The Working Holiday Visa for Uruguay

Stuck like an apricot between Brazil's gargantuan thumb and Argentina's long index finger, Uruguay has always looked like an outsider. Yet, after two centuries in the shadow of its neighbors, South America's smallest country is finally enjoying well-deserved recognition.

Progressive, stable, safe, and with plenty of cultural sophistication, Uruguay offers visitors the chance to experience everyday moments that allow them to immerse themselves in the local culture - whether they're caught in a traffic jam of cows and cowboys on a dirt road to nowhere, or walking with locals carrying mate (a well-known South American energy drink that is carried in an iron thermos) as they stroll along the Montevideo waterfront.

Conditions to be met for obtaining a Working Holiday Visa for Uruguay

For your application to be considered by the Uruguayan Consulate or Embassy, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Your nationality

To participate in the WHV in Uruguay, you must come from one of the three countries that have signed a WHV agreement with Uruguay. At the moment, the signatory countries are:

• France
• Australia
• New Zealand

Good to know:

Just because you live in one of the above-mentioned countries does not mean that you can participate in the WHV in Uruguay! It is mandatory that you have one of the three nationalities listed.

2. Your age

When a WHV agreement is signed between two countries, an age limit is often set. In the case of the agreements between Uruguay and France, Australia and New Zealand, the minimum age is 18, and the maximum age is 30. This means that if you wish to apply to the Uruguayan government, you will have until the day before your 31st birthday to do so. However, it is recommended that you don't wait until the last minute.

3. Having a valid passport

To apply for a WHV with the Uruguayan authorities, you will need to have a passport that is fully valid and will be valid for the total duration of your stay in Uruguay - i.e., for a minimum of one year / 12 months. Another important requirement for your passport is that it must contain a number of blank pages (at least 2 pages). The blank pages are necessary for your visa to be placed in the passport and for there to be enough space for the arrival and departure stamps to be affixed by the customs authorities.

Important:

Do not misplace your passport! You are strongly advised to keep your passport safe once you have received your visa. Yes, if you are unlucky enough to lose it, the process of reissuing your visa could be very complicated.

Good to know:

Do you have more than one nationality? It is important that you present the passport of a country that has signed the agreement. See the section on "First-time participants" below for more information.

4. Having sufficient savings / minimum budget

When planning your trip, one of the main things to think about is the budget/savings! And just like any other trip, your WHV in Uruguay will require you to have a specific amount of money so that you are able to provide for all your needs.

To go to Uruguay, a compulsory minimum of 2,500 euros in the participant's bank account is required.

Good to know:

You will need to provide proof of funds or an official bank statement signed by your bank.

5. Having a medical insurance policy

In order for your application to be accepted by the Uruguayan authorities, it is compulsory for each participant to take out a health insurance policy. Obviously, you will need to be covered for all cases of illness, repatriation, hospitalization, disability, and maternity in order to receive your visa, but it is also essentially a question of having cover when you are away from home and not having a huge bill to pay!

When you apply, you will need to give proof of insurance showing you will be covered for the whole of your stay for approximately one year.

6. First-time participation

In general, most WHVs worldwide only allow one participation per participant. This means that if you have already done a WHV in Uruguay, you will not be able to do it again.

On the other hand, if in the past you have participated in a WHV program anywhere else in the world, for example, in Australia, Japan, Spain, Hungary or Colombia, this will not affect your application for the WHV in Uruguay.

Good to know:

If you have two nationalities from countries that have agreements with Uruguay, for example, Australia and France, and you have already been to Uruguay with one of the two nationalities, well, unfortunately, it will not be possible to apply with your second passport. For the WHV in Uruguay, only one entry is allowed per participant.

7. The quota per country

When two countries enter a WHV agreement, a quota is usually decided. A quota allows the receiving country to have some control over the number of visas allocated each year and also over the number of participants who enter its territory on that visa. In the case of the agreements with Uruguay, here are the quotas decided per country:

• 200 places per year for Australia
• 200 places per year for New Zealand
• 300 places per year for France

Good to know:

If you are planning to apply for a WHV in Uruguay and you want to have the best chance on your side, it is best to apply early in the year. This is because quotas are updated on the 1st of January each year — which means that the likelihood of there being places left will be higher at the beginning of the year than at the end.

8. Purchasing airline tickets

You will need to book your return tickets and present them when you apply to the Uruguayan authorities. For the WHV program in Uruguay, you will be able to purchase your flight tickets after you have obtained your visa.

9. Having a clean criminal record

You will need to provide a clean criminal record when you apply. Indeed, you will need to obtain a record from your home country stating that you have never committed a crime to obtain your visa.

Good to know:

In general, the process of obtaining this document is really not complicated. You can actually get your criminal record by contacting the Ministry of Justice or the federal police in your country.

10. Duration and price of the visa

The WHV visa for Uruguay is valid for 12 months — one year. You will be allowed to work for the same employer for up to 6 months. The visa will also allow you to leave and return to Uruguay as many times as you wish during the visa period. This means that you can travel to neighboring countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, or Colombia.

Applying for a WHV visa in Uruguay, unfortunately, comes with a fee. You will have to pay 99 euros, or approximately 4,200 Uruguayan pesos, upon arrival in Uruguay (in Uruguayan pesos) for the application. There are also other administrative fees to consider.

Good to know:

You cannot be accompanied by dependents during your WHV stay in Uruguay! If your spouse or another family member would like to come with you on this trip, this person will also need to be eligible under the conditions and will need to make a separate application which will be processed independently of yours.

How to apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Uruguay?

The list of supporting documents you need to include with your application may vary depending on the country you are from. But generally, to apply for a WHV in Uruguay, you will need to provide:

• A cover letter, preferably in Spanish, explaining why you want to go to Uruguay on a WHV,
• a duly completed visa application form,
• a copy of your valid passport,
• two recent passport-size photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, preferably with a white background, obviously frontal, with your face clearly visible,
• a birth certificate,
• a return air ticket or proof that you have sufficient funds to purchase one,
• a certificate of insurance,
• a medical certificate proving that you are in good health,
• proof of sufficient funds to cover your living expenses,
• a clean police certificate - in other words, a clean criminal record not older than three months.

Useful addresses:

Embassy of Uruguay in Paris - France

33 Rue Jean Giraudoux,

75116 Paris,

France

Embassy of Uruguay in Canberra - Australia

Suite 2 Level 4,

Commerce House

24 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600.

Canberra

Australia

Consulate of Uruguay in Sydney - Australia

Level 20,

44 Market Street

GPO Box Q1807,

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

Consulate of Uruguay in Christchurch - New Zealand

Address39 Yardley Street,

Avonhead,

Christchurch 8042

New Zealand

Things to consider before moving to Uruguay on a WHV

The cost of living in Uruguay

Before traveling to Uruguay, we recommend that you have an idea of the cost of living so that you can prepare your budget.

Here is a table that will give you an idea of the cost of living in Uruguay - (source Numbeo; as of July 2022):

Looking for accommodation in Uruguay

Probably the most important part of preparing for your trip to Uruguay is finding accommodation! You'll need to find a room, studio, flat or small cottage where you can rest easy and feel safe. Airbnb is the star of the accommodation search platforms right now - this website could help you find the accommodation you want in Uruguay at the price you want.

Small budget and need to save as much as possible? Consider hostels, Couchsurfing and a flat share!

Looking for work in Uruguay

Most candidates who choose Uruguay for a WHV adventure do not usually choose to work there as salaries are very low. But volunteering or woofing options are very welcome. But if you want to find a job in Uruguay in your field, here are the job search platforms we recommend: Expertini, Startup Jobs or Jobs Search.

Learning the local language

Did you know that Spanish in Uruguay has been greatly influenced by Italian - many words are incorporated into it, which could make it difficult to understand if you don't speak Spanish well in the first place. Portuguese is also spoken in the cities near Brazil.

It is therefore recommended that you do a little practice before traveling to Uruguay! Duolingo, Babble, Memrise or Rosetta Stone could be your best friends for learning the language.

Initial steps to take upon your arrival in Uruguay

Here are the steps to take after your arrival in Uruguay:

Finalize your WHV application

Once you arrive in Uruguay, you will need to arrange for the translation of your birth certificate. This must be done by a sworn Uruguayan translator. You should then go to the National Directorate of Migration with this document.

The address is Misiones Street No. 1513, Montevideo.

To finalize and complete this process, you will have to pay approximately 60 euros — your payment must be made in Uruguayan pesos. Through this procedure, you will get a certificate which will then give you access to your cédula (see below).

The cédula

The cédula is the equivalent of your identity card — it is a temporary identity card for foreigners in Uruguay. We advise you not to wait long to get it as you will need it to work and to do many things (such as open a bank account in Uruguay). To get it, you will have to go to the National Directorate of Civil Identification with the certificate you got when you finalized your WHV application.

The address is Rincón Street 669, Montevideo.