Uruguay and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement to launch a Youth Mobility Program in 2025. This initiative will allow 500 young citizens from each country, aged 18 to 30, to experience life and culture in the other for up to two years.
Uruguayan citizens traveling to the UK must apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa. UK citizens going to Uruguay need to apply for a temporary Work and Holiday residence permit. Both permits enable participants to travel, work, and immerse themselves in the host country's culture.
This marks the UK's first Youth Mobility Program with a Latin American country. The agreement was signed in August 2023 during a visit by the British Foreign Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, David Rutley MP.
For Uruguayans, the Youth Mobility Scheme application is online and can be submitted from anywhere except the UK. Applicants must hold a Uruguayan passport and be between 18 and 30 years old.
There are 500 spots available annually, granted in order of application. The visa allows living in the UK for up to two years, with multiple entries permitted.
Visa holders can work, travel, volunteer, and take short courses. There are no language, work, or skill requirements, but applicants must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge.
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds (2530 pounds) for their initial stay. They also need to provide a criminal record certificate.
British citizens applying for a temporary Work and Holiday residence in Uruguay must apply in person at the District Consulate in London. Required documents include a valid passport, a medical certificate, and a criminal record certificate.
Applicants also need to provide proof of income and a declaration of their intended stay in Uruguay, which cannot exceed two years. After submitting the documents, the Consulate will inform the Uruguayan immigration authorities.
If the application is approved, the applicant must enter Uruguay within 180 days. Upon arrival, they must apply for a Uruguayan identity document.