Uruguay - Immigration
Uruguay Immigration Procedure for Yacht Crew
Passports must be valid for the expected stay in Uruguay.
A certified copy of the passport should be carried at all times.
Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Venezuela may enter the country with only their national identity card and are not required to show a passport.
Immigration is known as “Migraciones“.
Do I Need a Visa?
Most foreign visitors do not need a visa. See a full list of who requires a visa at the Ministry of the Interior website.
Visitors will normally be issued with a 90 day visitor’s card on arrival. This can be extended for another 90 days by applying for a temporary-stay-extension (for more information visit: https://www.gub.uy/tramites/prorroga-permanencia-temporaria), after which you must leave the country for at least 24 hours before you can return and be issued with a new visitor’s card.
Other Visa Information
If you require a visa in advance, you should check with the closest Uruguay embassy or consulate for the latest information. See list here. Additional details available on the Ministry of Interior website.
Last updated: January 2025
Departamento de Servicios Inspectivos
National Directorate of Migration website
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We have a 40 ft sailingboat. Does anyone know the prices of the marinas in UY. We want to stay there for a longer periode, 1 year. Thank you.
Hello, we have had feedback from a contact of ours in South America and he told us the following:
Piriapolis are medium price, but have the best services for small craft, and the best dry dock and travelift in Uruguay. There are cheaper ports but some of then will not allow boats to remain there without crew on board. You can see the prices of all marines in Uruguay (in Uruguay Pesos) at web: https://rfa.mtop.gub.uy/rfagiaweb/servlet/consultatarifariocliente
Remember, after a 9 month stay yacht owners must pay an aditional tax. Usually in the 8th month boats go to Argentina, cruise around and then go back.
Piriapolis port e-Mail: dnh.piriapolis@mtop.gub.uy
Low season: 1 March to 1 December
High season: 1 December to end of February
Now, Puerto Sauce in Juan Lacaze have excellent structure to do maintenance, new travelift and good mechanics.
https://move.noonsite.com/Countries/Uruguay?rc=Formalities#ClearanceAgents
Good afternoon. you can help find an agent to process in Montevideo.
And maybe they’ll tell me how to find an agent on my own.
I am now in Martinique and plan a big transition to Uruguay.
The norm that demands the certificate of safety elements “Safety Certificate” is very hard and can complicate the departure from Uruguay. We overcome the problem by presenting the security card of the liferaft.
See: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DdF0UAkWsAAFqbG.jpg
Omar Sanchez, Wetdoc. S/V Smoke, AU.
About: Chris de be Veyrac says: Sailing Rio de la Plata- unmarked hazard.
Seems to be the area West to the Pte Sarmiento shipwreck, which is well marked on the nautical chart, attached panoramic view and below with detail marked in red.
See: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQ8eMFaX4AIwrUq.jpg
Omar Sanchez, Wetdoc
Sailing rio de la plata- unmarked hazard.
We sailed from Piriapolis to BA and back and had been warned of possible unmarked wrecks. Nothing on the way there following the Uruguayan coast to Colonia, however on the way back on the more direct route from Buenos Aires to Piriapolis we saw an unmarked wreck at approximate position s34”39.924’ W57”50.653’.
It appeared to be a sunken barge, with the jig and hoist above the water line. It was dusk, no light was visible, and the wreck was not on the last update I had obtained before departing. A collision would have had a devastating impact, fortunately with so much exposed above water line the radar echo was very strong.
Try to sail during light hours, particularly on the Argentinian side and use your radar! Chris, S/Y HaiYou
Getting a Permit to Malvinas/Falklands – from Omar Sanchez:
The bureaucracy in Argentina has unfortunately increased and now it takes about 40-45 days to get the permit to go to Malvinas/Falklands.
That is why this year some foreign sailors have preferred to return to Punta del Este in Uruguay and to make the dispatch to the Malvinas from there, without touching Argentine ports to Malvinas.
This does not invalidate the rule that establishes the daily position report in Argentine waters.
Piriápolis: Works on the port are in the completion stage, the majority of marine have been enabled, with 100 new moorings.
The dry dock, and the travelift are are operational.
You should always inform Prefectura (Coast Guard) by VHF channel 16 at least 30 minutes before arrival.
The immigration office is located 50 meters from the port, and operates Monday to Saturday from 12: 30h to 16: 30h. The service is fee-based and paid in Uruguayan pesos,
Omar Sanchez, Wetdoc, from Buenos Aires.