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Visas and business visitors in Uruguay: who needs a consular visa, the seven visa types, 90 plus 90 day stays and extensions

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Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Stable

Most Western, Latin American and many Asian passports enter Uruguay without a visa as non residents for 90 days, extendable once by 90 days at the Dirección Nacional de Migración (DNM); nationals of countries not on the Ministry of the Interior reciprocity list, including India, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and, with exceptions, China, need a prior consular visa. Decreto Nº 356/018 creates seven consular visa types (tourism, business, work, study, family reunification, humanitarian and events); business, tourism and event visas are multiple entry and allow 90 plus 90 days, while work, study and family visas give 30 days after arrival to file for residence. Business visitors may negotiate, invest and attend meetings but may not take local work outside their category; extending a stay costs UI 225.60 (about US$37) if filed in time and UI 345 (about US$57) once the stay has lapsed.

USD figures use UYU 40.210 per US dollar (BCU, DLS. USA BILLETE, 27 October 2026) and UI amounts use UYU 6.6792 per Unidad Indexada (BCU, 27 October 2026), both from the BCU quotations service; UR amounts use UYU 1,940.77 (IMPO value table, September 2026, latest published). Conversions are for orientation only; DNM fees are set in UI and move with the index.

Key facts

Visa free or tourism or business visa stay	90 days, renewable once for 90 daysDecreto Nº 394/009 art. 13 a); Decreto Nº 356/018 art. 1, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Extension of stay filed before expiry	225.6 UIDNM procedure sheet, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Extension of stay after expiry	345 UIDNM procedure sheet, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Minimum filing time before stay expires	15 calendar daysDNM procedure sheet, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Consular visa charge if granted	42 USDMRREE visa request sheet (3 consular pesos), as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Time to enter after a tourism, business, study, family or event visa is issued	180 daysDecreto Nº 356/018 art. 2, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Time after entry on a work, study or family visa to file for residence	30 daysDecreto Nº 356/018 art. 1 c), d), e), as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Consular visa types	7 countDecreto Nº 356/018 art. 1, as of 2026-10-27 · in force

The rule

1. Foreigners enter as non residents or residents. Non residents include tourists, people invited by public or private entities for their profession or art, business people (negociantes), performers, crews, athletes and journalists. Tourists, invitees, business people, performers, athletes and media professionals receive 90 days, renewable for 90 more. Non residents may not carry on any work outside the activities specific to their category.
Cost to do it: No fee to enter visa free; an extension of stay costs UI 225.60 (see below).
Example: A Spanish executive arriving for board meetings and supplier visits gets 90 days on arrival and may stay up to 180 days in total with one extension. / No entry fee for visa exempt nationals; a single extension is about US$37.47.Ley Nº 18.250 (Migration Law); Decreto Nº 394/009, Ley 18.250 art. 20, 31 and 36; Decreto 394/009 art. 13 a), 2008-01-06 official text · verified 2026-10-27

2. The Ministry of the Interior publishes the admission regime by nationality and passport type. Nationals of countries not on the list need a prior consular visa. The list as published on 19 August 2025 shows, for ordinary passports, no visa for the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Turkey, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Ukraine and EU passports, and visa with prior authorization for India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, the Philippines, Morocco, Cuba and Haiti. Russia and the Republic of Korea are visa free for tourism, but a prior consultation applies when the trip is for work or a stay longer than 90 days. Ordinary Chinese passport holders need a visa unless they hold a valid US, Canada, UK or EU visa and first enter through Carrasco, Montevideo, Colonia or Laguna del Sauce. Holders of passports issued for foreigners or travel identity titles always need a visa.
Example: An Indian software engineer hired by a Montevideo firm must apply for a work visa at a Uruguayan consulate with prior authorization before travelling; a US engineer just flies in and files for residence. / See the consular visa cost rule for the fee.Régimen de visas de admisión (Ministerio del Interior, DNM), Country list and notes (5), (6), (10), 2025-08-19 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. Decreto Nº 356/018 creates seven consular visa types for nationalities that need one: tourism, business (for people who prove business activity and travel for investment or trade with Uruguayan firms or public bodies), work, study, family reunification, humanitarian and urgent, and congresses and seminars. Tourism, business and event visas allow 90 days plus 90 and are multiple entry. Work, study and family reunification visas give the holder 30 days from entry to file for residence. For tourism, business, study, family and event visas, entry must take place within 180 days of issue, after which the visa lapses. Visas may be issued with or without prior consultation of the DNM.
Cost to do it: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa request page states 3 consular pesos, equal to US$42, charged only if the visa is granted; official and diplomatic passports pay nothing (page last updated 21 October 2020).
Example: A Vietnamese investor gets a multiple entry business visa, enters within 180 days of issue and can stay 90 days, extendable by 90 at the DNM. / US$42 consular charge if granted, plus about US$37.47 for an in time extension.Decreto Nº 356/018 (regulation of Ley 18.250 art. 30), Art. 1 to 4, 2018-10-29 official text · verified 2026-10-27

4. An extension of stay (prórroga de permanencia) is granted to foreigners in regular status whose authorized stay is still running; it must be requested at a DNM office at least 15 calendar days before the stay expires. If the stay has already lapsed, a late extension is available at a higher fee. Once the authorized stay ends, the foreigner must leave unless the DNM extends it or a change of category is requested before expiry; overstaying is a ground for expulsion after a 60 day notice to regularize.
Cost to do it: In time extension UI 225.60 (about UYU 1,507 or US$37.47); late extension after expiry UI 345.00 (about UYU 2,304 or US$57.31). Filed in person in Montevideo (Misiones 1513) or at DNM offices in the interior.
Example: A US consultant whose 90 days end on 30 November files on or before 15 November and pays about UYU 1,507; filing on 2 December costs about UYU 2,304. / US$37.47 in time against US$57.31 late, a 53 percent premium.Ley Nº 18.250; DNM procedure sheet Prórroga de permanencia temporaria, Ley 18.250 art. 29 G, 38, 51 C and 52; procedure sheet updated 15 July 2026, 2026-07-15 official text · verified 2026-10-27

5. A non resident who decides to stay can change category: foreigners admitted in a category may ask to switch to another if they meet the regulatory requirements, and the DNM authorizes changes of category for regular entrants as residents or non residents. Crew members cannot change category except by a reasoned DNM decision. The person files for temporary or permanent residence while the visitor stay is still valid.
Cost to do it: Residence filing fee UI 557.30 (about UYU 3,722 or US$92.57) plus UI 55.70 (about UYU 372 or US$9.25) certificate (DNM sheets).
Example: A Canadian who came as a tourist and accepts a job offer files for temporary residence in Montevideo before the 90 days run out, and can start work once the residence in process identity document is issued.Ley Nº 18.250; Decreto Nº 394/009, Ley 18.250 art. 29 H and 39; Decreto 394/009 art. 27, 2009-08-24 official text · verified 2026-10-27

6. Migrants keep equal rights in health, work, social security, housing and education; irregular status never blocks access to courts or health centres. Non residents without portable health insurance pay for care at contracted rates, with free emergency care through ASSE if they lack means.Ley Nº 18.250; Decreto Nº 394/009, Ley 18.250 art. 8 and 9; Decreto 394/009 art. 37, 2009-08-24 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Nationality	Visa for ordinary passport	Note
United States, Canada, Mexico, EU states	No
Japan, Israel, Turkey, South Africa, UAE, Australia, Ukraine	No
Russia, Republic of Korea	No	Prior consultation if travel is for work or longer than 90 days
China (People's Republic)	Yes, with prior authorization	Exempt with valid US, Canada, UK or EU visa if first entry via Carrasco, Montevideo, Colonia or Laguna del Sauce
India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, Philippines, Morocco, Cuba, Haiti	Yes, with prior authorization
Dominican Republic	Yes, with prior authorization	Exempt with US or UK visa valid at least 6 months
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela	No	Suriname, although a Mercosur associated state, needs a visa with prior authorization
United Kingdom, Switzerland, New Zealand, Singapore	No

Selected nationalities, ordinary passport, per the Ministry of the Interior admission regime published 19 August 2025

Visa	Stay	Entries	After arrival
Tourism	90 + 90 days	Multiple	Enter within 180 days of issue
Business	90 + 90 days	Multiple	Enter within 180 days of issue
Work	Per residence category	Not stated	File for residence within 30 days
Study	Per study term	Not stated	File for temporary residence within 30 days
Family reunification	Same as the family member's residence	Not stated	File for residence within 30 days
Humanitarian and urgent	Time the cause lasts	Not stated	File within 30 days of the stay ending if staying
Congresses and seminars	90 + 90 days	Multiple	Enter within 180 days of issue

Consular visa types under Decreto Nº 356/018

Worked example

A Mexican sales director (visa free) arrives on 1 September 2026 to set up a distribution deal. The 90 day stay runs to 30 November. To stay through February, they file an extension by 15 November and pay UI 225.60 (about UYU 1,507 or US$37.47). If the deal leads to a permanent role, they file for temporary residence before the extended stay ends, pay UI 557.30 (about UYU 3,722 or US$92.57) plus UI 55.70 (about UYU 372 or US$9.25) and can then be put on the Uruguayan payroll.
An Indian engineer must obtain a consular work visa with prior DNM consultation, pay US$42 if granted, enter Uruguay, and file for residence within 30 days of entry.

Step by step

1. Check your nationality and passport type on the Ministry of the Interior admission list before booking.
2. If a visa is required, apply at the Uruguayan consulate with jurisdiction over your residence, choosing the visa that matches the real purpose (business, work, study or family).
3. Enter within the validity window stated on the visa (Decreto 356/018 art. 2 gives 180 days for tourism, business, study, family and event visas; the consular page warns that consulates may set 60 days to issue and 60 days to enter, so read the sticker).
4. Keep proof of the business purpose (invitation, meeting agenda) for border control; business visitors may meet, negotiate and inspect but not be put to work locally.
5. Track your 90 days and request any extension at the DNM at least 15 calendar days before expiry.
6. If you will work or settle, file for temporary or permanent residence before your authorized stay ends.

Common traps

Doing hands on work, such as installing equipment or running a local project, as a business visitor: non residents may not work outside their category (Ley 18.250 art. 20) and the hosting company may not employ foreigners in irregular status (art. 22).
Missing the 15 day lead time for an extension: the late extension costs UI 345 instead of UI 225.60, and overstaying is a ground for expulsion after a 60 day notice (art. 51 C and 52).
Assuming a Chinese passport plus a US visa works at any border: the exemption applies only if the first entry is through Carrasco, Montevideo, Colonia or Laguna del Sauce.
Travelling on a refugee travel document or a passport for foreigners: these always need a visa regardless of nationality.
Entering on a work, study or family visa and waiting: the residence filing must be made within 30 days of entry (Decreto 356/018 art. 1).
Argentine citizens enter with their national identity card and qualify for Mercosur residence; for Argentina side exit, FX and tax rules see The Argentine Thread guide.

Sources

← Residence and work rights for foreigners in Uruguay: permanent, temporary and Mercosur residence, short stays, remote workers, tax residence and the 2026 impatriate regimeTemporary residence in Uruguay for workers, executives, professionals and entrepreneurs: requirements, terms, renewals and fees →