GoUruguay Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

（1） Visa Notice

1. According to the mutual visa exemption agreement between the two countries that came into effect on January 7, 2017, individuals holding Chinese diplomatic, official or service ordinary passports who enter Uruguay for a continuous stay of no more than 90 days are exempt from visa requirements.

2. Starting from August 15, 2017, Chinese citizens holding ordinary private passports and valid EU, US, Canada, and UK visas are eligible for conditional (1 The passport held is valid for more than 6 months and in good condition of use; When entering the country with a valid visa from the European Union, the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, the visa must be valid for at least one year; Chinese citizens holding visas from the aforementioned countries for less than 18 months are eligible to enter the country at any time; 4. Conditional visa free entry allows for a maximum stay of 90 days and multiple entries; 5. Entry ports: Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo Port, and Colonia Port in the capital of Uruguay, land transportation is temporarily not implemented Visa free entry. Holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR passports are eligible for visa free entry into Uruguay, with a maximum stay of 90 days. Uruguay does not apply for a visa on arrival.

3. According to the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay on Facilitating Visa Procedures for Business Personnel, from July 14, 2018, China and Uruguay will apply for a ten-year valid, multiple entry business visa for eligible citizens of both countries. After obtaining the above-mentioned visa, if a new passport is replaced due to passport expiration or other reasons, one can still travel to Uruguay with the new passport and the old passport with a valid Uruguayan visa. But if there are changes in the type of new passport and the information such as name, gender, date of birth on the passport, the holder must apply for a new visa.

4. There are seven types of visas in Uruguay: tourist, business, study, work, family reunion, humanitarian and emergency affairs, exhibitions, etc. For specific matters, please consult the Ukrainian Embassy in China.

5. Uruguay has an embassy in Beijing; There is a consulate general in Shanghai, with jurisdiction over Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, and Anhui Province; There is a consulate general in Guangzhou, with jurisdiction over Guangdong Province, Hainan Province, Guizhou Province, Fujian Province, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; There is a consulate general in Chongqing, with jurisdiction over Chongqing, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province, Shaanxi Province, and Gansu Province.

（2） Entry and Exit Notice

Entry into Uruguay requires a valid visa or residence permit, otherwise one will be deported. If you need to apply for a visa extension, you can go to the immigration office to handle it, but you need a guarantor to guarantee it. Crew members holding a seafarer's certificate are not allowed to enter or exit Uruguay by plane; Crew members who need to return to China by plane must present their seafarer's certificate, company certification, and flight ticket order to the embassy to exchange their travel documents before returning to China.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

（1） Customs regulations

Uruguay is an agricultural and pastoral country, with agriculture and animal husbandry being its pillar industries. Therefore, strict quarantine and inspection of animals and plants are required. According to Uruguayan customs regulations, passengers are prohibited from carrying the following items: plants, plant roots and related products, fruits and fresh vegetables, seeds and handicrafts made from seeds and plants, flowers, ornamental plants, and potted plants; Soil, fruits and plants, horticultural products, grass, bonsai, animal products and by-products, liquid milk, butter, eggs, cream and cheese, pets, birds, animal and plant specimens, bees, etc; Any type of meat, cold cuts and sausages, animal feed and animal bioproducts. In addition, flammable materials, alkaloids and other chemicals, narcotics, obscene and pornographic materials, and items that pose a threat to public safety are also prohibited from being brought into the country.

（2） Animal and plant inspection and quarantine

If passengers bring pets (dogs, cats) and wild animals into the country, they must hold a pet health certificate issued by the relevant department of their country of residence, stating the vaccination status of the animals against rabies and their health condition. Pets should be equipped with electronic chips (which must comply with ISO 11784 and 11785 international standards).

（3） Financial regulatory regulations

The maximum cash limit for entering and leaving Uruguay is 10000 US dollars. If carrying excessive cash without declaration, the customs may detain the funds and ultimately confiscate or impose a certain amount of fine.

（4） Epidemic prevention requirements

According to the latest decree issued by the Uzbek government on February 16, 2023, all epidemic prevention requirements for entry into COVID-19 will be cancelled, and the entrants need to enjoy Uruguayan medical insurance or purchase travel medical insurance.

（5） Common contact information for Montevideo International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco 

Puerta del Sur S.A. - Ruta 101 km 19,95 CP 14.000 Uruguay 

Telephone: (+598) 2604 0329 

Fax:: (+598) 2604 0010

Residency and Naturalization

（1） Nationality and Immigration Policy

All individuals born in Uruguay are eligible to obtain Uruguayan citizenship. People born outside of Uruguay, but one of their parents, grandparents, or great grandparents holds Uruguayan nationality. Uruguay recognizes dual citizenship.

Uruguayan immigration policies are relatively lenient. Foreigners with residence visas who live in Uruguay and have sources of income can apply to the Uruguayan Immigration Office for temporary residence (stay less than 180 days), temporary residence (stay more than 180 days) or permanent residence. Foreigners who hold non resident visas to stay in Uruguay can also apply to the Uruguayan Immigration Bureau for change to resident visas according to their personal conditions and occupation. To apply for temporary and permanent residency, it is necessary to submit documents such as birth notarization, criminal record notarization, marriage status certificate, health certificate issued by a local hospital in Uruguay, and proof of economic income source. Temporary residency lasts for one to two years, after which an extension can be applied for, or permanent residency can be applied for based on personal circumstances and occupation. To apply for investment immigration, one needs to apply for relevant visas at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate abroad, provide a guarantee or invitation letter from the relevant Uruguayan unit, and the Ukrainian embassy or consulate abroad will submit the applicant's visa application materials to the Ukrainian immigration office for review and approval before processing the relevant visas.

The determination of Uruguayan nationality has nothing to do with the residence system, and foreigners cannot obtain Uruguayan nationality through immigration applications. Uruguayan immigrants who obtain legal residency status and meet certain conditions can apply for Uruguayan "legal citizenship" status, but cannot obtain Uruguayan citizenship. Legitimate citizens enjoy the civil rights granted by the Constitution and must fulfill their obligations. They can apply for a Uruguayan passport, but their original nationality is still marked in the "nationality" column of the passport, and their legal citizenship is indicated on the fourth page of the passport. They enjoy consular protection from the Uruguayan government overseas.

（2） Contact Information for Uruguayan Immigration Office

Immigration Office Address:

Dirección Nacional de Migración

Oficina Central: Misiones 1513 C.P.：11000 

Montevideo - URUGUAY

Phone: 2152 1800; 2152 1801； 2152 1802； 2152 1803

Website: www.dnm.minterior.gub.uy

Uruguay's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

（1） Security situation assessment

The overall security situation in Uruguay is good. In recent years, influenced by various factors, social security issues have become increasingly serious, mainly reflected in the increase of juvenile delinquency. Tourist attractions such as the central and old city areas of the capital city of Mongolia are the areas where robbery gangs and teenagers commit the most crimes. Cases of robbing tourists' property occur from time to time. Due to the lenient treatment of juvenile delinquency in Uruguay's laws, some adult criminal gangs use or incite minors to commit crimes. Therefore, tourists visiting this area need to take extra precautions.

（2） Preventive measures

1. Please carry copies of your passport and other identification documents, as well as copies of your visa and flight ticket, and store them separately from the original documents. Do not bring your passport, plane ticket, etc. with you when going out unless necessary. Do not put cash, credit cards, identification documents, traveler's checks, passports, and valuables in the same bag or pocket. Backpacks and shoulder bags should be placed in front of you to prevent theft. Do not travel on roads with sparse pedestrians and dim lighting. Do not go to areas with poor public security and avoid going out alone at night. When going to the bank or exchange, carefully check if there are any suspicious people around and try to take a taxi. Close all windows while driving and ensure that they are locked. Do not place luggage and valuables in the passenger seat or rear seat. Confirm if there are any suspicious individuals nearby when getting off the car. Don't let strangers ride.

2. In case of emergency, you can contact the Chinese Embassy in Uruguay.

Embassy Address: Miraflores 1508, Esq. Pedro Blanes Viale (6251)

Contact number: Embassy Consular Department Phone number: 26019997

Dial from China: 00598-26019997

Guaranteed mobile phone: 093606613; Dial from China: 00598-93606613

Embassy fax: 26018508; Dial from China: 00598-26018508

natural disaster

Uruguay has distinct four seasons and a pleasant climate, making it a region with less occurrence of natural disasters.

FDA

Uruguay has developed agriculture and animal husbandry, and vegetables and fruits are basically pollution-free foods. The food safety inspection standards are strict and the hygiene conditions are good.

Urgent Help

Emergency rescue: 105

Fire alarm: 104

Police: 911

Police Headquarters: 1909

Highway Patrol: 108

Coast Guard: 106

air traffic

There are no direct flights from China to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Passengers can transfer in Madrid and fly directly to Montevideo. If the transfer at Madrid airport does not exceed 24 hours and does not leave the airport transfer area, there is no need to apply for a Spanish visa. Most of the flights to Mongolia have layovers from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and the United States. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport is Uruguay's air transportation hub, and taking a taxi is the safest and quickest way to get to and from the airport. Montevideo city center is 18 kilometers away from the airport, and you can take a taxi for around $37. It's about 1.75 dollars by bus.

land transport

The domestic land transportation in Ukraine is mainly road transportation, with good road conditions and developed long-distance passenger transportation. Montevideo, the capital city, is a national transportation hub with long-distance buses that travel to various parts of the country. Each line has multiple shuttle buses running in opposite directions. Tourists can apply for car rental and self driving with their original valid driver's license and translation, as well as an international credit card.

Special reminder: Uruguay has well-developed transportation and convenient public transportation. Like in our country, left-hand drive driving is implemented, and road intersections are mostly level crossings. Uruguay requires the lights to be turned on even when driving during the day to alert vehicles and pedestrians. Uruguay has a fast speed, so special attention should be paid to traffic safety.

water communication

Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is one of the major ports in South America. Tourists can take cruise ships to reach Montevideo and the city of Dongjiao, with daily ferry services between Montevideo and Colonia to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Urban transportation

Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, has well-developed transportation and convenient public transportation. Bus tickets are divided into one hour tickets (boleto de una hora, free transfer within one hour), two-hour tickets (boleto de dos horas, free transfer within two hours), city center tickets (boleto c é ntrico), and regional tickets (boleto zonal), with ticket prices of 56 pesos, 84 pesos, 42 pesos, and 29 pesos, respectively. Using public transportation is cheaper than buying tickets with cash, with prices of 45 pesos, 67 pesos, 32 pesos, and 22 pesos respectively. Uruguayan bus stop signs are relatively old and generally do not indicate bus routes. You can download the Moovit bus app to check bus routes, stop sign locations, and real-time bus locations. The starting price of a taxi is about 65 pesos, and after that, it costs about 40 pesos per kilometer. The waiting time is about 15 pesos per minute. From 10pm to 6am or during holidays, taxi fares will increase by 20%. Taxi call numbers: 141, 1711, 1771, 1919.

major city

The capital city of Montevideo is located downstream of the La Plata River, adjacent to the South Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of 530 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 1.341 million. Mong was built by the Spanish between 1726 and 1730, initially as a military fortress and later developed into a port city. Legend has it that when a Portuguese expedition arrived for the first time in the 17th century, a sailor on a ship discovered a mountain peak in the northwest of the old city at an altitude of 139 meters and cheered: "I saw the mountain (Monte Video)", from which the city of Monte was named. The city still retains numerous European style buildings, parks are everywhere, the environment is quiet, the air is clear, and the annual average temperature is 16 ℃.

Mongolia is the political, economic, trade, financial, and cultural center of Ukraine, home to 70% of the country's industry and nearly half of its population. Its commercial and cultural industries are well-developed, and its financial market is active. It is the headquarters of the Latin American Integration Association and the administrative secretariat of the Southern Common Market. The urban planning can be roughly divided into three parts, with the "old city" located near the port, which is also the main commercial center; The riverside area east of the "old city" is mainly composed of high-end residential areas and villa areas; The northern part of the city is relatively poor and backward, and is an industrial and agricultural area.

Please refer to www.montevideo.gub.uy for details.

Dongjiao City, located about 130 kilometers east of Mong City, was originally a small fishing village in the 17th century. On July 5, 1907, it was renamed to its current name. The city is located in the eastern part of Uruguay, at the mouth of the La Plata River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It has beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, and more than ten excellent beaches. It is a famous tourist resort in South America, attracting a large number of neighboring countries and European and American tourists to come here for vacation every summer. Many international and regional conferences are held here, such as the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1987. The villa areas around the city center are very famous, with not only Uruguayans but also high-ranking officials and nobles from countries such as the United States, Brazil, and Argentina living here. The small island of Goriti, located 2 kilometers off the coast of Dongjiao City, was a military fortress established by Dutch, French, Portuguese, British, and Spanish colonizers at the mouth of the La Plata River in the 17th and 18th centuries. The island houses the ruins of defense works and cannons built by Spain in 1773. Sea Lion Island, located 8.5 kilometers from the coast, is a famous nature reserve inhabited by over 200000 sea lions.

In Punta Ballena near the east corner, there is also a white building called Casapueblo, which is designed and built by Carlos P á ez Villar ó, a famous Ukrainian painter and poet, with unique shape and Arab style. The Chinese call it the "white house". The building is built on the mountain, overlooking the confluence of the Laputa River and the Atlantic Ocean. Part of it is a painter's studio and exhibition room, while the other part is converted into a hotel.

Dongjiao is a summer city, and the peak tourist season is from December to March of the following year.

See details: www.puntadeleste.com

Commodity prices

Uruguay mainly produces agricultural and animal husbandry products, with distinctive products such as fur products and amethyst. The currency is Uruguayan pesos, with 1 US dollar equivalent to 44 pesos (as of January 2025), which can be exchanged at currency exchange stations (CASA DE CAMBIO) located at airports, ports, and city centers. The price level is relatively high, and using individual bank cards for payment can enjoy discounts. For some local products, short-term foreign tourists can apply for tax refunds upon departure. Uruguay's financial system is relatively complete, with many banks' ATM machines and most merchants accepting international credit cards.

Payment methods: bank check, credit card, cash

Bank operating hours: From Monday to Friday (for deposit and withdrawal, exchange, insurance, payment, and other services), payment branches are set up in communities, shopping centers, and other places.

Insurance Medical

Private hospitals in Uruguay have good medical conditions and offer a variety of medical insurance programs. Uruguay has virtually no outbreaks of infectious diseases. The main private hospitals in the capital city of Montevideo are the Spanish Hospital (Asociaci ó n Espa ñ ola Primera de Socorros Mutuos), Palmar 2238， 00598-19207000), Hospital Brit á nico in the UK, Av. Italia 2420， 00598-24871020), Italian Hospital (Hospital Italiano, Br. Gral. Artigas 163, 2005 98-24879717).

Customs taboos

（1） Holidays and introductions

January 1st New Year's Day; Mid February Carnival; Tourism Week (Holy Week) in late March or early April; April 19th is the anniversary of the landing of 33 patriots; May 1st International Labor Day; May 18th is the commemoration day of the Battle of Las Piedras, also known as Army Day; June 19th is the anniversary of the birth of General Artigas; July 18th Constitution Day; Children's Day on the second Sunday of August; Independence Day (National Day) on August 25th; October 12th is the commemoration day of the Battle of Sarandi, also known as the Discovery Day of the American continent; November 2nd Halloween; Christmas on December 25th.

（2） Common Etiquette

Uruguayans have more Europeanized etiquette, and when they first meet, they will take the initiative to greet and shake hands with each other. After getting familiar, men usually hug each other when they meet, while women kiss each other on both cheeks. It is also customary to give hugs when meeting relatives and friends. The most commonly used titles for Uruguayans to meet are 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.', and for unmarried young women, they are referred to as' Miss'. Uruguayans like to refer to each other's administrative or academic positions. External guests are also addressed by adding administrative or academic titles, such as "Mr. President", "Mr. Doctor", etc.

（3） Main customs and habits such as clothing, food, and funerals

1. Clothing

The clothing style of Uruguayans is similar to that of Europeans. Men usually wear suits and ties in formal occasions, with dark colors being the main color, and are more casual at other times. Women's clothing styles are conservative.

2. Dietary habits

The breakfast of Uruguayans is basically the same as that of Europeans, mainly consisting of milk, bread, and coffee. Lunch time is from 1 to 2 pm, which is relatively simple. I have a habit of drinking afternoon tea. Dinner is more formal, usually after 9 pm, and local restaurants usually open after 8 pm.

3. Flavored food

Uruguayans are "great carnivores", and Uruguay is one of the countries with the highest per capita consumption of meat in the world. Beef and mutton are the most consumed meats, followed by poultry, pork, fish, and shrimp. Uruguayan barbecue is quite unique, mainly made by placing meat products on a grate and baking them with charcoal underneath, called PARRILLA, accompanied by red wine and vegetable salad.

4. Beverages

Common drinks in Uruguay include EL MATE, Coca Cola, and mineral water. Like Chinese people drinking tea, drinking Mate tea has become an integral part of local culture. It is very popular in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and other countries in the Laplata River basin, and Uruguayans regard it as a national drink.

5. Customs and traditions

Most Uruguayans are of Spanish and Italian descent, with an outgoing personality and a love for singing and dancing. The famous tango dance originated in Uruguay and Argentina. Except for formal occasions, I usually dress casually. The main foods consumed by urban and rural residents in Uruguay are meat, rice, corn, wheat, vegetables, poultry and eggs.  

From mid December to the end of February each year is the vacation season for Uruguayans, and it is best not to engage in business travel during this period.

Uruguayans have a habit of tipping. The tip for the catering industry is about 10% of the consumption amount, and the tip for accommodation rooms is generally $3-5. If a hotel doorman or waiter provides service, a tip of $1 to $2 can be given at a time.

6. Religious language

Uruguay implements religious freedom, with 41% of the population practicing Catholicism, 41% not practicing any religion, and 1% practicing Judaism. Uruguay does not have an official religion. The official language is Spanish.

Communications Power

（1） Power supply voltage

220 volts/50 hertz. The socket is a three item parallel circular socket.

（2） Communication Network

The frequency of Uruguayan mobile phones is 800 MHz for 2G, 1900 MHz for 3G, and GSM-1800 MHz. The main mobile network operators are ANTEL, MOVISTAR, and CLARO. To make phone calls from China, you need to add 00598- to the phone number, and not add the first digit "0" to the phone number. In Uruguay, whether using landline or mobile phones, you need to add "0".  

（3） Uruguay has an open Internet. Most hotels and inns have wireless internet.

contact information

Uruguayan Presidential Palace website: http://www.presidencia.gub.uy

Uruguayan Immigration Office website: www.dnm.minterior.gub.uy

Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: http://www.mrree.gub.uy