Property
Registro de la Propiedad inscription with no restriction on foreign buyers
Real property transfers require a public deed before an escribano and inscription in the Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble, administered by the Dirección General de Registros. Uruguay places no nationality restriction on foreign ownership of land, including coastal and rural property, which distinguishes it from most neighbours.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National civil law with a centralised registry system
- Deadline — Ordinary acquisitive prescription: 20 years; 10 years with good faith and just title
- Deadline — Priority from the date of registry presentation
Governing law
- Código Civil Uruguayo
- Ley 16.871 - Registros Públicos
- Ley 10.751 - Propiedad Horizontal
In practice
The absence of foreign-ownership restrictions, combined with a stable registry and the escribano's professional responsibility for title study, is a significant part of Uruguay's appeal to non-resident buyers in Punta del Este and the interior. The escribano público plays a broader role than a notary in common-law systems, conducting the title investigation and being liable for its accuracy.