Is It Safe to Travel to Uruguay in 2026?
Uruguay - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast.
Is It Safe to Travel to Uruguay in 2026?
Uruguay is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Crime is most common in the departments of Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, and Rivera. Violent crime occurs across the country, including homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, and theft, which can affect U.S. citizens.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of street crime, particularly in urban areas like Montevideo, where armed robbery and theft are prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime, especially in urban centers, but can generally rely on established hotel and transportation services.
Families with children should be cautious about healthcare access and safety in urban areas, as violent crime can occur unexpectedly, impacting family outings.
Remote workers can find reliable connectivity in urban areas, but should remain vigilant about personal safety and avoid displaying wealth.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Uruguay.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution4 regions
▶Canelones
Crime is prevalent in this area.
▶Maldonado
Crime is prevalent in this area.
▶Montevideo
Crime is prevalent in this area.
▶Rivera
Crime is prevalent in this area.
Uruguay has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Uruguay has an overall threat severity of 3.0 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 96/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Language
Spanish
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Uruguay
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Uruguay?
▶Is it safe to travel to Uruguay right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Uruguay?
▶What vaccines do I need for Uruguay?
▶Is Uruguay safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Uruguay?
More Uruguay Data
Free — 96/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.