Uruguay

Petty crime

Street crime occurs in Uruguay. This includes:

• pickpocketing
• bag snatching
• petty theft
• robberies

Smash and grab robberies from cars stopped at traffic lights also occur.

During summer, from December to March, thieves target beach resort areas, such as Punta del Este. You may encounter more petty street crimes and burglaries.

To protect yourself from petty crime:

• be cautious using ATMs, avoid using them on the street. Use ATMs in banks or shopping centres
• avoid carrying excess cash
• keep doors locked and windows up, even when moving
• avoid leaving valuables on display in cars
• Don't resist if you're attacked or robbed
• Pay attention to your belongings

Crime hotspots

In Montevideo be very careful in:

• Jardines del Hiepodromo
• Casavalle
• Borro
• Avoid Cerro

Crime increases at night and on weekends in:

• Downtown
• Port Area
• Plaza Independencia
• La Ciudad Vieja
• Avenida 18 de Julio

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

During periods of unrest:

• avoid crowds, protests and demonstrations
• don't approach demonstrations with cameras or phones
• monitor the news for updates
• follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

More information:

• Terrorism

It rains throughout the year in Uruguay. Floods may disrupt local transport and damage roads.

Check weather forecasts and plan your travel to suit.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

More information:

• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

This advice predates COVID-19 and the Australian Government's travel ban for all Australians

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you travel. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won’t pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.

Confirm:

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

More information:

• General health advice
• International travel and health

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to take medication, check if it's legal in Uruguay. Take enough legal medicine for your stay.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• how much you'll take
• that it's for personal use

More information:

• Medicine

COVID-19

COVID-19 remains a risk in Uruguay.

If you're in Uruguay, follow the advice of local authorities and take care to protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19. 

More information:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Department of Health)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a significant risk. Take precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common, especially in rural areas. These include:

• typhoid
• hepatitis A
• rabies

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids in rural areas
• avoid ice cubes in rural areas
• avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
• avoid contact with dogs and other mammals

If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.

More information:

• Infectious diseases

Medical facilities

Private hospital facilities in major urban centres are reasonable. But public hospitals in the rest of the country usually have limited facilities.

Treatment at private clinics and hospitals is expensive.

Usually you'll have to pay or confirm insurance details before treatment. This is the case even for emergency care.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

More information:

• Arrested or jailed overseas

Drugs

Drug laws are severe in Uruguay. Penalties include jail time and heavy fines.

Uruguay set up a system for the legal production and sale of marijuana in 2013. That system is only for citizens and permanent residents of Uruguay.

It's illegal for visitors to buy or possess marijuana.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Customs laws

Customs officers enforce import and export rules. Restrictions apply to:

• precious gems
• gold
• firearms
• antiques
• medications
• business equipment

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

LGBTI information

Same-sex relationships are legal in Uruguay.

Since 2003, laws have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Uruguay legalised same-sex marriage in 2013.

More information:

• Advice for LGBTI people

Uruguay recognises dual nationality.

Contact the Embassy of Uruguay in Australia before you travel for details relevant to your situation.

More information:

• Dual nationals

Visa-free travel for short stays

Australian tourists can enter Uruguay without a visa for up to 90 days.

Entry and exit conditions can change. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Uruguay for details about visas, currency, customs and other travel requirements. 

COVID-19

There are commercial flight options out of Uruguay scheduled until the end of September 2020. Special scheduled outbound flights to Sao Paulo are periodically available with Amaszonas. There are routine flights scheduled to Madrid with Iberia and Air Europa. Contact airlines or your travel provider for more details. Arrival for foreign nationals has temporarily been prohibited apart from exceptional circumstances, with arrivals pre-authorised by the National Immigration Department. Any arriving passenger must present a negative coronavirus test result taken a maximum of 72 hours before boarding at origin, and undergo a mandatory minimum 7 day quarantine. Follow the Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires' social media accounts for regular updates on flight options for leaving Uruguay. See Local contacts for links.

The Government has implemented a number of recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while not mandatory, they are socially accepted. This includes use of masks in public areas, social distancing and the increase of sanitary measures such as hand washing and cleaning protocols.

Many businesses and public offices are open with the exceptions of a number of casinos and hotels, and they have implemented necessary adjustments to their operations.  Public gatherings are strongly discouraged, and all public events have been cancelled. Sports/cultural venues, gyms and shopping centres remain closed and in general, all public places where people generally meet are disabled.

If you're staying in Uruguay, follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe and well. 

Travelling with children

Authorities may need to see a letter of consent if the child is:

• aged under 18 years
• travelling alone
• travelling with 1 parent

Parents who aren't travelling with the child must sign the letter.

Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Uruguay well before you travel for advice.

More information:

• Advice for people travelling with children

Yellow fever vaccination

You don't have to be vaccinated for yellow fever to enter or exit Uruguay. However, it's needed for other countries in the region.

Find out about returning to Australia after exposure to yellow fever.

More information:

• Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 74KB)

Travel via the United States

If you're travelling through the US, you must meet US entry and transit rules.

Check your visa needs with the nearest embassy or consulate of the United States well before you travel.

More information:

• Travel advice for the US

Validity

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.

Your passport must have at least one blank page at the time of your arrival in Uruguay.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible.

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

The official currency of Uruguay is the Peso (UYU).

Some locations also accept payment in US Dollars (USD) and Argentine Peso. A number of ATMs also dispense USD.

Sometimes there are disruptions to local transport services. Be prepared to change your plans.

Driving permit

You can drive with an Australian driver's licence in Uruguay. Your licence is valid for 1 year from your date of entry.

You must be aged 21 years or over to hire a car. Car rental companies will also need either:

• an Australian driver's licence, or
• an International Driving Permit (IDP)

Residents need to get a Uruguayan licence.

Road travel

Be careful when travelling by car. In Uruguay:

• driving standards are poor
• many vehicles are poorly maintained
• drivers often ignore traffic rules

You're 3 times more likely to die in a car accident in Uruguay than in Australia.

By law, there is zero tolerance for drink driving with a 0.0 blood alcohol limit and you must use dimmed headlights when driving during the day.

Toll roads between the major cities are well maintained. You must pay tolls in cash. The condition of other roads varies.

More information:

• Driving or riding

Air travel

The Australian Government doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Uruguay's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Cruises

Cruises are temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Montevideo and Punta del Este are popular stops for cruise ships.

If you plan to take a cruise:

• make sure your passport has the right visas
• check the ship's medical facilities meet your needs
• find out the cost of onboard medical treatment
• get adequate travel insurance
• make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation and overseas hospital costs
• speak to your insurer about any existing conditions

More information:

• Going on a cruise

Accessibility

If you have a disability, you may find accessibility standards are different from Australia. Don't assume that hotels will be accessible.

In Uruguay, anti-discrimination laws apply to people with disabilities but they're not fully enforced.

Access to buildings, footpaths and road crossings may be difficult.

More information:

• Disabilities

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.

Medical emergencies

Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.

Police

Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

You can report a crime online, but you must have someone at the police station sign the report within 48 hours for it to be valid.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Contact your provider or the Uruguay Consumer Protection Agency (Spanish) with any complaints about tourist services or products.

Read the Consular Services Charter for information about what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia has a consulate in Montevideo. It provides limited consular assistance and doesn't issue Australian passports.

Australian Consulate, Montevideo

25 de Mayo 455 - 2° Piso

11,000 Montevideo, Uruguay  

Phone: (+59 8) 984 51451

Email: ausconur@gmail.com

For full consular services, contact the Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Australian Embassy, Buenos Aires

Villanueva 1400

(C1426BMJ)

Buenos Aires, Argentina  

Phone: +54 11 4779 3500

Fax: +54 11 4779 3581

Website: argentina.embassy.gov.au

Facebook: Australia in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay

Twitter: @EmbAustraliaBA

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia