Buenos Aires Herald 
Uruguay is facing rising tensions with Germany and France after they decided not to recognize new Uruguayan passports issued since April 23. In response, the Uruguayan government announced Tuesday that it has summoned the ambassadors of both countries in Montevideo for consultations, seeking clarification and a resolution to what it views as a misunderstanding.
The measure was confirmed in a joint statement released by Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and Interior Ministry. The statement backed the recent updates to the Uruguayan travel document, asserting that the new passports comply with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as with human rights principles on mobility, identity, and non-discrimination.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Interior Ministry are working to find a solution that does not harm Uruguayans and ensures their freedom of movement,” the official statement read.
The controversy centers on changes introduced by Uruguay’s National Directorate of Civil Identification (DNIC) as of April 15. Notably, the new passports no longer display the holder’s place of birth, a move the government said aims to harmonize treatment between citizens who were born in Uruguay and those who acquired the nationality later in life.
Additionally, the field previously labeled “nationality” now appears as “nationality/citizenship,” listing “URY” (the country code for Uruguay) in all cases.
These adjustments raised alarms in Berlin and Paris. German Ambassador to Uruguay Stefan Duppel posted on social media platform X that the updated passports are not valid for entry into Germany: “Passports issued after 23/04/2025 do not indicate the place of birth. Entry with these passports is now not permitted, even for short stays.” He also confirmed that visa applications using the new passports are no longer being accepted.
France took a similar stance, stating: “We have requested specimen copies of the new passport model from the Uruguayan government for evaluation by our experts. These are currently under review. Until further notice, we cannot accept visa applications using this model.”
Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that it is in contact with consular authorities from both countries to understand the basis for the restrictions and to reverse them as soon as possible. “The changes were duly communicated to all embassies in Montevideo and to Uruguayan embassies abroad,” the ministry stated.
The government continues to insist that the eligibility criteria for obtaining a passport remain unchanged and that the adjustments reflect a modernization effort aligned with international best practices. Still, travel restrictions remain in place for now, affecting both tourists and expatriates needing to renew their documents.
Uruguayan authorities emphasized they are closely monitoring the situation and reiterated that this is not a diplomatic confrontation but rather a technical issue they are confident can be resolved “without undermining Uruguayans’ right to free movement.”