Yes, Uruguayan citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Uruguayan passport. Uruguay is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the usual choice is the Vietnam visa for Uruguayan citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
However, a large share of Uruguayans also hold an Italian or Spanish passport, and both countries get 45 days in Vietnam without a visa. This page explains which passport to use, why January and Tourism Week are the busiest times to apply, the 10-hour time difference, flights, costs and the embassies.
Vietnam visa for Uruguayan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed on a Uruguayan passport: yes.
- Italian or Spanish passport: up to 45 days visa-free.
- Best option otherwise: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, slower around Tet, which falls in the Uruguayan summer.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 10 hours ahead of Montevideo.
- Embassies: Uruguay in Hanoi (since 2011); Vietnam covers Uruguay from Buenos Aires.
How many Uruguayan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 2,200 arrivals from Uruguay in 2019. The number fell to just 11 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 638 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 304 Uruguayans arrived, almost half of the previous year’s total. That matches the Uruguayan summer holidays, when most long trips to Asia happen.
Vietnam visa for Uruguayan citizens: which passport to use
| Passport or option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian or Spanish passport | Up to 45 days | Free | Dual citizens on trips under 45 days |
| E-visa on your Uruguayan passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Everyone else, and longer trips |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
- You hold a valid Italian or Spanish passport: use it for check-in, entry and exit, and stay up to 45 days without a visa.
- Your Italian citizenship is still in process: only a passport counts, so apply for the e-visa on your Uruguayan passport until the Italian one is issued.
- You also hold an Argentine or Brazilian passport: no help, because both of those also need a visa.
- Your trip is longer than 45 days: use the Uruguayan passport with a 90-day e-visa.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Uruguayan citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The Uruguayan ID card (cédula) is valid in Mercosur countries only, not in Vietnam.
- Write your full name exactly as in the passport, including both surnames if you have them. If the form will not take accents or ñ, copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose single or multiple entry. For example, pick multiple entry if you will also visit Cambodia, Laos or Thailand and come back, then choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply: summer, Tourism Week and Tet
Vietnam is 10 hours ahead of Montevideo all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 9 pm on a Thursday in Montevideo, it is already 7 am on Friday in Hanoi, and Friday counts as your first working day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Summer holidays (January and February): the main season for long trips. Unfortunately, Vietnam’s Tet holiday starts on 6 February 2027, and processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So apply before mid-January.
- Tourism Week (Semana de Turismo): Uruguay’s Holy Week holiday, from 22 to 28 March in 2027. Apply at least 2 weeks before.
Flights from Uruguay
There are no direct flights, and the trip usually takes more than 30 hours. Most travelers fly from Montevideo through São Paulo, Buenos Aires or Madrid, then connect in Europe, the Gulf or Asia. Check each transit country’s rules too, especially if you connect in the United States, which needs a visa or ESTA.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Uruguayan citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because it is charged in US dollars, paying from a US dollar account avoids most conversion fees, which is easy in Uruguay. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Uruguay. Vietnam has no embassy in Montevideo. Its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, covers Uruguay, but you do not need it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Uruguay in Hanoi. Uruguay opened it in 2011. Contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help during your trip. The two countries are also linked by trade: Uruguayan beef is one of the main products sold to Vietnam.
Worked examples
- Couple from Montevideo, 3 weeks in January, one with an Italian passport: the Italian passport holder enters visa-free; the partner needs a single-entry e-visa (US$25), applied in December.
- Backpacker from Salto, 2 months in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both Vietnam legs within 90 days.
- Family with Spanish passports, 12 days during Tourism Week: no visa needed, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Beef exporter from Paysandú at a trade fair in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa on the Uruguayan passport, applied 2 weeks ahead.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Uruguayan citizens
Do Uruguayan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Uruguayan passport. Uruguay is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
Can I enter Vietnam visa-free with my Italian passport?
Yes, for up to 45 days, as long as you travel on the Italian passport.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Uruguay?
No. The Vietnamese embassy in Buenos Aires covers Uruguay. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online instead.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa and visa on arrival.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Uruguay–Vietnam relations (Wikipedia). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
