Is Heroin legal in Uruguay?
- Legal status
- Prohibited for trafficking; personal-use possession of a 'reasonable quantity' non-criminal at judicial discretion (Decree-Law 14.294, Art 31)
- Consequences if caught
- Under Decree-Law 14.294 (Art 31), possession of a 'reasonable quantity exclusively for personal consumption' is NOT criminalised — a judge decides, with no fixed thresholds (except 40 g for cannabis). Production and trafficking (Arts 30/31) carry 20 months to 10 years. Heroin is prohibited for trafficking; personal-use possession is non-criminal at judicial discretion.
- If prescribed or medical
- Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form; for controlled medicines carry the prescription and original packaging and declare it.
- Documentation
- Carry a prescription and original packaging for any controlled medicine, and declare it. Note: legal cannabis access is for registered Uruguayan citizens/permanent residents only — see the cannabis cell.
- Law 19.172 (2013, cannabis regulation)
- Decree-Law 14.294, Arts 30/31 (as amended by Law 17.016 and Law 19.172)
- Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (IRCCA)
- impo.com.uy
- ircca.gub.uy
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Uruguay’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →