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Do Uruguayans need a visa for Japan?

No, but only with the old version of the Uruguayan passport. Japan does not recognise the new ordinary passport issued after 16 April 2025, which has no place of birth on the data page. Holders of the old version can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

Updated

90days visa-free
Since 2023working holiday programme

Visa-free with conditions

The rule for Uruguayan passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Uruguay.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Passport
Old version only
Working holiday
Since 2023
Japanese missions
1
Visa for a short stay
Not required with the passport below
Longest stay granted
90 days
Passport
Old version of the Uruguayan passport only
What a short stay covers
Tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. No paid work.
Group on the ministry's list
Latin America and the Caribbean
List last revised
1 September 2025
The official wording
MOFA: visa exemption listThe period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, “30 days” for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
MOFA(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)VISA

Other passports from Latin America and the Caribbean

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Latin America and the Caribbean (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
ArgentinaNot needed90 days
BahamasNot needed90 days
BarbadosNot needed90 days
BrazilNot needed90 days
MexicoNot needed90 days
UruguayNot needed90 days

Passport conditions

The exemption for Uruguay depends on the kind of passport you hold.

You must hold a valid passport to enter Japan (Immigration Control Act, Article 3).

MOFA: note 11 to the listThe new version of Uruguayan ordinary passport issued after April 16, 2025, which does not include a 'place of birth' on the personal data page, is not recognized as valid by the Japanese government. Therefore, these new passports will not be eligible for travel to Japan. The Japanese visa exemption arrangement applies only to Uruguayan nationals holding the old version of Uruguayan passports. Uruguayan nationals holding the old version of passports will remain eligible for visa exemption even if their passports were issued after April 16, 2025.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

Working, studying or staying longer

Visa-free entry covers short stays only.

Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.

Working holiday visa

Japan has run a working holiday programme with Uruguay since 2023. Visas issued per year: 100. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2023
Visas per year
100
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Uruguay.

Digital nomad status

Uruguay is on the Immigration Services Agency's list for Japan's digital nomad status: remote work from Japan for up to 6 months, with no extension.

At the airport in Japan

The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.

On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.

JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation

Not yet. JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors. The Immigration Services Agency gives its start only as a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

Living in Uruguay with another passport

Visa applications go by where you live, not only by nationality.

You can apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country or in the country where you live. You cannot apply while travelling in a third country.

The foreign ministry's eVISA list does not include residents of Uruguay, so applications go to the embassy or consulate, or to the channel it names.

What the Embassy of Japan in Uruguay says

  • Applications are submitted at the mission's consular section. Source

Japanese embassy for Uruguay

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Uruguay. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.

This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.

Frequently asked questions

Do Uruguayans need a visa for Japan?

No, but only with the old version of the Uruguayan passport. Japan does not recognise the new ordinary passport issued after 16 April 2025, which has no place of birth on the data page. Holders of the old version can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

How long can Uruguayans stay in Japan without a visa?

Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Uruguay on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.

Can Uruguayans work in Japan on a visa-free stay?

No. A short stay does not include paid work. The Immigration Services Agency says Temporary Visitors cannot work in Japan in principle, apart from short business trips. A working holiday visa is the route for young Uruguayan nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Uruguayans need JESTA to enter Japan?

Not yet. The law creating JESTA passed on 29 May 2026. It starts on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026