Registering Foreign Birth and Marriage Certificates in Uruguay

If you were born, married or divorced outside Uruguay and need that act to have effect in the country, the first step is to register the foreign certificate with the Uruguayan Civil Registry. It is essential for children and grandchildren of Uruguayans who want an ID card and passport, for foreign spouses and for many residency and inheritance procedures. This guide explains how to register a foreign birth or marriage certificate in Uruguay.

What is the registration of a foreign certificate?

It is the transcription, in the books of Uruguay’s Civil Registry, of a civil act that took place in another country. Once registered, you can request Uruguayan copies of it like any certificate issued in Uruguay. The procedure is handled by the National Directorate of Civil Registry, under the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Why you may need to register a foreign certificate

• Children and grandchildren of Uruguayans born abroad: registering the birth certificate is the step that recognizes them as natural citizens. See Uruguay citizenship by descent.
• Marriages celebrated abroad: to prove the relationship in Uruguay, for example for residency through a Uruguayan spouse.
• Divorces, deaths and acknowledgments: so they have effect in family, inheritance or remarriage proceedings.
• ID card: the registered certificate is one of the documents for the Uruguayan ID card.

Which acts can be registered?

Births, marriages, divorces, deaths, acknowledgments of paternity and adoption rulings.

Requirements

All documents must be originals from the country where the act took place. You submit the original and a photocopy.

• Original certificate, apostilled or legalized in the country of origin.
• Spanish translation by a Uruguayan certified public translator, if the document is not in Spanish.
• ID of the person filing.
• Completed and signed application form.
• Written authorization from the holder, if a third party files.

Apostille, legalization and translation

• Hague Convention country: the certificate is apostilled where it was issued.
• Non-member country: it is legalized by that country’s foreign ministry and then by the Uruguayan consulate.
• Translation: if translated in the country of origin, a Uruguayan certified translator must issue a certificate of concordance.

More in apostille and legalization in Uruguay.

How to register a foreign certificate, step by step

1. Prepare the certificate: obtain the original, apostille or legalize it and have it translated.
2. Start online: on gub.uy, with a gub.uy account, digital ID card, Abitab ID Digital or TuID, fill in the form.
3. Book the appointment: booking is online only.
4. Pay within 48 hours through payment networks, or the appointment is cancelled.
5. Attend the Civil Registry at Uruguay 933, Montevideo, with originals and copies.
6. Transcription: the Registry reviews the documents and transcribes the act.
7. Request your Uruguayan certificate once the act is registered.

To get your original back, also submit a certified copy by exhibition (testimonio por exhibición) prepared by a Uruguayan notary.

Minors and third-party applications

A third party can file with the holder’s written authorization. For a minor’s certificate filed by a third party, add the applicant’s ID, a copy of the minor’s ID, the apostilled original and a copy, and the parent’s or guardian’s authorization with a copy of their ID.

Cost and timing

• Fee: UYU 1,436 per registration.
• Other costs: apostille or legalization abroad, certified translation and, if needed, the notarial copy.
• Timing: there is no official deadline; in practice transcription usually takes several months, so start early if you need it for your ID card, residency or citizenship.

Can it be done from abroad?

Yes. Uruguayans living abroad can register their children’s births at the Uruguayan consulate, and anyone can authorize a representative in Uruguay to file with the Civil Registry on their behalf, once the documents are apostilled and translated.

FAQ

Need to register a certificate?

At GlobalTax we coordinate the apostille abroad, the certified translation, the booking and the filing with the Civil Registry, even if you are outside Uruguay. Contact us.