Uruguay

There is no legal way for a tourist to buy cannabis in Uruguay. The decree implementing Ley 19.172 closes all three lawful routes to visitors: only adults who are "natural or legal Uruguayan citizens, or who prove permanent residence in the country" and are entered in the Cannabis Registry kept by the state regulator IRCCA may hold a home grow (Decreto 120/014 art. 15), belong to a membership club (art. 25) or acquire psychoactive cannabis at all (art. 34). Pharmacy dispensing must be done in person at the pharmacy, and sale by internet, telephone or home delivery is expressly prohibited (art. 35) -- so any cannabis sold to a visitor is sold outside the legal system.

Registration in the Cannabis Registry requires proof of Uruguayan citizenship or accredited permanent residence, so a visitor cannot register. Supplying cannabis without legal authorisation remains an offence under Ley 19.172, carrying 2 to 12 years' penitentiary -- that is the offence the person selling to a visitor is committing.

Verified Aug 24, 2026

Cannabis is legal in Uruguay, but only for Uruguayan citizens and accredited permanent residents who register with the state regulator IRCCA, so a tourist has no lawful way to obtain it. All three legal routes -- pharmacy sales, cannabis membership clubs and home growing -- require Uruguayan citizenship or permanent residence plus registration, and anything bought outside that system comes from an illegal market. Uruguayan law does exempt from criminal liability a quantity you hold for your own consumption, and treats up to 40 grams of marijuana as such a quantity, but supplying, selling, transporting for others or carrying cannabis across a border falls under a trafficking article carrying 2 to 12 years in prison.

Importing, exporting, distributing, transporting, supplying or holding cannabis other than for personal consumption, without legal authorisation: 2 to 12 years' penitentiary, rising to 3 to 12 years where committed by an organised criminal group (Decreto-Ley 14.294 art. 31). Unauthorised production of psychoactive cannabis: 20 months to 10 years (art. 30). Taking cannabis out of the country is covered by the same export offence.

Verified Sep 4, 2026

There is no restriction on the types of medication you may bring into Uruguay for personal use, but carry it in its original packaging with your doctor's prescription and bring enough for your whole stay.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

You may carry up to USD 10,000 in or out of Uruguay without declaring it; any greater amount must be declared to Uruguay's customs authorities.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Uruguayan customs strictly regulate bringing in precious jewels, gold, firearms, pornography, flammable articles, acids, prohibited drugs, plants, seeds, foodstuffs, antiquities and business equipment, though tourists may import personal effects duty-free.

Travellers bringing commercial goods must declare them at the port of entry or face possible detention, seizure of the goods and criminal charges.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Alcohol cannot be sold to under-18s in Uruguay - every licensed seller must display the notice "sale to under-18s prohibited" - and any sale, offer or supply of alcohol is banned outright inside educational centres. Shops covered by the national late-night limit may not sell alcohol between midnight and 6 a.m. and must post a sign saying so, so expect to be refused at the till in those hours.

Penalties fall on the seller, not the buyer: the Ministry of Public Health can impose an observation, a warning, a fine of 1,000 to 100,000 Indexed Units (UI), suspension or cancellation of permits, or temporary or permanent closure of the premises (Ley 19.855 art. 34).

Verified Sep 20, 2026

Do not bring a vape to Uruguay. Decree 534/009 provides "Prohibese la comercializacion, importacion, registro como marca o patente y publicidad, de cualquier dispositivo electronico para fumar" - importing ANY electronic smoking device is prohibited, as are its sale and advertising, and the prohibition reaches nicotine-delivery products generally rather than only devices that contain nicotine. The decree sets out no personal-use or traveller exception, so carrying a vape in is importing a prohibited device; expect it to be seized at the border.

Article 3 empowers the Ministry of Public Health to impose the sanctions provided under existing regulations; the decree itself sets no specific amount.

Verified Sep 18, 2026

Uruguay bans smoking, or keeping any tobacco product lit, in every enclosed space used by the public and every enclosed workplace, which takes in bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and offices, and in every area, indoor or outdoor, of hospitals and other health facilities and of schools and other teaching institutions. Unroofed spaces inside the built area of a building, such as interior patios, count as enclosed. Venues must post signs reading "Prohibido fumar, ambiente 100% libre de humo de tabaco" and may not keep ashtrays inside. Tobacco may not be sold to anyone under 18, cigarettes may not be sold singly or in packs of fewer than 10, and tobacco may not be sold from vending machines.

Ley 18.256 art. 16: warning, a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 indexed units (UI), or temporary closure; art. 21 also allows tobacco products to be sealed, held or seized. Art. 18 names the owner or operator of the space as the party responsible for smoke-free violations, and the law sets no separate fine amount for the individual smoker. Smoking in places habitually frequented by children, pregnant women or people at high risk from tobacco smoke is an aggravating circumstance (art. 19(C)).

Verified Sep 21, 2026

Uruguay enforces a zero blood-alcohol limit: if you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system you can be fined, have your licence suspended or face imprisonment.

A fine and possible imprisonment, a driving suspension or a community work order; you will also be fined if found driving under the influence of drugs.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

A foreign photocard driving licence is valid in Uruguay for your first 90 days (after that you must get a Uruguayan licence), and the law requires seat belts front and back, a first aid kit in the car, and dipped headlights during the day.

After 90 days you must hold a Uruguayan driving licence.

Verified Jul 30, 2026

Every mobile line in Uruguay, prepaid or contract, must be registered to a named person before it can be used on the network. To buy a SIM you give the operator your name, the type and number of an identity document (a national ID card, a passport or a tax registration number are the documents the rule names) and your actual address; registration can be done online, by phone or in person. If any of that information changes, you must tell the operator within 15 calendar days. The registered holder of a line is the person fined for malicious, false, joke or irregular calls to the 911 emergency service.

Malicious, false, joke or irregular calls to 911: a fine of 10 to 100 readjustable units (UR), imposed by the communications regulator URSEC on the registered holder of the line, graded by repetition (Decreto 271/021, arts. 1-2); the decree also provides for a warning before a line is blocked under Ley 19.355, art. 166. The registration decree itself sets no fine on the user: a line that is not registered cannot be used on the network (Decreto 274/014, art. 6).

Verified Sep 22, 2026

Same-sex marriage and civil unions are legal in Uruguay, anti-discrimination laws apply, and hostility or discrimination towards LGBT+ visitors is rare.

Verified Jul 30, 2026