Under normal conditions, foreign visitors do not need to go through special immigration procedures; they enter the country with a valid passport. For citizens of neighboring countries, an identity card is sufficient. Minors traveling alone will be checked for compliance with the immigration regulations of the country of origin, which generally refer to the written permission of the parents. In any case, it is recommended to consult with the diplomatic representations.

Access a quick guide to answer your questions.

In all cases, contact: dnm-consultas@minterior.gub.uy – Telephone: (+598) 2030 1800 / info@atencionalaciudadania.gub.uy or Facebook / AtencionUY – Telephone: 0800 INFO (4636) * 463 for ANTEL cell phones.

In the face of repeated consultations and inconveniences when entering the country with certain products of animal or plant origin, national health and biosafety are put at risk, compromising not only the health of the population but also the reliability of Uruguay as a food producing and exporting country.

For this reason, the Management of Sanitary Barriers of the General Directorate of Biosecurity and Food Safety of the MGAP is in charge of controlling these products at the different border crossings of our country. Anyone who crosses the border and postal shipments are examined. The control is carried out on all persons entering the country by land, sea or air, without exception -including Uruguayan and foreign nationals entering as tourists, crew members, national officials, diplomats and officials of foreign governments or international organizations, etc-, their luggage and vehicles, and all postal items sent from abroad. Regardless of the reason for their trip, they will all be subject to screening by Barreras Sanitarias. According to current regulations, failure to comply with the rule may result in the fines provided for in Law No. 19,149.

What is allowed to enter the country

Products that are not in the controlled entry list. These products must have original labels in one of the three official languages of the World Trade Organization: Spanish, English and French.

These controlled entry products, if they have the official certificate or authorization issued by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay, may enter the country. Controlled entry products:

Of animal origin

Live animals of any species:

– domestic animals and others

– bees – insects

– mites in any form

– Meat of any species, in any state or packaging:

– bovine

-bovine

– swine

– poultry

– wild animals

– fish and aquatic products

– vacuum-packed products and sausages (hams, etc.)

-Sausage products in any type of packaging and cooking (sausages, chorizos, etc.).

– Dairy products and their derivatives:

– fluid milk (except UHT)

– powdered milk

– fermented milk

– whey cheese powder

– yogurt – cheeses of any kind

– powdered cheeses

– fresh or powdered ice cream

– butter

– cream

– ricotta

– Fresh eggs of birds or reptiles, whole or their parts in powdered form

– Components of animals of any species

– blood, serum or plasma of any animal species, fresh or powdered

– guts and viscera of any species

– hides and skins, fresh, dried or salted

– hair – antlers or horns

– hooves

– soiled wool

– manes or bristles

– bones

– semen of any species

– embryos of any species

– fresh poultry feathers

– feed and rations for animals of any species:

– meat meal

– blood meal

– other flours of animal origin

– pastes with fillings of animal origin

– Biological control agents

– Bee products:

– honey

– wax

– other bee by-products

– Unlabelled home-made products

– Handicrafts and decorative elements with products, by-products or parts of animal origin

– Of vegetable origin

– Fresh, dried or dehydrated fruits

– Vegetables and their parts

– flowers

– buds

– Stems

– roots

– leaves

– stems

– fresh foliage

– pollen

– bulbs

– tubers

– ornamental roots

– etc.

– Dried fruits, unroasted or in shell

– Fresh vegetables

– Seeds of any kind

– Raw beans (coffee, etc.)

– Unmanufactured tobacco

– Hops (except pelleted)

– Retail packaged vegetable products in packages of more than 500 g (tea, spices, marinade, oregano, etc.)

– Plants:

– ornamentals

– horticultural

– fruit plants

– fodder plants

– other plants

– Animal feed of vegetable origin

– Unlabeled home-made products

– Handicrafts and decorative items with products, by-products or parts of plant origin

– Wood: – solid painted, processed, semi-processed, or unprocessed

– firewood

– Wooden furniture

– rooted or unrooted cuttings

– Unprocessed vegetable textile fibers

– Botanical specimens and collections

– In vitro cultures

– Biological control agents

– Inoculants and inoculants

– Soil, soil, peat, sand or any supporting material

– Others

-Chemical and biological products for agricultural activities:

– fertilizers

– herbicides

– insecticides

– etc.

– Pharmaceutical products for veterinary use only:

– Vaccines, serums and veterinary specifics.

– Unlabeled homemade products and products in open containers.

– Insects

– Viruses

– Bacteria

– Fungi

– Yeasts

– Microorganisms for research or any other purpose.

– This list does not exclude other products that may qualify as controlled entry.

From MERCOSUR, American and European countries: to enter with dogs and cats, a health certificate must be requested at the Ministry of Livestock of the country of origin, stating the health status of the animal and the anti-rabies vaccine. The animal and the sanitary certificate must be presented at the Animal Health Control Office of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing when entering Uruguayan territory.

From other countries: in order to enter with dogs and cats, an entry authorization must be previously obtained in Uruguay, where the sanitary conditions to be fulfilled by the country of origin will be established. To know which are the current requirements to be fulfilled for the transport of animals in regional and international flights, it is suggested to contact the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries.




Central Office: (005982) 410.41.55 / Airport Office: (005982) 604.03.20

Web Page

Prior to entry, the authorization granted by the Uruguayan Material and Weapons Service must be obtained. Customs will not allow the entry of hunting weapons without the presentation of such authorization:

Fax: (005982) 355.41.53

Mail: electrónico:armassma@ejercito.mil.uy

Web Page

MERCOSUR Vehicles:

Community Vehicles: are automobiles, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, motor homes, trailers, recreational and sport boats and other similar vehicles that are registered and registered in any of the Party States. Community vehicles for the exclusive private use of tourists shall circulate freely within the territory of the States Parties.

The vehicles must be driven personally by the owner or duly authorized user (Power of Attorney certified by Notary Public), by his/her spouse or by a relative up to 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity, provided that they are not habitual residents in the country. They may be driven by a professional driver, with sufficient proof before the customs authority.

Documentation required to prove that the vehicle is a community vehicle:
– Ownership Book and/or Vehicle Title.
– Driver’s License.
– Current Civil Liability Insurance (Green Card)
– Registration plates and registration in the country of origin.
– Power of Attorney certified by Notary Public (if the driver is not the owner).

Period of permanence: Community vehicles may remain under the regime for a period of three months as from their entry. Once this term has expired, they must formalize their stay before the customs authority, being able to grant in these cases an authorization of up to one year as from their entry.

Tourists who are owners or lessees of real estate in the national territory, with habitual domicile outside of the country – extremes to be proved – may apply for an extension of up to a maximum term of 24 months for motor vehicles, without the provision of guarantees (to be processed at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uruguay).

Ministry of Economy and Finance

National Customs Directorate

This is done at Customs offices located at the points of entry into the country.

E-mail: info@aduanas.gub.uy

Extra-MERCOSUR vehicles:

The following may be introduced temporarily: Automobiles, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, motor homes, trailers, airplanes, recreational and sport boats and other similar vehicles that are for the private and exclusive use of tourists.

Vehicles must be driven personally by the owner or duly authorized user (Power of Attorney certified by Notary Public), by his/her spouse or by a relative up to the 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity, provided they are not habitual residents in the country.

They may be driven by professional driver accrediting their quality as such, with sufficient proof before the customs authority.

Documentation required:

– Ownership book and/or Vehicle Title.
– Passport.
– Driver’s license
– Civil Liability Insurance in force
– Power of Attorney certified by Notary Public (if the driver is not the owner).

The owner or user duly authorized before Customs (Power of Attorney certified by Notary Public) must formulate an Affidavit containing:

the identifying data of the vehicle and the list of its accessories.
the identification data of the owner or authorized user driver.

This Declaration is the enabling document to circulate in the national territory or to leave it. 

Period of permanence: The period of permanence of the vehicle in the national territory will be of 1 year, being able to be extended, for justified reasons before the Customs Authority for three more months.

The permanence of the vehicle in the country, after the expiration of the term will give rise to the imposition of a fine of U$S20.- for each day of infraction until completing one month. Upon expiration of this term, the proceedings for presumption of customs infringement will be initiated.

As of July 1, 2022, Uruguay implemented changes in the way tolls work and some of them are no longer paid in cash. In the case of foreigners, the passage through all toll booths in Uruguay must be done by user and vehicle registration.

With the tourist pass you can use the tolls by reading the license plate of your vehicle until you reach your final destination.

How to register?

By accessing telepeaje.com.uy/paseturista or the Telepeajeuy app and registering your data.

How to pay the toll?

When you arrive at your destination, you can pay the remaining tolls (and the tolls required for your return, if applicable) at the following locations:

– Abitab or Redpagos agencies for cash payment;
– Toll company offices for debit or credit card payment;
– Or online.