Everything You Need To Know About Uruguay Visa

Citizens of the United Kingdom, holding an official British passport do not need a visa to enter Uruguay for tourism or business purposes. This facility allows you to stay in the nation for a maximum period of up to 90 days.

You can enter Uruguay by just presenting your passport to the immigration authorities at the airport. Before traveling, please ensure that the passport holds a validity of at least six months and has a minimum of one blank page (required for visa stamping upon arrival).

Additionally, you might need to show proof of sufficient funds, proof of onward/return airline tickets, proof of purpose of the trip, and necessary documents required for the next destination.

Prior to your journey, contact your airlines and confirm if they allow boarding without a visa. Sometimes, these conditions change without prior notification.

Once you arrive in Uruguay and you decide to extend your stay, visit the website for Dirección Nacional de Migración and apply for an extension.

 You need to apply through this site even when you decide to take up residence within the nation.

Other types of Uruguay visa for UK nationals

When you travel to Uruguay for purposes other than business or tourism, you will need to apply for a visa through the Embassy in London.

These types of visa may include:

• Work Visa
• Study Visa
• Family Visa
• Emergency Visa

Work Visa

A work visa can be requested by a UK citizen if he/she intends to engage in employment in Uruguay, which generates an income. Once you enter the nation on a work visa, you might require to apply for residency if the situation demands.

The documents required are:

• A completed and signed visa application form
• A recent passport-size photo
• A valid passport that has at least 6 months of validity
• A photocopy of the biodata page of the passport
• An authorization letter issued by the company, which is registered. It must specify all the information of the organization, such as its business activities and registrations -- coupled with the personal data and signature of a legal representative of the company.
• A copy of the identity document of the reference in Uruguay

Study visa

A study visa is applicable when you wish to study in Uruguay, have a scholarship, want to engage in an internship with official and government organizations, or participate in exchange programs. Again, once you enter Uruguay, you may have to apply for residence if the situation requires you to do so.

Required documents:

• An application form filled correctly with all the details. Once complete, ensure that you sign it.
• A passport size photo, not older than 6 months
• A passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and minimum 2 blank pages
• Photocopy of the Passport.
• Registration proof of the educational center where the applicant will undergo his/her studies or internship. This letter should be on the institute’s letterhead and must have the signature of a legal representative of the institution. It should be authorized by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
• A copy of the identity document of the reference in Uruguay
• Proof of income, which ensures that the applicant will be able to sustain and manage for accommodation in Uruguay, during his/her stay period. These can be recent bank statements, salary proof, international credit cards, and others.

Family visa

A family visa allows an applicant to visit their family or relatives in Uruguay. Applicants can be either the parents, spouses, or children of Uruguay residents.

The required documents for a family visa are as follows:

• A visa application form, completed and signed by the applicant
• One clear and recent passport size photo
• A valid passport that has a validity of 6 months and a minimum of 2 blank pages
• A copy of the information pages of the passport
• An official document issued by a competent authority that verifies the relationship of the family member with the applicant. This can be an apostilled birth certificate or marriage certificate.
• For minors aged below 18 years, an authorization letter from their legal representatives
• A signed consent letter from the relative who is a permanent resident in Uruguay. It must also contain the income proof of the resident.
• One copy of the identity document of the reference in Uruguay

Humanitarian/ Emergency visa

An emergency visa can be requested if the applicant needs to visit Uruguay for medical treatment, offering assistance in a court hearing, or death/illness of a family member.

Documentation requirements

• A completed visa application form
• One recent passport size photo
• A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity
• A passport copy
• A document that proves the reason for entry into Uruguay

The application process for an Uruguay visa through the embassy

For all the above categories of visa, after you submit the visa application package, the consular section may ask you to attend a personal interview. Once the visa is ready, the applicant will be informed. You can then collect your stamped passport from the embassy in person.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

The government of Uruguay allows British nationals to use UK Emergency Travel Documents at points of entry, airside transit, and exit.

The ETD must have a validity of six months and can be applied at the nearest British embassy in Uruguay.

Note that if your travel plans include a visit to Argentina or the US, you will need to have the required visa on your ETD. You can get these visas at the specific embassies for the countries.

Customs rules

The immigration department in Uruguay follows strict rules when it comes to customs controls. You cannot import animal and dairy products, fruit and vegetables into the nation.

Pieces of baggage are subject to an x-ray examination and can be searched if anything suspicious is detected.

Traveling with children

If you are exiting Uruguay, accompanied by minors below 18 years, who are British nationals or have dual nationality and reside in Uruguay, you must follow the required entry/exit requirements -- which can vary on a case-to-case basis. For the right information, please visit the website for the Ministry of Interior.