Uruguay Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Uruguayan Business

TL;DR. Uruguay’s Registro Nacional de Comercio is administered by the Dirección General de Registros (DGR) and is accessible at registros.gub.uy. Free basic searches are available publicly. Certified extracts cost UYU 200-1,000 (~USD 5-25). The RUT (Registro Único Tributario) issued by DGI is the primary company identifier. Uruguay is noted for its transparency relative to regional peers, maintaining a beneficial ownership registry and meeting GAFILAT mutual evaluation standards.

What is the official Uruguay business registry?

Uruguay’s official commercial registry is the Registro Nacional de Comercio, one of several public registers administered by the Dirección General de Registros (DGR), a unit of the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura. The DGR’s online portal is at registros.gub.uy. The legal framework is the Ley 16.060 de Sociedades Comerciales (1989), Uruguay’s companies act, and subsequent amendments.

The Registro Nacional de Comercio covers: Sociedades Anónimas (SA), Sociedades de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), Sociedades Colectivas (general partnership), Sociedades en Comandita, Sociedades Anónimas Financieras de Inversión (SAFI, a now-discontinued offshore holding form), and branch offices of foreign companies. Incorporated companies must register their constituent documents, directors, and modifications. Capital increases, changes of legal representative, and mergers must also be filed.

The RUT (Registro Único Tributario) is administered by the DGI (Dirección General Impositiva), Uruguay’s tax authority (tax.dgi.gub.uy). The RUT is the primary cross-system identifier, linking the company’s registry record with its tax profile, customs records, and public procurement data.

Uruguay is known for its institutional stability and transparency relative to Latin American peers. It maintains a formal beneficial ownership registry administered by the BCU (Banco Central del Uruguay) under Law 19.484 of 2017, which introduced mandatory UBO disclosure for all Uruguayan entities. Uruguay is a GAFILAT member and has consistently met high standards in FATF-style mutual evaluations.

What can you search?

Via DGR portal (registros.gub.uy, free public search):

• Company name search across the national registry index
• Company status (active, in liquidation, dissolved)
• Date of incorporation and registered address
• Legal form and activity description

Via DGI (dgi.gub.uy, free):

• RUT lookup: confirms whether the RUT is assigned and active, and the entity name and registered address as filed with the tax authority
• Situación tributaria (tax standing) for some entities

Via DGR paid services (Certificados):

• Certificado de Existencia y Vigencia: certifies current legal existence, corporate form, directors, and registered office
• Extracto completo: full registry extract including incorporation deed, capital, shareholder information (for SRLs and other forms requiring it), and all filed modifications
• Historical record from date of incorporation

Data in the DGR updates when companies present documents for registration. Uruguay’s commercial registry operates on a filing-event basis, meaning updates reflect the most recently presented documents, not necessarily real-time corporate events.

How much does it cost?

Prices are approximate based on DGR’s published fee schedule as of May 2026. UYU/USD conversion used: 1 USD = approximately 40 UYU (verify at point of purchase as the Uruguayan peso floats). Fees are set by the DGR and may be adjusted annually.

Do you need a local account or ID?

For free public searches on registros.gub.uy and DGI RUT lookups, no account and no Uruguayan identity document is required.

For ordering certified extracts online through the DGR portal, an account is required. Account creation on registros.gub.uy historically requires a Uruguayan cedula (national identity number) for natural persons. Foreign users without a Uruguayan cedula may face friction in the online system and may need to engage a local notary (escribano) or legal representative to order certified documents.

In-person requests at the DGR office (Edificio Notarial, Montevideo) accept orders from anyone with a valid identity document, including foreign passports. Payment is accepted at the office.

Is the website in English?

No. The DGR portal at registros.gub.uy and all related government portals (DGI, BCU) are in Spanish only. Document output is in Spanish only. No automated translation is available.

Foreign compliance buyers will need translation assistance for certified extracts. Key Uruguay-specific terms include: representante legal (legal representative), directorio (board of directors), sindicato (audit committee for SAs above certain thresholds), and liquidador (liquidator). For use in foreign legal proceedings, certified Spanish-to-English translations by a sworn translator (traductor público) are standard practice.

What’s the turnaround time?

Free online searches are instantaneous. DGI RUT lookups are real-time.

Online orders for certified extracts through the DGR typically take 2-5 business days. In-person requests at the Montevideo office may be completed in 1-2 business days for standard certificates. Some older records require physical file retrieval, which can extend turnaround.

Uruguay’s registry system is partially digitized. Companies incorporated after the electronic filing system was introduced have fully digital records that process faster. Older pre-digitization records may require manual retrieval.

Is there an API?

No public API is available from the DGR or DGI for registry data extraction by third parties.

The BCU (Banco Central) does not publish a public API for beneficial ownership data queries. Automated bulk queries to any registry portal violate terms of service.

Local data aggregators offer API-based access to Uruguayan company data for platform-level integration.

What you legally cannot do

The DGR’s terms of use prohibit automated bulk downloading of registry records. Commercial redistribution of certified registry documents without authorization is not permitted.

Uruguay’s data protection framework is governed by Law 18.331 (Ley de Protección de Datos Personales y Acción de Habeas Data, 2008), which is considered one of the most modern in Latin America and is broadly aligned with GDPR principles. The URCDP (Unidad Reguladora y de Control de Datos Personales) supervises compliance.

Personal data of directors and shareholders obtained from the registry may only be used for legitimate stated purposes. Use for marketing databases or resale as a data product is prohibited. Compliance buyers using registry data for CDD or AML purposes should document the stated purpose.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Uruguay’s UBO registry is a genuine asset. Law 19.484 (2017) established mandatory beneficial ownership disclosure for all Uruguayan entities, including SAs that previously could issue bearer shares. The BCU administers the UBO register. Access to the full registry is restricted to competent authorities, but the existence of the obligation and BCU administration is a material transparency signal compared to regional peers. For regulated entities, UBO data is accessible through the appropriate supervisory channels.
• SAFI forms are historical only. SAFIs (Sociedades Anónimas Financieras de Inversión) were a Uruguayan offshore holding structure. They are no longer available for new formation and existing SAFIs must comply with the same UBO disclosure requirements as standard SAs under Law 19.484. If you encounter a SAFI in due diligence, the UBO disclosure obligations apply.
• Use the RUT as the primary identifier. The RUT format for Uruguayan companies is typically a 12-digit number in the format XX-XX-XXXX-XXXXX. It serves as the cross-system identifier across DGI, customs, government procurement (SIIF), and banking.
• Check DGI situación tributaria. The DGI publishes the tax standing of some entities. A company with outstanding tax liabilities may appear on published lists. This is a free preliminary check before investing in a full registry extract.
• Uruguay’s FATF standing. Uruguay is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026 and has consistently maintained good standing through GAFILAT evaluations. The BCU supervises AML compliance for financial sector entities; SENACLAFT (Secretaría Nacional para la Lucha contra el Lavado de Activos y el Financiamiento del Terrorismo) coordinates national AML/CFT policy.
• Escribano (notary) as a practical intermediary. For foreign buyers who need certified documents regularly, engaging a Uruguayan escribano público is standard practice. They can order from DGR, prepare apostilled documents for international use, and provide legal opinions on corporate structure. Uruguay is a Hague Apostille Convention member.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates has limited coverage of Uruguayan entities and lags the DGR considerably. Useful only for a quick name flag.
• DGI RUT search: dgi.gub.uy provides free RUT status and basic entity information without an account. Often the most accessible first step for foreign compliance buyers.
• BCU company search: The BCU supervises financial institutions and publishes regulated entity lists at bcu.gub.uy. For Uruguayan banks, insurers, and payment companies, the BCU register is authoritative.

Local data suppliers

• Equifax Uruguay (equifax.com.uy). Commercial credit bureau providing business and personal credit reports, payment history, and risk scoring for Uruguayan entities. Used by banks, retailers, and lenders for counterparty assessment.
• BROU Data Services (brou.com.uy). The Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay (state bank) provides certain commercial information services for Uruguayan entities through its branch network, including access to payment behavior data within its customer base.

Use the DGR for the official corporate filing record and the BCU for financial sector entity status. Use Equifax Uruguay when you need payment behavior or risk scoring on top of registry data.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access Uruguay’s registry directly?

For free public searches on registros.gub.uy and DGI RUT lookups, yes, with no Uruguayan identity document required. For certified extracts through the online DGR system, account creation may require a Uruguayan cedula, creating friction for foreign buyers. The practical solution is to engage a local escribano público (notary), who can order from the DGR and prepare apostilled documents suitable for international use. In-person requests at the DGR Montevideo office accept foreign passports.

What is the RUT number in Uruguay?

The RUT (Registro Único Tributario) is Uruguay’s unified tax and entity identifier, issued by the DGI. For companies, the RUT is a 12-digit number typically formatted as XX-XX-XXXX-XXXXX. It serves as the primary cross-system identifier across the DGI, customs, government procurement (SIIF), and banking databases. Note that Uruguay’s RUT is distinct from Chile’s RUT (which has the same abbreviation but a different structure and issuing authority). Always clarify jurisdiction when sharing identifier numbers across jurisdictions.

What entity types are registered with Uruguay’s Registro Nacional de Comercio?

The main forms include: Sociedad Anónima (SA), Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), Sociedad Colectiva (general partnership), Sociedad en Comandita Simple and por Acciones, Sociedad de Capital e Industria, and Sucursal (branch of a foreign company). SAs are the dominant form for medium and large enterprises and foreign subsidiaries. SRLs are used for smaller private businesses. The SAFI form (Sociedad Anónima Financiera de Inversión) is historical only; no new SAFIs can be formed.

Does Uruguay have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Yes. Uruguay enacted Law 19.484 in 2017, establishing mandatory beneficial ownership disclosure for all Uruguayan companies. Companies must declare their beneficiarios finales (ultimate beneficial owners, defined as natural persons holding 15% or more of capital or votes, or exercising effective control) to the BCU. The BCU administers this registry. Access to the full UBO database is restricted to competent authorities (judicial, tax, AML supervisors) rather than public access. This places Uruguay ahead of most Latin American peers in beneficial ownership transparency, consistent with its GAFILAT and FATF commitments under Recommendation 24.

How current is the data in Uruguay’s registry?

DGR records update when companies present documents for registration. The DGR does not mandate specific timelines for filing corporate changes (director changes, capital modifications) beyond those set in the company law itself. Delays between a corporate event and the registered update can occur, particularly for smaller SRLs that rely on escribanos to process filings. For the most current information, order a Certificado de Existencia y Vigencia with a date of issuance as close as possible to your check date. Annual accounts are not filed with the DGR; they are filed with the DGI for tax purposes.

Is Uruguay on the FATF grey list?

No. Uruguay is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Uruguay has maintained good standing through GAFILAT mutual evaluations and has been a FATF associate country. SENACLAFT coordinates national AML/CFT policy, and the BCU supervises financial sector AML compliance. Uruguay’s early adoption of mandatory UBO disclosure (2017) and its GDPR-aligned data protection law are recognized as regional transparency benchmarks. For current FATF status, see fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between the registry and tax filings in Uruguay?

The DGR’s Registro Nacional de Comercio holds the corporate legal record: incorporation, capital, directors, amendments, and legal existence. Tax filings go to the DGI separately; the DGI’s records include declared commercial activity, VAT and income tax history, and tax standing. Annual accounts are filed with the DGI for tax purposes and are not publicly accessible. For financial sector entities (banks, insurers, investment funds), the BCU holds a separate supervisory register and requires financial reporting under BCU regulations. A complete compliance check on a Uruguayan entity typically covers DGR (legal structure), DGI (tax status and RUT), and BCU (UBO disclosure and, for financial entities, regulatory standing).

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Dirección General de Registros (registros.gub.uy), DGI (dgi.gub.uy), BCU (bcu.gub.uy), SENACLAFT (senaclaft.gub.uy), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.