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Uruguay dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Uruguay does not require giving up your previous citizenship, so a Russian with a Uruguayan passport remains a Russian citizen. But naturalised citizens face two quirks: the nationality in the passport and the risk of losing Uruguayan citizenship on a later naturalisation.

In short

Yes. Uruguay does not require giving up your previous citizenship: legal citizenship does not mean renouncing your former nationality. It can be lost only by naturalising in another country after Uruguay.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo renunciation needed. But naturalised Uruguayan citizenship is lost if you later naturalise in another country
Legal basisArticle 81 of the Constitution of Uruguay
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Both countries allow a second citizenship, so your Russian passport stays with you after the Uruguayan one. Uruguay's quirk lies elsewhere: a naturalised foreigner gets legal citizenship - full citizen's rights - but the nationality in documents remains that of origin.

What Uruguay requires on naturalisation

Article 75 of Uruguay's Constitution gives the right to legal citizenship to a foreigner who has lived in the country for 3 years if they have family there, or 5 years without. The Electoral Court decides, not the migration service, and review is free. The law does not require giving up the previous citizenship.

Article 81 of the Constitution contains one limit: legal citizenship of Uruguay is lost if you later naturalise in another country. The Russian citizenship you held before does not affect this.

The second quirk is the passport. Only those born in the country and their children count as natural Uruguayans, so a naturalised citizen's passport shows the nationality of origin. The passport format changed twice in 2025, and in 2026 it is issued in the old form, so extra questions at other countries' borders are possible.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Enter visa-free - Russian citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in every 180.
  2. Apply for permanent residence straight away online and at the migration service; the fee is about $95, and the ID card about $15.
  3. Live in the country for 3 years with family or 5 without, and do not leave for more than 6 months in a row, or the clock resets.
  4. Book the Electoral Court - in Montevideo the wait for an appointment reaches 12 months.
  5. Attend the hearing and oath with two witnesses; the decision comes in 3-6 months, and the citizenship certificate is free.
  6. Get the Uruguayan passport after the citizenship decision.
  7. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

The Russian Interior Ministry must be notified not only of the citizenship but also of the residence permit: within 60 days of getting permanent residence and separately after citizenship.

What happens to children

A child born in Uruguay is a Uruguayan citizen from birth under Article 74 of the Constitution and a natural Uruguayan, and with Russian-citizen parents usually a Russian citizen too. A child born abroad cannot apply for legal citizenship themselves: applications are accepted from 18.

Taxes and military service

You become a Uruguayan tax resident after 183 days in a calendar year or with your centre of vital or economic interests in the country. A resident pays tax on salary on a scale up to 36% and 12% on investment income, and a new resident can choose a tax holiday on foreign passive income. There is no double tax treaty with Russia. More on taxes in Uruguay.

Uruguay has no compulsory conscription. A Russian citizen's military duty remains with two citizenships.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving for more than 6 months in a row. The residence period starts again.
  • Failing to prove family for the 3-year term. The court reads family narrowly: spouse, recognised partner, children, dependants.
  • Naturalising in a third country after Uruguay. Legal Uruguayan citizenship will be lost.
  • Ignoring the nationality in the passport. Other countries may apply the rules for Russian citizens at entry.
  • Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notifications about residence and citizenship: 60 days each.

How to get Uruguayan citizenship

There is one route for all foreigners: permanent residence on arrival, 3 or 5 years in the country and an application to the Electoral Court. All stages and documents are on Uruguayan citizenship by naturalisation.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Uruguayan citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risk is resetting the residence clock

The law does not stop you applying for Uruguayan citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: a trip of over 6 months that resets the clock, family not proven for the 3-year term, too few dated proofs of residence, missed notifications to the Russian Interior Ministry. We arrange permanent residence, track days and proof of residence and prepare the Electoral Court file. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The cost of support depends on the stage and the household; a consultant will calculate it in the chat.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Uruguayan and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. Uruguay does not require giving up your previous citizenship: legal citizenship does not mean renouncing your former nationality. It can be lost only by naturalising in another country after Uruguay.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Uruguayan citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Uruguay allow dual citizenship?
Yes, Uruguay does not require giving up the previous citizenship. Legal citizenship is lost only on a later naturalisation in another country.
Can you hold Uruguayan and Russian citizenship at once?
Yes. You only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry of permanent residence and of Uruguayan citizenship, each within 60 days.
How many years must you live in Uruguay for citizenship?
3 years if you have family in the country, 5 years without. Leaving for more than 6 months in a row resets the clock.
What nationality appears in a Uruguayan passport?
For a naturalised citizen, the nationality of origin, so extra questions at other countries' borders are possible.
Will a child born in Uruguay get both citizenships?
Yes, they are a Uruguayan citizen from birth and, with Russian-citizen parents, usually a Russian citizen too.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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