How strict are gun laws in Uruguay?
Permissive
Handguns are shall-issue for personal protection, meaning self-defense is sufficient for acquisition.
Uruguay is one of 26 countries classified “Permissive” for civilian gun ownership — 13% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- Argentina
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Paraguay
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Chile
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Bolivia
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- Brazil
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- Peru
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
Other laws in Uruguay
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Every law in Uruguay → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.