In fact, Uruguay is southern Europe. This is a small country, by South American standards, squeezed between the two behemoths of Argentina and Brazil, with a population of barely three million. It’s a country that’s rarely talked about, and then only because of the friendly antics of its former president. A country we know little about. And yet it deserves to be known.
GMT-3
Uruguayan Peso
(UYU)
+598
Compulsory vaccinations:
No vaccination required. Vaccination against yellow fever is not required on arrival, even for travelers from neighboring countries where it may be rife.
Our current insistence on recommending yellow fever vaccination to travellers to Central and South America (except Uruguay and Chile) and the Caribbean, even if it is not compulsory on entry for those arriving directly from Europe or the United States, has less to do with the risk of contracting the disease than with the variability of administrative risk in the event of itinerant travel from one country in the region to another. On the other hand, the possibility of changes in International Health Regulations (recommendation becoming obligation) between registration for a trip and actual departure, but also the recent (July 2016) lifetime extension of the validity of vaccination, strengthens us in our incentives. They will be confirmed (or not) by the doctor at the International Vaccination Center, depending on the risk and the legislation.
Vaccinations recommended:
As everywhere else, it’s important to be up to date with your universal vaccinations: DTPP.
Hepatitis A: a food-borne disease, against which it is advisable to be immune, either through vaccination or, as many frequent travelers are, through silent contact with the virus on previous trips (simple verification by testing for protective antibodies).
Rabies and typhoid are more rare.
Malaria:
It has now completely disappeared, but this does not mean that we shouldn’t protect ourselves against mosquito bites (sporadic cases of dengue fever in agricultural valleys).
Other risks:
These are cosmopolitan environmental risks (sea bathing, snakes, spiders, etc.) and behavioral risks (petty and medium-scale urban crime, drugs, etc.).
Practical info:
Except in emergencies, it is advisable to contact the insurance company and the French Embassy in Montevideo: tel. (598-2) 17050 000.
For French nationals, a valid passport, valid for 6 months after the date of return.
To cover all eventualities, make sure your passport has the required or sufficient number of blank pages (usually 3, with 2 facing each other).
If you’re traveling with your children, you should be aware that minors of all ages are now also required to have an individual passport. French law stipulates that minors traveling with one or both parents do not need to be in possession of an authorization to leave the country. On the other hand, this document is mandatory (since January 15, 2017) if this accompanying condition is not met. In the latter case, the child must present: a passport (or identity card, depending on the requirements of the destination country); an authorization to leave the country form, signed by one of the parents holding parental authority (the authorization to leave the country form is available at www.service-public.fr); a photocopy of the signing parent’s identity document.
When a minor travels with a parent whose name he or she does not bear, it is strongly recommended either to be able to prove parentage (https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F15392), or to present an authorization to leave the country (Cerfa form no. 15646*01) duly completed and signed by the other parent, together with a copy of his or her identity card. This authorization does not exempt minors from any other formalities specific to their destination.
Driver’s license: to avoid any inconvenience, even for non-European countries that officially recognize the validity of the French driver’s license on their territory, it may be useful to obtain an international driver’s license or, failing that, a sworn translation of the French license.
If your trip involves transiting the United States :
DOCUMENTS. To enter without a visa, all French travelers (including children of all ages) going to (or transiting through) the United States by air or sea for a tourist trip of no more than 90 days must hold an individual passport bearing the “microchip” symbol on the cover. As of January 15, 2017, authorization to leave the country is reinstated for French minors traveling without at least one of their parents.
ESTA. All French travelers going to (or transiting through) the United States by air or sea for a tourist trip will need to be in possession of an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) electronic authorization before boarding. The ESTA form must be printed out, marked “authorization granted” and presented at check-in. This document, which merely authorizes boarding, does not guarantee admission to the USA. Once granted, this authorization is valid for one or more entries for two years (or until the validity of the applicant’s passport expires).
Online forms are available at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ (requests must be made no later than 72 hours before departure). There is a fee for ESTA authorization: US$14 (January 2017 rate), payable by credit card at the time of application.
VISA EXEMPTION RESTRICTIONS. Travelers who have visited Iran (or Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen or Sudan) since March 1, 2011 must apply for a visa in person at a U.S. consulate if they wish to travel to or transit through the United States, even if they are citizens of a country covered by the Visa Waiver Program. This measure also applies to dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen or Sudan.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES. New security measures have come into force at airports: electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) must be charged and in working order on all flights to and from the USA and London. Control officers must be able to switch them on. As a precaution, keep your charger handy. If your device is unloaded or faulty, it will be confiscated. As this measure is likely to be extended to other airports, we advise you to charge your electronic devices before your flight, whatever your destination.
Visa:
For stays of less than 90 days, no visa is required for French nationals.
