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Uruguay Bureaucracy Phrasebook
For the appointments where nobody hands you an interpreter: your residency office, healthcare registration, the bank, and signing a lease.
Neutral Latin American Spanish, usted (formal) register, for use with officials, clerks, and staff in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay. Vocabulary and phrasing avoid Peninsular Spanish terms and should be understood consistently across all six countries.
Before you go
Dirección Nacional de Migración (DNM), under the Ministerio del Interior, handles residency applications (residencia legal) and related paperwork.
Residency / immigration appointment
At the immigration office (oficina de migracion): checking in, confirming an appointment, presenting documents, and asking about residency status.
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Good morning. I have an appointment for [time].
Buenos días. Tengo una cita para las [hora].
BWAY-nos DEE-ahs. TEN-goh OO-nah SEE-tah PAH-rah lahs [ora].
Swap [hora] for the actual time, e.g. las diez (10:00).
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I would like to make an appointment, please.
Quisiera hacer una cita, por favor.
kee-SYEH-rah ah-SEHR OO-nah SEE-tah, pohr fah-VOR.
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Where do I check in, please?
¿Dónde me registro, por favor?
DOHN-deh meh reh-HEES-troh, pohr fah-VOR?
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I don't speak Spanish well. Do you speak English?
No hablo bien español. ¿Habla usted inglés?
noh AH-bloh byen es-pahn-YOHL. AH-blah oos-TEHD een-GLEHS?
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Here are my documents.
Aquí tiene mis documentos.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mees doh-koo-MEHN-tohs.
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I am applying for temporary residency.
Estoy solicitando la residencia temporal.
es-TOY soh-lee-see-TAHN-doh lah reh-see-DEHN-syah tem-poh-RAHL.
For permanent residency, replace temporal with permanente.
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What documents do I need to bring?
¿Qué documentos necesito traer?
keh doh-koo-MEHN-tohs neh-seh-SEE-toh trah-EHR?
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When will my residency card be ready?
¿Cuándo estará lista mi cédula de residencia?
KWAHN-doh es-tah-RAH LEES-tah mee SEH-doo-lah deh reh-see-DEHN-syah?
Card name varies: tarjeta de residente (Mexico), DIMEX (Costa Rica), carne de residente (Panama), cedula (Ecuador/Uruguay), cedula de extranjeria (Colombia).
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Healthcare registration and at the doctor
Registering as a patient, describing symptoms, and scheduling or attending a doctor's appointment.
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I would like to register as a patient.
Quisiera registrarme como paciente.
kee-SYEH-rah reh-hees-TRAHR-meh KOH-moh pah-SYEHN-teh.
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I need to make a doctor's appointment.
Necesito sacar una cita con el médico.
neh-seh-SEE-toh sah-KAHR OO-nah SEE-tah kohn el MEH-dee-koh.
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I don't feel well.
No me siento bien.
noh meh SYEHN-toh byen.
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I have a headache / a stomach ache / a fever.
Tengo dolor de cabeza / dolor de estómago / fiebre.
TEN-goh doh-LOHR deh kah-BEH-sah / doh-LOHR deh es-TOH-mah-goh / FYEH-breh.
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I am allergic to...
Soy alérgico a... / Soy alérgica a...
soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah... / soy ah-LEHR-hee-kah ah...
alergico (male speaker) / alergica (female speaker).
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Do you accept my health insurance?
¿Aceptan mi seguro médico?
ah-SEHP-tahn mee seh-GOO-roh MEH-dee-koh?
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I need a prescription.
Necesito una receta médica.
neh-seh-SEE-toh OO-nah reh-SEH-tah MEH-dee-kah.
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Where is the pharmacy / the waiting room?
¿Dónde está la farmacia / la sala de espera?
DOHN-deh es-TAH lah fahr-MAH-syah / lah SAH-lah deh es-PEH-rah?
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Opening a bank account
Opening an account, providing a tax ID and proof of address, and requesting a debit card.
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I would like to open a bank account.
Quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria.
kee-SYEH-rah ah-BREER OO-nah KWEHN-tah bahn-KAH-ryah.
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What documents do I need to open an account?
¿Qué documentos necesito para abrir una cuenta?
keh doh-koo-MEHN-tohs neh-seh-SEE-toh PAH-rah ah-BREER OO-nah KWEHN-tah?
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Here is my tax ID number.
Aquí tiene mi número de identificación fiscal.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee NOO-meh-roh deh ee-dehn-tee-fee-kah-SYOHN fees-KAHL.
Tax ID name varies: RFC (Mexico), NITE (Costa Rica), RUC (Ecuador/Panama), NIT (Colombia), RUT (Uruguay).
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Here is my proof of address.
Aquí tiene mi comprobante de domicilio.
ah-KEE TYEH-neh mee kohm-proh-BAHN-teh deh doh-mee-SEE-lyoh.
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I would like a debit card.
Quisiera una tarjeta de débito.
kee-SYEH-rah OO-nah tahr-HEH-tah deh DEH-bee-toh.
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How do I make a transfer?
¿Cómo hago una transferencia?
KOH-moh AH-goh OO-nah trahns-feh-REHN-syah?
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What is the minimum balance?
¿Cuál es el saldo mínimo?
kwahl ehs el SAHL-doh MEE-nee-moh?
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Is there a monthly fee?
¿Hay alguna comisión mensual?
ai ahl-GOO-nah koh-mee-SYOHN mehn-SWAHL?
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Housing and signing a lease
Viewing a rental, discussing rent and deposit, signing the contract, and confirming utilities.
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I would like to view the apartment.
Quisiera ver el apartamento.
kee-SYEH-rah vehr el ah-pahr-tah-MEHN-toh.
Apartamento is understood everywhere; departamento is also common, especially in Mexico.
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How much is the rent per month?
¿Cuánto es el alquiler por mes?
KWAHN-toh ehs el ahl-kee-LEHR pohr mehs?
Alquiler is understood everywhere; renta is also common, especially in Mexico.
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How much is the deposit?
¿Cuánto es el depósito?
KWAHN-toh ehs el deh-POH-see-toh?
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Are utilities included?
¿Los servicios están incluidos?
lohs sehr-VEE-syohs es-TAHN een-kloo-EE-dohs?
Servicios means utilities (water, electricity, gas) here.
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I would like to sign the contract.
Quisiera firmar el contrato.
kee-SYEH-rah feer-MAHR el kohn-TRAH-toh.
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When is the rent payment due?
¿Cuándo se vence el pago del alquiler?
KWAHN-doh seh VEHN-seh el PAH-goh dehl ahl-kee-LEHR?
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Is the apartment furnished?
¿El apartamento está amueblado?
el ah-pahr-tah-MEHN-toh es-TAH ah-mweh-BLAH-doh?
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Who do I contact for repairs?
¿Con quién me comunico para reparaciones?
kohn kyen meh koh-MOO-nee-koh PAH-rah reh-pah-rah-SYOH-nehs?
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Everyday essentials on arrival
Basic courtesy phrases, getting a SIM card, and asking for help, directions, or prices.
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Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening.
Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches.
BWAY-nos DEE-ahs / BWAY-nahs TAHR-dehs / BWAY-nahs NOH-chehs.
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Please.
Por favor.
pohr fah-VOR.
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Thank you very much.
Muchas gracias.
MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs.
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Excuse me, do you speak English?
Disculpe, ¿habla usted inglés?
dees-KOOL-peh, AH-blah oos-TEHD een-GLEHS?
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Where can I buy a SIM card?
¿Dónde puedo comprar una tarjeta SIM?
DOHN-deh PWEH-doh kohm-PRAHR OO-nah tahr-HEH-tah seem?
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Can you help me, please?
¿Me puede ayudar, por favor?
meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAHR, pohr fah-VOR?
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How much does it cost?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah?
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Where is it? / How do I get to...?
¿Dónde está? / ¿Cómo llego a...?
DOHN-deh es-TAH? / KOH-moh YEH-goh ah...?
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Planning the move itself?
This phrasebook is the language layer. For the visa route, the true cost, and the tax reality of Uruguay, read the full corridor guide.
Take Root Abroad is a planning tool, not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Phrasing and office names change; confirm the current requirements for your situation locally. Translations are a starting point, not a substitute for a professional interpreter in high-stakes settings.