How to create a company in Uruguay (SAS or SA)
Uruguay as a platform for operating and investing with a solid reputation. We implement your company from start to finish:
Incorporation of SAS and SA companies and trusts + comprehensive support: bank account, accounting compliance and operational support (BPO) for companies and families with international activity.
Structures
SAS or SA or Trust, depending on your case
Banking + Compliance
File ready for banks and audits
Monthly Operation
Accounting, taxes and back office (BPO)
What do we resolve?
What is a company used for in Uruguay?
Uruguay is often chosen as a platform for operating with an international reputation (allowing for transparency and stability) and predictability. Depending on the case, it is used to: centralize international operations, streamline banking and payments, structure holding companies, manage estates, or implement an operational and control model with documented compliance.
International operations (services / trading / e-commerce)
Structure for invoicing, collecting and paying with bank and accounting order.
Holding and estate planning
Ownership, governance and succession organization (according to objective).
Uruguay as a regional hub
Stable structure for expanding or managing international counterparties.
If your goal is also to protect and organize family assets, we recommend reviewing our estate planning structures , which include holdings and trusts that complement the Uruguayan company.
Typical cases
International trading / buying and selling
Exportable professional services
Family holding / succession
Company operating with international collections
E-commerce / software / licenses
Restructuring of existing structure
There is an optimal structure for each of these cases. Review our comparison between SAS, SA, and trust to understand which one applies to your situation.
How do we do it?
How we implement your structure in Uruguay
STEP 1
Diagnosis and design (objective + tax residence + operation)
Questionnaire to understand the client's complete situation
We define what the society will be used for and what risks to avoid.
We understand the client's profile and their objectives.
We sent a clear recommendation proposal
STEP 2
Incorporation of the legal structure (company/trust)
Request for information and documentation to complete documentation and compliance .
We coordinate the signing of documentation to acquire the corresponding structures, bank accounts, and services.
We submitted the documentation to the various agencies.
STEP 3
Fiscal and administrative maintenance
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Accounting, taxes, business process outsourcing (BPO), and compliance updates.
Which includes
A comprehensive approach so that the society is not just "on paper": it becomes operational.
Incorporation / transfer and corporate documentation
Power and administration setup
Preparation and support for bank opening
Accounting and tax compliance (Uruguay)
Optional business process outsourcing (BPO) support as needed
Reports and document organization (compliance folder)
If you already have a company, we can take it over and organize your banking/accounting/compliance.
If you already have a structure and need to add accounting, banking and monthly operational support , we can also take over your existing company.
Advantages of Uruguay as a platform
Why Uruguay? Stability + reputation + tools + tax benefits
Uruguay stands out for its institutional continuity, legal certainty and predictability, essential qualities for business structures that must operate sustainably with international banks, commercial counterparties and regulatory compliance frameworks.
For more than 30 years, and through various changes in government and political orientations, the country has maintained a consistent strategy: combining competitive tax benefits and legal protection to attract foreign investment and position itself as a regional platform for international business, always in line with global regulatory standards.
This institutional stability allows structures established in Uruguay to have international credibility, reducing banking frictions, facilitating compliance processes, and improving documentary defensibility before foreign financial institutions and tax authorities.
Uruguay offers a balance between privacy, security and tax efficiency, further supported by its network of agreements to avoid double taxation, which facilitate the planning of dividend distributions, international payments and cross-border corporate structures.
Furthermore, the country has various legal regimes and instruments that may be attractive depending on the project, including:
Land rent system
Free Trade Zones
Tax benefits for productive investments
Free Port and Airport Law
Software Promotion Law
Promoted Housing Law
Finally, Uruguay maintains a high level of corporate privacy protection. Information on beneficial owners is registered with the Central Bank of Uruguay, and access to it is restricted to competent authorities within specific legal frameworks, thus combining regulatory transparency with secure information protection.
Learn in detail why Uruguay is chosen as a regional platform in our complete guide: Uruguay as a platform for international business.
Our standards
Like many Brazilian business owners, she was concerned about the aggressive tax burden and lack of predictability in Brazil.
Iruleguy & Asoc. assisted my family and me in obtaining legal and tax residency in Uruguay, while simultaneously protecting our assets under a safer and more confidential scheme.
The technical understanding of the study, from a tax, inheritance and banking perspective, was exceptional.
Mariana Silveira, Glacers SA
Required Documentation and Information
For company formation, banking, and KYC, we require the following information about Directors, Shareholders, and Beneficiaries:
Current economic activity and history of shareholders and beneficiaries (detailed).
Percentage of shares held by each shareholder and complete corporate organizational chart (up to UBO)
If married, full name and passport or identity document number of spouse.
Origin of the funds that the company will receive.
Full names, addresses and contact information (telephone, email).
Required documentation:
Proof of address.
Signing the provided forms.
Copy of identity document/passport.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between an SAS and an S.A. in Uruguay? When should you choose an S.A., an S.A.S., or a Trust?
The choice always depends on the specific situation and the client’s objectives, so each case must be analyzed individually.
In general terms, the S.A.S. (Simplified Stock Company) is usually the most convenient option for commercial or professional operations, especially when a flexible, cost-effective, and fast-to-incorporate structure is required. Additionally, it may offer tax advantages for moderate revenue levels and lower operating costs. When the administrator or director is already contributing to social security through another activity, the structure can become even more cost-efficient.
The S.A. (Corporation) is a structure traditionally used in international structures, holdings, or investment vehicles, mainly due to its legal reputation and international recognition.
It is also the most commonly used corporate form in more complex asset and corporate structures.
A Trust (Fideicomiso) is mainly used for estate and succession planning, asset protection, or structuring specific projects. It allows certain assets to be legally separated into an independent estate managed by a trustee.
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How long does it take to open a company in Uruguay?
Approximate timelines are as follows:
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New S.A.: around 3 months
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Shelf (pre-incorporated) S.A.: approximately 10 days to become operational with new shareholders
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S.A.S.: around 10 business days
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Trust: similar timelines to a new S.A., depending on the complexity of the agreement
Regarding bank accounts:
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Local banks in Uruguay: approximately 3 to 4 weeks
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International banks: between 1 and 2 weeks
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Do I need to travel to Uruguay to incorporate or acquire a company?
It is not necessary. The process can be carried out either in person in Uruguay or remotely from abroad.
If done remotely, documents must be legalized and apostilled. If apostilled documents are in another language, they must be translated in Uruguay by an official sworn translator.
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Can a foreigner open a company in Uruguay? Do I need a Uruguayan director or shareholder? Can I be the sole shareholder?
Yes. Uruguay allows foreigners to incorporate companies without requiring local residency. The most common types are the S.A.S. (Simplified Stock Company) and the S.A. (Corporation). The process can be completed remotely with the proper documentation.
It is not mandatory for directors or shareholders to be Uruguayan. Companies may have foreign directors and shareholders, and it is also possible to have a single shareholder.
In the case of a Corporation (S.A.), the law formally requires two founding shareholders at the time of incorporation. However, in practice, this is easily resolved through initial structures that allow the final shareholder to later consolidate 100% ownership of the shares.
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What does the company incorporation service in Uruguay include?
The service includes: full incorporation and corporate documentation, setup of powers of attorney and administration, assistance with bank account opening, accounting and tax compliance in Uruguay, and optional operational BPO support.
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Why choose Uruguay to establish an international company?
Uruguay offers institutional stability, legal certainty, competitive tax benefits, access to international banking, and a network of double taxation agreements.
It is recognized by international organizations as a country with high compliance standards, which facilitates banking access and reduces operational friction.
