23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. 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.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.
Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.
Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.
Do not travel to Uruguay.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Street crime occurs in Uruguay. This includes:
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:
In Montevideo be very careful in:
Crime increases at night and on weekends in:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
During periods of unrest:
More information:
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:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
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:
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:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
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:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Government has implemented a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (See Travel).
For information on Uruguay's COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to the Ministry of Health website (Spanish). You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
More information:
HIV/AIDS is a significant risk. Take precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.
Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common, especially in rural areas. These include:
To protect yourself from illness:
If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.
More information:
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:
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:
Customs officers enforce import and export rules. Restrictions apply to:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More 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:
Uruguay recognises dual nationality.
Contact the Embassy of Uruguay in Australia before you travel for details relevant to your situation.
More information:
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.
Follow the Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires' social media accounts for updates on flight options for returning to Australia. See Local contacts for links.
Entry into Uruguay
Uruguay has closed all its borders to all travellers, with some exceptions for freight workers and for Uruguayan nationals, resident foreigners and beneficiaries of special entry authorisations. Humanitarian exemptions and exemptions for foreign residents, flight and ship crews, and persons travelling for demonstrable business, work, legal or family reunion purposes may be granted by the Presidency on a case-by-case basis.
If you're arriving in Uruguay, you must present a negative coronavirus test result taken a maximum of 72 hours before boarding at origin, and undergo a mandatory 14 day quarantine, which can be shortened with a voluntary negative PCR test after 7 days.
Staying in Uruguay
Uruguay has implemented a number of recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include maintaining social distancing and the use of sanitary measures such as hand washing and cleaning protocols. The use of face masks in public places is strongly encouraged and mandatory in some situations. Compliance with social distancing and maximum occupancy protocols is mandatory in all public places.
The Government on 23 March announced it was closing all public offices (except for essential services such as police, military and health), and suspended schools, social events of all kinds, and sports activity. Bars, restaurants and shopping centres have had greater restrictions imposed and the private sector has been asked to avoid any non essential interactions.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
Residents need to get a Uruguayan licence.
Be careful when travelling by car. In Uruguay:
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:
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:
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:
More information:
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:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.
Call 911 in Montevideo or 02911 outside Montevideo.
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.
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.
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.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.