Bolivia Visa
If you want to visit Bolivia, then you may have to get a Bolivia visa beforehand.
The visa policy of Bolivia depends on the country you are from. The Bolivian government divides visa applicants into three groups. If you are from a country included in the first group (USA, EU, Australia, etc), you do not need a visa to enter Bolivia for stays of up to 90 days.
If you are from a country in group 2 or 3, you have to get a visa before entering Bolivia, but the visa requirements and application process change.
Bolivia Visa for Group One Countries
If you are from one of the following countries, you do not need a visa to visit Bolivia for visits of up to 30 days. Once in Bolivia, you can extend your stay for up to 90 days.
- European Union member states
- Andorra
- Argentina*
- Peru
- Brazil*
- Canada
- Philippines
- Colombia*
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador*
- Iceland
- Paraguay*
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Mexico
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Palestine
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru*
- Philippines
- Russia**
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay*
- Vatican City
- Venezuela*
*Citizens of these countries can also enter Bolivia with only their ID Card.
**Russian passport holders can stay in Bolivia without a visa for 90 days within any 180 day period.
If you want to stay in Bolivia for longer than 90 days, then you have to apply for a visa from one of the Embassies or Consulates of Bolivia abroad. Go to the Bolivian Embassy nearest to where you live or the one where it is most convenient for you to go.
Bolivia Visa Application for Group Two Countries
If you are from one of the following countries, you have to get a Bolivian visa before you travel. You can get a visa for Bolivia from a Bolivian Embassy or Consulate near you or you can get it on arrival for a fee.
- Albania
- Algeria
- Central African Republic
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- China
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- China
- Comoros
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Brunei
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Iran
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- North Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Oman
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Saint Lucia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Eswatini
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Tanzania
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
How to Apply for Bolivia Visa (Group 2)
As a citizen of the countries included in the second group, you have two options when it comes to applying for a Bolivia visa:
- Applying in a Bolivian Embassy/Consulate
- Getting a Bolivia Visa on Arrival
The process of applying for a Bolivia visa at an Embassy or Consulate is as follows:
- Find the nearest Embassy/Consulate of Bolivia or the one that’s most convenient for you to go to. There is not a Bolivian consulate in every country.
- Contact them to learn about their application requirements, whether you have to make an appointment, and how you can submit the application.
- Complete the Bolivia visa application form (Sworn Statement for Visa Application), which is accessible online (here). You have to attach electronic copies of the following documents:
- Your passport
- A passport-size picture (3 cm x 3 cm)
- Travel itinerary
- Proof of accommodation in Bolivia
- Invitation letter from a host in Bolivia (if applicable)
- A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever
- Any other documents that may be required
- Print out the confirmation page (which is downloaded as a PDF) and then sign it.
- Collect the required documents for a Bolivian visa. (See the necessary documents under “Bolivia Visa Requirements”).
- Pay the Bolivia visa fee, as per the requirements of the Embassy/Consulate. In some cases, you may not have to pay a visa fee at all if you are applying before the trip.
- Submit the documents at the Embassy/Consulate during opening hours or on the date of your appointment. Depending on the Embassy/Consulate, you can also submit the documents by mail.
- Wait 10-15 working days for the visa to process. Once there is a decision on your visa application, you will be notified.
- Receive your visa. If you applied in person, you may have to go to the Embassy/Consulate yourself to receive your visa, whereas if you applied by mail the documents can be mailed back to you.
Bolivia Visa On Arrival
If you cannot access a Bolivian Consulate/Embassy, you can also receive a Bolivia Visa On Arrival at the Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz airports. However, the Bolivian immigration authorities do not have the most detailed information regarding how eligible applicants can receive their Bolivian visa on arrival. Although it is possible, the application process may not always be the same.
However, if your only choice is obtaining a Bolivia visa on arrival, then you must have all the required documents required for a visa with you (see the required documents for a Bolivia visa under “Bolivia Visa Requirements” below).
You must also have the necessary cash (in US dollars) to pay the Bolivia visa on arrival fee. The bills for the visa fee have to be in good condition since the visa officers at the entry may refuse to accept them otherwise.
Bolivia Visa Application For Group Three Countries
If you are from one of the following countries, you have to apply for a Bolivian visa at an Embassy or Consulate of Bolivia abroad. However, the process will be longer since they have to request authorization from the National Migration Service in Bolivia.
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Laos
- Libya
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Rwanda
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Timor-Leste
- Yemen
How to Apply for Bolivia Visa (Group 3)
To apply for a Bolivia visa, as a national of the third group, you have to find the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Bolivia or the one which is most convenient for you to go to.
- Contact them to learn about their requirements and to see whether you have to make an appointment.
- Inquire whether you can send your application and documents to the Bolivian Embassy/Consulate by mail rather than make a trip there. Some may offer the option, but not all.
- Complete an online Bolivia visa application form (Sworn Statement for Visa Application) and print it out (here). You have to attach electronic copies of the following documents:
- Your passport
- A passport-size picture (3 cm x 3 cm)
- Travel itinerary
- Proof of accommodation in Bolivia: Invitation letter from a host or proof of hotel reservation
- A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever
- Any other documents that may be required
- Collect the required documents (see the documents required for a Bolivian visa application below under “Bolivia Visa Requirements”)
- Go to the Bolivian Embassy/Consulate to apply for the visa. Submit your passport and documents OR send the documents by registered mail, if the option is available.
- The Bolivian Embassy/Consulate will forward your application to the National Migration Service in Bolivia.
- Three to five weeks later, you will be notified about their decision. In some cases, however, the decision can take up to three months.
- If the application is successful, you will receive your visa.
Bolivia Visa Requirements
When applying for a Bolivian visa, you have to submit documents which support your application. The required documents are:
- Your valid passport. It must have a validity of at least another six months and with at least two remaining pages for visa stickers.
- Printed Bolivia visa application form (Sworn Statement for Visa Application).
- Passport-size picture, with the following requirements:
- Dimensions: 3cm x 3cm or 2inch x 2inch
- For electronic picture: JPG format and a maximum of 150Kb
- White background
- Taken recently
- You must be staring ahead, and your entire face has to be visible
- You must have a neutral face expression
- You are not allowed to wear headgear (except for religious reasons) or eyeglasses that obstruct your eyes or your face
- If you wear headgear for religious reasons, make sure it does not cover your face.
- Hotel reservation or
- a letter of invitation from your host. In either case, the document must include the dates you will stay there.
Note:
You need the above-mentioned pictures in electronic format and paper format. You need the electronic copies to attach them on the online application form.
The electronic copies of the required documents have to be in PDF format (except the picture) and they must not be larger than 500Kb.
Additional Documents for Bolivia Visa Application
In addition to the documents mentioned above, you may also have to submit the following documents, which are based on the type of visa you need. These can include:
- For Bolivia Transit Visa: Documents that proof your flight itinerary and that you intend to travel to a third country (visa, flight ticket, etc)
- For Bolivia Student Visa:
- Academic transcripts
- Letter of acceptance
- Police clearance documents, issued from your country of residence
Duration of Bolivia Visa
A Bolivia tourist visa is issued for a maximum of 30 days per entry. You can apply for a visa extension before the visa expires. If the visa is issued as a multiple-entry visa, you may be able to stay for up to 90 days within a one-year period (no more than 30 days per entry).
The decision regarding the duration of your visa is up to the immigration officers at the port of entry or the Embassy/Consular authorities where you obtain the visa.
Bolivia Visa Cost
The cost of a Bolivian visa depends on your nationality. If you are from one of the countries on Group 2, then you may be able to receive a visa free of charge if you apply before your trip at an Embassy or Consulate. If you apply on arrival, you will have to pay a fee, which is around USD 160.
Please note, however, that this is an estimate and the price is subject to change based on your nationality, purpose of visit, and changes in immigration rules.
Bolivia Visa Requirements for US Citizens
US citizens do not need a visa to enter Bolivia as of December 20, 2019. If you are a US citizen travelling to Bolivia for tourism purposes, you can enter with just your passport, which must have at least 6 months remaining validity. You can only stay for up 30, 60, or 90 days, as the Immigration officer at the port of entry decides.
