Uruguay
Last reviewed: 2026-06
Travelling to Uruguay with snus or nicotine pouches? Both are unclear in Uruguay. Cigarettes are legal for adults aged 18+. This page covers the legal status of snus, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, vaping, and heated tobacco in Uruguay as of 2026-06, with official sources where available.
Snus
UnclearNo snus-specific provision found in Uruguay's tobacco law (Law No. 18.256). Uruguay appears on the GSTHR snus-allowed list, but oral smokeless tobacco is not separately regulated and is not commercially available. Note Uruguay's strong tobacco-control regime overall.
Nicotine Pouches
UnclearNo specific law on tobacco-free nicotine pouches found in Uruguay. Given Uruguay's strict approach (it bans e-cigarettes and heated tobacco), the status of pouches is uncertain and they are not on the market; travellers should treat as a grey area.
Cigarettes
LegalMinimum age: 18+
Legal basis: Ley No. 18.256 (tobacco control); plain packaging in force since 2019
Cigarettes are legal but subject to some of the world's strictest tobacco controls: plain (standardised) packaging, single-presentation rule per brand, large graphic warnings, and comprehensive smoke-free laws.
Vape / E-cigarettes
BannedLegal basis: Decreto No. 534/009 (2009), amended by Decreto No. 299/017
Marketing, importation, advertising and registration of e-cigarettes are explicitly banned by Decree No. 534/009. Use is also prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited. Uruguay was among the first countries to ban e-cigarettes.
Heated Tobacco (IQOS)
BannedLegal basis: Decreto No. 125/025 (2025), amending Decreto No. 534/009; repealed Decree No. 299/017 and Decree No. 87/021
Decree No. 125/025 (2025) prohibits the marketing, importation and advertising of heated tobacco products, reinstating the ban after a 2021 decree had briefly allowed HTP commercialisation. HTP is again fully prohibited for sale and import.
Personal Import
Sources
- AGGGSTHR — Uruguay country profileAccessed 2026-06
- AGGGSTHR — Which countries allow the sale of snusAccessed 2026-06
- AGGTobacco Control Laws — Uruguay legal summaryAccessed 2026-06
- LAWTobacco Control Laws — Decree No. 299/2017 (Uruguay)Accessed 2026-06
- AGGTobacco Control Laws — Uruguay e-cigarettes main policiesAccessed 2026-06
- AGGVital Strategies — Uruguay reinstates HTP ban (Decree 125/025)Accessed 2026-06
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and regulations regarding snus, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, vaping and heated tobacco change frequently. Always verify the current legal status with official government sources before travelling. NicotineAtlas assumes no liability for actions taken based on information presented here.