If you already hold a licence from your country, you do not need to take a test: it is homologated. That is the route most foreign nationals use, and the requirements vary considerably depending on the category you are homologating. Here is what the intendencia asks for, which medical tests you need, and the detail that gets applications turned away at the counter.
The procedure is run by each intendencia (departmental government), so requirements and costs vary by department. The figures in this guide are for Montevideo: confirm with your own intendencia before booking.
Homologation or test: which applies to you
- If you hold a valid licence from your home country or another department, homologation applies: a Uruguayan licence is issued on the basis of the one you already have, with no theory or practical test.
- If you have never held a licence, or yours has expired, you go through the first-time procedure with the corresponding theory and practical tests.
One point that reassures many people: homologating does not mean surrendering or cancelling your original licence. You keep yours and add the Uruguayan one.
Requirements by category
Here is the difference almost no article explains, and it determines how much preparation you need.
Categories A, G1 and G2
- Uruguayan identity document or passport, valid and in good condition.
- Valid driving licence.
- Health card (carné de salud) issued by an authorised institution.
Categories B, C, D, E, F, H and G3
- Uruguayan identity document or passport, valid and in good condition.
- Valid driving licence from the country or department you are homologating from.
- Printed blood test results showing glucose, lipid profile and VDRL, plus a urine test. No more than six months old.
- Tetanus vaccination certificate.
That block of tests is what delays the process most if you had not planned for it: you have to book, take them, wait for results and bring them printed. Start there rather than leaving it to the end.
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The three reasons applications fail
- Unpaid traffic fines or overdue payment agreements. With outstanding traffic debt there is no homologation. It is the first filter and worth checking before booking.
- Expired original licence. The licence you are homologating must be valid at the time of the procedure. If it has expired, homologation no longer applies: you move to the first-time route with tests.
- Documentation in another language, untranslated. If your licence or documents are not in Spanish, you must attach a sworn translation.
On that last point: if your documentation comes from abroad, sort out the sworn translation first and, where applicable, the apostille or legalisation.
How it works
- Book a date and time through the intendencia’s electronic calendar.
- Attend with all your documentation at the relevant office. In Montevideo, Av. 18 de Julio 1360.
- Documentation and any outstanding fines are checked, and the licence is issued.
Every intendencia has its own rules
This is the point that causes most confusion: the procedure is departmental, not national. Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado and the rest each have their own requirements, costs and booking systems. Even homologating between Uruguayan departments is a procedure in itself.
The practical rule: you apply at the intendencia of the department where you live, and you should check that intendencia’s site, not Montevideo’s, if you live elsewhere.
Before all this: the identity document
To homologate you need a Uruguayan identity document or a valid passport. If you do not have Uruguayan documentation yet, that is the prior step: see the guide to the identity card for foreigners, which in turn requires having started your legal residency.
Frequently asked questions
Can I homologate my foreign licence in Uruguay?
Yes, provided it is valid. A Uruguayan licence is issued on the basis of yours, with no theory or practical test.
Do I lose my original licence when homologating?
No. You keep yours and obtain the Uruguayan one as well.
Which medical tests are required?
For categories B, C, D, E, F, H and G3: blood tests with glucose, lipid profile and VDRL, plus a urine test, no more than six months old, and a tetanus vaccination certificate. For A, G1 and G2 the health card is enough.
What if I have traffic fines?
Homologation is not possible with unpaid fines or overdue payment agreements.
And if my licence has expired?
Homologation no longer applies: you have to go through the first-time procedure with theory and practical tests.
My licence is in another language — is that a problem?
No, as long as you attach a sworn translation.
Is the procedure the same across the country?
No. Each intendencia sets its own requirements, costs and booking system. You apply in the department where you live.
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