Uruguay’s newly reopened borders: requirements to enter the country

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A decree was published last week detailing the conditions and documents to be presented by tourists wishing to cross the border.

According to regulations, quarantine will not be required for people “duly immunized against the SarsCoV-2 virus (Covid-19) and minors entering the country who comply with mandatory preventive social distancing measures.”

VACCINATION

Adults who meet one of the following two basic requirements may enter Uruguay:

1 – Foreigners who can prove they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, as approved by their country of origin within 9 months prior to entering Uruguay. Concurrently, they must have completed 15 days after inoculation to ensure effective immunity.

The certificate of proof of vaccination must be issued by the health authority of the country of origin.

2 – Foreigners who have had Covid-19 in the 90 days prior to arrival. This will also need to be accredited through a positive Covid-19 PCR or antigen detection test results performed within 90 to 20 days prior to travel.

In the case of minors, no vaccine certificate is required, as the government understands that not all governments offer vaccination for its younger population.

NEGATIVE PCR

All tourists wishing to enter the country must present a negative PCR test, irrespective of their age. Only children under 6 years of age may be exempt from presenting this certificate. The test must have been performed up to 72 hours before entering Uruguay.

Seven days after the first test, and while in Uruguay, tourists must take a second PCR test through the specific foreigners’ medical coverage.

ELECTRONIC SELF-DECLARATION

Anyone wishing to enter the country must submit an electronic declaration form prior to the trip. The form must contain the requested information, including personal data, proof of vaccinations and PCR tests.

“The aforementioned form must be completed electronically prior to entering the country, within 48 hours before boarding, and shall be considered as a sworn statement under the terms provided in Article 239 of the Criminal Code,” the decree states.

The published text specifies that this process should be performed digitally so that all entries through customs are handled as efficiently as possible.

VACCINE OFFER

Last week, Secretary of the Presidency Álvaro Delgado announced that Uruguay will purchase 3.7 million Pfizer anti-Covid-19 vaccine doses. Surplus vaccines will be offered to foreign tourists. People over 18 years of age will have access to a Pfizer booster dose, and minors between 12 and 17 years of age to both doses.

However, Delgado stated that in order to maintain Uruguay’s health situation, the government’s priority is to ensure booster doses to its own citizens. Therefore, only surplus vaccines will be offered to tourists. Vaccines for foreigners will be available from December and throughout the summer season.