South America and South Atlantic Islands

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• There is a low threat from terrorism. However you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 15,000 British nationals visit Uruguay every year (Source: Dirección Nacional de Migración, Uruguayan Government figures). Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. You should carry photocopies of your passport and ensure that original documents are kept in a safe place. The majority of incidents occur in Montevideo, where you should take special care in and around the downtown and port areas.   You are advised not to walk through the downtown areas alone at night. Consider taking a taxi if necessary.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Safety and Security - Crime
Street crime exists in Montevideo, but is usually restricted to handbag snatching and pick-pocketing.  Mugging and robberies (occasionally armed) do occur, but increased police patrols in Montevideo’s port and old town areas have helped reduce street crime.  Where possible, you should consider keeping valuables in a hotel safe, and exercise caution when withdrawing money from ATM's. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or wearing ostentatious jewellery.

At night try to keep away from  isolated or poorly lit areas and avoid walking downtown or in the port area alone.

Passports should be left in a hotel safe or security box except when being used for identification purposes such as purchasing expensive items or cashing travellers’ cheques. Keep a photocopy of the details page of your passport with you at all times.

Other parts of Uruguay, including Punta del Este, are considered relatively safe, but you are nevertheless advised to remain alert and take similar precautions.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
The standard of roads in Uruguay varies.  The main toll roads to Punta del Este and Colonia are good and well marked.  Elsewhere many roads are in reasonable condition while some are in poor condition and require drivers to take extra care.

Driving standards in Uruguay are not high and traffic is disorganised.  Drivers often change lane and make unexpected turns without indicating.  Stop signs, traffic lights and speed limits are frequently ignored.

If you are intending to drive in Uruguay you will require a valid UK or international driving licence to hire a car.

Car crime is common in Montevideo.  You should try to park in a well-lit area, always remember to lock your car and avoid leaving luggage, personal documents and cash in the vehicle.

It is obligatory to use dipped headlights during the day.  Extra care should be taken when driving at night.

You should use seatbelts, particularly when travelling in the back seat of taxis in Montevideo (which are fitted with a solid glass screen between the driver and rear passenger area).

The drinking limit for driving in Uruguay is 0.3grams/litre. Transport Police often breathalyse drivers and if they are over the limit their license will be confiscated and a heavy fine implemented.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Uruguay Country Profile

For general information for different types of travellers see our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas   
British passport holders do not require visas for entry into Uruguay and can usually stay for up to three months. You can apply to the Dirección Nacional de Migración if you would like to extend your stay. You can obtain further information from their official website - Dirección Nacional de Migración (in Spanish). If you wish to take up residence in Uruguay you will have to apply to the Immigration authorities for a Residence Permit.  For further information on entry regulations in Uruguay check with the Uruguayan Embassy in London.  

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Uruguay. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children

Dual nationality (British and Uruguayan) minors and minors with legal residency in Uruguay or who have lived in Uruguay for over one year need their parents' authorisation to travel outside the country with only one parent. This authorisation is called a Permiso de Menor. It is the PARENT WHO IS NOT TRAVELLING with the child who needs to go to the Immigration Office to issue the Permit.

The following documentation is needed to obtain the permiso de menor:
- cédulas (National Identity Card).
- British Passports (mother, father and children).
- Children's Birth Certificates with no more than 30 days issued by the General Register Office (Registro Civil).

For more information on what will be required by the immigration authorities contact the Uruguayan Embassy in London.

Medical and dental treatment can be expensive. 

Dengue Fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. There have been confirmed cases (five in total though the majority were not contracted in Uruguay) of dengue fever in Uruguay in 2011.

There are occasional reports of Hepatitis A outbreaks.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 9,600 adults aged 15 or over in Uruguay were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.5% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Uruguay and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See also our Travel Health page.

Forest fires can break out during the summer (December to March) in dry areas. The Uruguayan government has been campaigning to make people aware of fire risks and to extinguish cigarettes and fires appropriately.

General - Insurance  
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  

General - Customs control
Strict customs controls prohibit visitors from importing animal and dairy products, fruit and vegetables. All baggage is normally x-rayed and may be searched on arrival.

General - Money
Credit cards are widely accepted in most major towns, but this is not the case everywhere. UK cash cards can be used in some ATMs in Montevideo and Punta del Este, but there may be a charge for taking money out.  Debit cards are not widely accepted.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Around 15,000 British nationals visit Uruguay every year (Source: Uruguayan Government figures). Most visits are trouble-free. Three British nationals required consular assistance in Uruguay in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, including for three hospitalisations.