Can foreigners buy property in Uruguay in 2026?

Ordinary urban homes in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia, and other cities are commonly purchased by non-citizens in their own name. Ownership does not grant residence; keep Migraciones on a separate track: Apply for a residence permit. Buyers still need identity, source-of-funds paperwork, and often a DGI tax identifier for the closing trail: Get a RUT and Open a bank account.

An escribano checks the Registro de Propiedad record, liens, unpaid gastos comunes, and seller authority before you wire a large reservation. Coastal towers and historic Colonia units both need that search, not only luxury Punta stock.

Never wire a large reservation until the escribano confirms clean title and building rules if you buy a unit. Ask how gastos comunes and special assessments behave in the building. Compare buying costs against renting first in the same barrio: How to rent a home and Rent in Uruguay. Large rural plots deserve separate counsel on access, water rights, and use rules that do not mirror a Pocitos flat purchase.

Renting first remains the lower-risk way to test a neighbourhood: Living in Montevideo and Where to live in Uruguay.