Weapons — Uruguay
What travelers need to know about weapons in Uruguay. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Weapons in Uruguay: prohibited — what is legal at home can be a serious crime here.
Uruguay bans holding or carrying a firearm unless the Interior Ministry has authorised it. Article 1 of Ley 19.247 reads "Prohibese la tenencia y porte de armas de fuego, municiones, explosivos y otros materiales relacionados que no hayan sido debidamente autorizados por el Ministerio del Interior", and it is the Poder Ejecutivo that sets the types, characteristics and requirements for an authorisation. Private sales must be entered in the Registro Nacional de Armas (art. 4) and dealers need Poder Ejecutivo authorisation (art. 3). There is no tourist exemption, so bring no firearm or ammunition without a Ministry authorisation obtained beforehand.
Unauthorised acquisition, holding in deposit, manufacture or sale: six months of prision to six years of penitenciaria (art. 9). Unauthorised tenencia once the art. 6 regularisation period has run: a fine of 10 to 1,000 UR (art. 10). International trafficking: twelve months of prision to twelve years of penitenciaria (art. 8).
§ IMPO (Direccion Nacional de Impresiones y Publicaciones Oficiales, Uruguay) - Ley N 19.247, arts. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10; "Documento Actualizado"Verified Oct 8, 2026