Uruguay and Argentina upgrade three border crossings with new controls

Uruguay's National Customs Directorate has reported a package of security and border-control upgrades at three crossings shared with Argentina, following a bilateral meeting of the MERCOSUR Technical Subcommittee on Border Controls and Operations held on 29 and 30 September 2026 in Salto Grande. The work covers the Concordia–Salto, Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos and Colón–Paysandú crossings, which are managed as Integrated Control Areas (ICA).

Key facts

• Meeting: 29–30 September 2026, Salto Grande
• Crossings covered: Concordia–Salto, Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos, Colón–Paysandú
• Concordia–Salto: 113 security cameras installed and a monitoring room opened
• Colón–Paysandú: six immigration lanes and four mobile processing units planned for Pope Leo XIV's visit
• Who reported it: Uruguay's National Customs Directorate
• Completion dates: none announced

What is changing at each crossing?

At the Concordia (Entre Ríos, Argentina)–Salto (Uruguay) crossing, reached via the Salto Grande International Bridge, 113 security cameras have been installed and a monitoring room operated by the Argentine Gendarmerie has opened. Variable signage has been added in the lanes, and traffic lights have been fitted in the Immigration booths used for local and tourist traffic.

At the Gualeguaychú (Entre Ríos)–Fray Bentos International Customs Area, connected by the General San Martín International Bridge, work is under way to install a mobile X-ray scanner for cargo inspection. Efforts are also progressing on digitising the stamping of customs documents, which Uruguayan Customs would link to its LUCIA system, and a protocol for responding to incidents is being developed.

At the Colón (Entre Ríos)–Paysandú crossing, via the General José Gervasio Artigas International Bridge, maintenance, painting and restroom improvements for staff have been reported. Operational measures are also being coordinated ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paysandú, for which six immigration lanes and four additional mobile processing units are planned.

Who took part in the meeting?

Representatives of the foreign ministries and control agencies of both countries attended, together with members of the Uruguayan Association of Customs Brokers (ADAU) and the Uruguayan Chamber of International Land Transport (CATIDU). Public and private sector organisations from both sides reviewed progress and pending actions at the three Integrated Control Areas.

The subcommittee sits within MERCOSUR's Technical Committee No. 2, "Customs Affairs and Trade Facilitation", whose role is to analyse and implement mechanisms relating to customs operations and techniques. Uruguay's National Customs Directorate described the measures as part of a digital transformation aimed at strengthening security and integrated border management through technology, digitised procedures and closer coordination between control agencies.

What this means for travellers

People crossing between Argentina and Uruguay at these three points should expect continuing works and new monitoring equipment, including cameras and traffic lights at Immigration booths handling local and tourist traffic at Concordia–Salto. Travellers heading to Paysandú around Pope Leo XIV's visit should allow for planned extra immigration lanes and mobile processing units at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.

No start or completion dates have been announced for the remaining work, and the source gives no timetable for the X-ray scanner, the digitised customs stamping or the incident-response protocol.