 2010, where for the first time Uruguayan residents (both citizens and foreign residents) will be subject for the first time to taxation on their worldwide income. If you would like to get this report as soon as it comes out, and without having to remember to check back here from time-to-time, let us know here: Uruguay Residence and Citizenship.
Now, for young-at-heart individuals with a sense of adventure and a slightly higher tolerance for risk (or perhaps an appetite for profit?) there is a wildcard choice: Paraguay. One might choose Paraguay over Uruguay because:
- you can apply after three years for citizenship, with no need to worry about family units
- no need to buy real estate: $5000 deposit in a local bank is enough
- costs in Paraguay are much lower
- it’s a country full of business opportunities
- it’s more anarchic than Uruguay, meaning less control and more freedom… for example, nobody is really going to count how many days you are there. Having residence on paper is enough.
I’ll be writing more about second citizenship opportunities in Paraguay in the second part of this article, which will be published in a week’s time. In the meantime, we have another article here: Paraguay Second Citizenship
I am looking for an immigration lawyer. How to get Residency in Uruguay.I am Pakistani national .living and working in Pakistan
with regards.
Rao Khalid Mahmood923477302885
Hey Khalid,
You don’t need a lawyer to get Uruguay residency. The best is go there and make an application for Temporary Residency and then after 21 months you could apply for the passport.
Thanks for this informaton. I have friends in Uraguay and they have asked me numerous times to travel and visit the place. Its intersting to see that they are starting to tax income,for their local hard working people.
hi i am shaun from Canada and i am interested in paraguay residency if you could please recommend anyone in Paraguay who deals in Paraguay residency will be great.
thanks alot.
Shaun
Hi .I’m Sahar from iran but resdint of used I’m interested to resedency in Paraguay so plz recomend any one in pargouy or any lower to help me
Sahar,
Thanks for your comment! I will reply with more information via email.
I am from Pakistan.i have a qualification of bachelors of electrical engineering from a recognized institute in Pakistan.i want to live and work in uruguay.what type of visa category is suitable for me?
Thanks so much for your comment! I will send you information to your email right away. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hey Faizan,
The Uruguay doesn’t give residency like Canada or any other immigrant country.
You first need a visa to go there and then apply for TRV then after 21 months you could apply for permanent residency. After 5 years can get your passport.
i am now a chinese citizen. I am interested in getting a paraguay passport. i am studying in US holding F-1 visa right now.
Thank you for your detailed comment. I will send you over a little information to your email to see if it is something you will want to proceed with.
I am indian , presently resides in India. I want to permanently shift to Paraguay. Age 52. Also wat to know what business i can start there by investing max. 10kUSD.
Can I get any indian reference who already stay there. And any genuine friend to help me
I am Indian national currently living in uAE ,I am looking for Paraguay passport.
Thank you for your comment! I will send you an email with the requested information right away.
Pakistani National in the US on an F-1. WOuld like to see whats the process of establishing ties with Paraguay as a second home.
Thank you for your comment. I will send you the information via e-mail shortly.
I am in my late 40, I want choose Paraguay as my second nationality, what are the procedure of getting the permanent residency and passport.
. Thanks
Thank you so much for leaving us a comment. I would be more than happy to send you an email with that information.
I am living in Japan but I want to get a second passport from Paraguay any lawyer contact me
Thanks for leaving us a comment. I will send you an email with some information right away.
Hello sir
My name Ahsan Chowdhury and I am from Bangladesh…but I love one girl and she from Paraguay. We both love eachother so much.
But you will tell me, if I will take tourist visa and go there, then what I need do for there stay?
And my 2nd question, if we will marry there and then how i can Paraguay passport? what I need do for take Paraguay passport? And how long time they will take for give me paraguay passport??
It’s possible 6 month or 1 years?
They will give me Paraguay passport before residency?
And my 3th question, I can work there? before they give me residency.
Please you will email me…it’s my email- ahsanchowdhury@live.com
Thank you so much Ahsan for your very detailed comment. We would love to be of some assistance to get you to Paraguay. I will send you an email right away with more information.
Kindly give me more information about Paraguay. total cost and service charges. I am the citizen of Pakistan
Thank you so much Mr. Khan for your comment and interest in the Q Wealth Report. I will send you that information right away!
Hey my name is shams and I live in Egypt and Egyptian nationality and I was looking forward to getting a Paraguayan passport.
Thanks. Awaiting your reply.
Nice to meet you Shams! My name is Aubrey. I will send you some information to your email right away! Have a wonderful weekend.
I want to permanently relocate to Paraguay, and hopefully within 2015. I am IT expert with 15 years experience. Please advise person/law firm that handles case for immigration/relocation. I shall be thankful.
It would be my pleasure to send you that information. Thank you so much Khurram for taking the time to leave us a comment!
Dear Aubrey D
Great deal of info you have provided, really helpful and detailed thank you very much. I am a Pakistani citizen looking for migrating to any country to start a small business and live with family in peace. Paraguay seems to be the one, it would be very kind of you to please send me the details regarding the migration process and cost.
Thanking in anticipation
Thank you so much for leaving us a detailed comment! We really appreciate your interest in the Q Wealth Report. I will send you that information right away. Have a wonderful day!
Hi, I am Lebanese and am interested in getting the Paraguayan passport for me and my family (wife and 3 kids ).
Is the Uruguayan passport easier to get?
The problem is that I cannot spend more than one month per year there. What are my options?
Regards
Michel
Uruguay probably wouldn’t be the best option for you since it is recommended to have a permanent address, and for you to be there, in case the government comes to confirm your address. I will send you some information about Paraguay right away. Have a great weekend!
Hi. I am looking a place of peace .I just want to go .I am a meter reader in fesco (wapda) Pakistan .
Thank you so much Muhammad for taking the time to leave us a comment. We all can understand the want for more peace! Let me send you an email with some information to see if we can help you attain that. Have a great day!
Hi, I am Pakistani citizen I have masters degree in engineering from uk, I have 4 years of job experience too. can I apply for skilled migration program in Paraguay. can u please provide me all the details..Thanks
Thank you so much for your comment Mr. Asif! We are currently preparing a blog post on why permanent residency may be a good fit for many people. While it is not the same as a passport, there are many advantages to the permanent residency for those wanting to immigrate to Paraguay.
So please keep an eye out for that! It should be posted very soon. Once you read the post, if you are still interested, please not that subscribers to the Q Wealth Report can have a free e-mail consultation regarding their options.
Hi,
Nice write up pertaining to second passport. Well I would be interested in the Paraguay passport. Could you please send all necessary info pertaining to cost? And other important details that I need to know?
Thank you so much for your comment Mr. Lobo! We are currently preparing a blog post on why permanent residency may be a good fit for many people. While it is not the same as a passport, there are many advantages to the permanent residency for those wanting to immigrate to Paraguay.
So please keep an eye out for that! It should be posted very soon. Once you read the post, if you are still interested, please note that subscribers to the Q Wealth Report can have a free e-mail consultation regarding their options.
I am living in Lahore Pakistan and intending to see the Paraguay for immigration. kindly recommend some immigration consultants to finalize the process.
regards
Thank you so much for your comment Mr. Munir! We are currently preparing a blog post on why permanent residency may be a good fit for many people. While it is not the same as a passport, there are many advantages to the permanent residency for those wanting to immigrate to Paraguay.
So please keep an eye out for that! It should be posted very soon. Once you read the post, if you are still interested, please not that subscribers to the Q Wealth Report can have a free e-mail consultation regarding their options.
I am from pakistan I want to go Uruguay to work and live there kindy tell me the opportunities of work and living there and total cost to go there and applying for residency thanks
Thank you so much for your comment Hassan! We are actually working with an expert on the subject to create a very detailed report on Residency in Uruguay. To keep an eye on our free Newsletter Q bytes to see when that will be released!
Hi, I am intrested to know more about the Paraguay citizenship. Thanks.
Thank you Mohannad for taking the time to leave us a comment! I will send you some more information right away.
Hello, I am interested in learning more information regarding getting paraguay passport, however I cant reside continuously there. Please contact me regarding information and your offers.
Thank you for your comment Serdar! If you are not able to live in Paraguay full time, then it might just be the place for you to realize your 2nd citizenship needs. This is one way where the residency process differs from Uruguay. I will send you an email with some more information.
Hello, I am from China mainland, can you please let me know how I apply for Paraguay permanent residency and passport? What is the process and cost? Thanks.
Very good questions Ray. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a comment. I will send you some more information on the subject right away!
I am from pakistan I want to go Uruguay to work and live there kindy tell me the opportunities of work and living there and total cost to go there and applying for residency thanks
Imran, thank you so much for your comment and your interest in the Q Wealth Report! We are actually working on a report about Uruguay and the possibilities there. This report will be free to paid subscribers of the Q Wealth Report in the near future. So keep an eye out on this blog and you may want to sign up for our free newsletter Q Bytes. All links can be found on the website. Thank you again for your comment!
Hello.i am currently residing in pakistan.i have done masters in English literature and teaching in a school.i want to setteled permanently in peacefull country like paraguay or uraguay..plz do assist we with your experties.thanks
Not a problem Khurram. I will send you an email right away. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend!
I am from Pakistan living in Saudi Arabia – I want to go Uruguay to work and live there kindy tell me the opportunities of work and living there and total cost to go there and applying for residency thanks
awaiting for your email –
I need a paraguay passport. What is the procedure