All about the working holiday in Uruguay!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 or 35 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Enough to support yourself
This must be your first participation
Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Uruguay has Working Holiday programmes with Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
03. What is the application fee?
The visa application fee is roughly UYU4,200. The fee is paid when you arrive in Uruguay.
04. What documents are required for the application?
Standard items include:
- Passport-size photo of yourself
- Passport
- Apostille or legalised birth certificate
- Adequate health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Medical certificate
- Police certificate
- Letter declaring your intended plans for your stay, which may need to be signed by your government
Exact requirements vary based on citizenship. Check the details for your nationality with your nearest Uruguayan Embassy.
05. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Uruguay.
Exception: British citizens can stay for up to two years.
06. How long is the processing time?
The normal processing time is 10-15 working days.
07. Can I bring my spouse and/or children?
No, you cannot bring dependents on your WHV to Uruguay. Your spouse/partner must apply for their own WHV, if eligible.
08. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Some citizenships are required to have private health insurance. Check with your nearest Uruguayan Embassy to confirm if this is a requirement for you.
Even if insurance is not one of your requirements when applying, it is still strongly recommended for everyone to purchase. Otherwise, even small incidents can lead to significant out-of-pocket costs. You should choose an insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
09. When do I need to enter the country by?
You must enter Uruguay within 180 days from the day your application is approved.
10. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday, to Uruguay and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
11. Where can I apply?
If you are interested in applying for a Working Holiday temporary residency, you must contact the nearest Uruguayan Consulate to your country of citizenship to make an appointment.
Once your application is approved and you are in Uruguay, you will need to go in person to the National Migration Office and the National Civil Identification Office to apply for the National Identity card and pay the required fees.
As mentioned earlier, some citizenships applying for a WHV in Uruguay must have comprehensive health insurance for the duration of their stay. Even if you are exempt from this rule, you should consider purchasing insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation to avoid paying out of pocket for expensive medical costs.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Working Holiday and Other Adventures Abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Uruguay’s currency is the Uruguayan Peso (UYU). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a UYU debit card in hand before even arriving in Uruguay, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs or to make payments in UYU. You can also use your Wise account to transfer money to recipients in Uruguay. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Uruguay. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Uruguay.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Uruguay before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnbs or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing Abroad
Once your application is approved, you will have plenty of things you need to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, from the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot but don’t worry, take it one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Uruguay, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on your Spanish. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
All applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive, i.e. until the day before their 31st birthday).
Exception: New Zealand citizens can be up to 35 years old.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
You must have sufficient savings to support yourself during your stay. The authorities do not provide a specific figure, but they expect proof of sufficient financial resources (e.g. payslips, bank statements, etc.) issued within 30 days of the visa application date.
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been in Uruguay on a WHV, then you cannot apply again.
Depending on your citizenship, you may be required to buy health insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation for the duration of your stay. Even if it is not mandatory for your citizenship, you should purchase health insurance to cover expensive, out-of-pocket costs if you seek medical care abroad.
Check with your nearest Uruguayan Embassy to find out if insurance is a requirement for your application.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. Uruguay sets an annual quota by nationality for the number of WHVs issued:
- Australia: 200
- France: 300
- New Zealand: 200
- UK: 500
For other citizenships, contact your nearest Uruguayan Embassy to find out your quota.