Are you planning your trip to Uruguay but still don't know where to start to understand this beautiful South American country better? This guide will explain how to get a tourist visa to Uruguay to make your trip easier.
Do I need a visa to travel to Uruguay?
If you need to travel to Uruguay, the visa process will depend on your nationality, and the time you want to stay in the country. Some nationalities do not require formalities since the governments have agreements to stay for 90 days as tourists by presenting only the ID. As we have mentioned there are some countries whose nationals do not need to process a visa to travel to Uruguay. To see the full list of these countries you can check the visa policy section on our website. It should be clarified that if you belong to any of these countries, that does not mean that when you arrive at the airport or if you cross the border by land, they will not stop you and ask you some questions, for example, how many days will you stay. That is why you must have at hand, apart from your passport or ID card, demonstrate sufficient funds for your stay in Uruguay and present a hotel reservation or any type of accommodation proof. If you do not belong to a Latin American country, immigration will give you a visa upon arrival.
Uruguay tourist visa requirements
Do you want to go to Uruguay, but needs a visa? Then you must apply for Uruguay tourist visa. It means that you should go to the Uruguayan embassy or consulate closest to you with some documents to have the visa stamped in your passport.
Uruguay tourist visa details
First, you must contact the consular office that corresponds to your place of residence. Then, you must appear in person on the day and time agreed with the consulate (you must make an appointment) and you must go with the Uruguay tourist visa requirements documentation that I will detail later. You will be interviewed by the Consul, who will send the request to the National Directorate of Migration. The consulate will notify you of the application result. If it is approved, you have 60 days for it to be issued. Once it is stamped on your passport, you will have 60 more days to enter the country.
What do you need to apply for Uruguay tourist visa?
If you are wondering how to get a tourist visa to Uruguay, next you will find the document requirements list that you need to gather: • Updated passport and its photocopy. The passport must be valid with at least 6 months of validity from the date of travel to the country. • Fill the Uruguay tourist visa application form. • A recent passport size photo. • Roundtrip flight reservation. • Hotel reservation or address of your stay. • Proof of financial solvency for the time of your stay. • Health insurance. If the visa is approved, to withdraw it you must pay the cost of the procedure, which is USD 42.
Can I get the Uruguay tourist visa online?
To enter the country, you will need to request permission; you need to create a user profile on the official website and fill it in with your data (name, ID number card or passport number, and email). Once your profile is approved (a certain period for activating the account), the system will show you different options. In case you need the Uruguay tourist visa online, you will have to send your scanned documents via email.
Where to get a visa for Uruguay?
Before filling the Uruguay tourist visa application form, you must go to the Uruguayan embassy in your country. You can also carry out the process by mail. This way, the processing can take about 1 month or even more (it depends on your country of origin). On the other hand, I recommend starting the process at least 2 months in advance, in order to have enough time and be safe.
Travel to Uruguay by land
If you plan to enter the country by car from Mercosur countries (Argentina, Paraguay or Brazil) you must present the following documents, which will be requested at border customs: • Driver's license • Vehicle ownership certificate/document • Vehicle registration • ID card • Vehicle insurance • If the driver is not the vehicle owner, he/she must present a letter certified by a public notary justifying/explaining said act Tourists from other countries must present the documents mentioned above, in addition to the passport and a sworn statement in which the data of the vehicle and the authorized driver are verified.
Frequently asked questions about the Uruguay visa
What visa do I need to stay for more than 30 days in Uruguay?If you want to stay in Uruguay for more than 30 days, you do not need to process a visa if you are from the Mercosur countries. Just presenting your valid identity document will be enough. But in case you are not, with a tourist visa, you can stay in Uruguay for up to 90 days. You can check the Uruguay tourist visa details explained above. What happens if I stay longer than allowed or want to extend my stay? If you miss the days set by your visa or want to stay longer in the country, you can request an extension of your visa. To do this, you must go to the National Directorate of Migration and present your ID and the visa documentation presented at the time of entering the country. The cost of this procedure can range from 25 to 45 dollars, this will depend on whether the visa is expired or not. Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel to Uruguay? In accordance with the provisions of Decree 150/2020 whatever the means of entry (air, sea, or land) and regardless of the cause of it, the first requirement refers to completing a form that has the character of an affidavit and must include data related to the person who enters the country, such as, absence of symptoms and clarify if you had contact with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the 14 days before entering the country, under any corresponding administrative and criminal responsibilities. In this document, you must certify a negative result of a PCR test when carrying out the procedure. It has to be done a maximum of 72 hours before the trip. To obtain this authorization, it is necessary to create a user profile on the website of the Ministry of Health and start the process online. If you have not been vaccinated, you should quarantine for 7 to 14 days (after 7 days, a PCR test will be performed), but if you have received all the corresponding doses before 6 months of your trip, you should not do so quarantine. Also, is important that you download the Coronavirus Uy app on your phone to have all the update about COVID-19 updates.
Final Thoughts
If you wanted to know how to get a tourist visa to Uruguay, it is important to clarify that Uruguay is currently closed for tourism, only those with an Uruguayan passport, legal residents, and foreigners with business, labour or legal reasons can enter the country, they can also enter for family reasons (if your spouse or children is Uruguayan).
