Table of Contents
About Bolivian
Bolivia is a popular country located in west-central South America. Bolivia is bordered to the north and east by Brazil, which is extending approximately 950 miles north-south and 800 miles (1,300 km east-west. Bolivia and Peru share Lake Titicaca, South America’s second-largest lake (after Lake Maracaibo).
The population of the country is estimated at approximately 11 million. Technically, Bolivia has two capitals. Although one is named La Paz, the legal capital of Bolivia is Sucre. Lake Titicaca is the world’s biggest and highest navigable lake. It recognized 37 official languages. Bolivia’s culture is unique in part due to the mix of indigenous and Spanish cultures. Bolivia has one of the world’s most dangerous roads, known as the Death Road.
How to apply for Visa
Its visa policy is determined by the country from which you are traveling. The Bolivian government categorizes visa applicants into three categories. If you are from one of the first groups of countries (the United States, the European Union, Australia, and so on), you do not require a visa to enter Bolivia and can stay for up to 90 days.
GROUP I – COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A TOURIST VISA
If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below, you do not need a visa to visit Bolivia for up to 30 days. Once in Bolivia, you have the option of staying for up to 90 days.
| ANDORRA | CROATIA | ICELAND | MONACO | SLOVAKIA |
| ARGENTINA | CZECH REPUBLIC | IRELAND, REPUBLIC OF | NETHERLANDS | SLOVENIA |
| AUSTRALIA | DENMARK | PALESTINE | NEW ZEALAND | SPAIN |
| AUSTRIA | ECUADOR | ITALY | NORWAY | SWEDEN |
| BELGIUM | ESTONIA | JAPAN | PANAMA | SWITZERLAND |
| BRAZIL | FINLAND | LATVIA | PARAGUAY | TURKEY |
| CANADA | FRANCE | LIECHTENSTEIN | PERU | UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND |
| CHILE | GERMANY | LITHUANIA | PHILIPPINES | URUGUAY |
| COLOMBIA | GREECE | LUXEMBURG | POLAND | VATICAN CITY |
| COSTA RICA | HUNGARY | MEXICO | PORTUGAL | VENEZUELA |
Citizens of countries in Group I do not need a visa to enter Bolivia as tourists, and must only meet the following requirements:
- A valid passport and/or an identity card are required.
- If visiting endemic areas, you should get a yellow fever vaccine.
- The admission period is 90 days.
GROUP II LISTED COUNTRIES THAT REQUIRE A TOURIST VISA
The countries listed need visas for Bolivia can be obtained from a Bolivian Embassy or Consulate near you, or it can be obtained on arrival for a fee. Citizens of Group II countries must obtain a Consular Tourist Visa to enter Bolivia as a tourist.
Requirements for visa
- Consular Tourist Visas for citizens of Group II countries have a 30-day admission period after the date of entry
- The admission period may be extended at the Directorate General of Immigration’s offices.
- The Consular Tourist Visa is only valid for one (1) entry into Bolivia’s Plurinational State.
- The visa is free of charge.
- Before traveling, a visa must be obtained from any Consulate.
| ALBANIA | DOMINICA | KENYA | NAURU | SOLOMON ISLANDS |
| ALGERIA | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | KIRIBATI | NEPAL | SOUTH AFRICA |
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA | EGYPT | KUWAIT | NICARAGUA | SRI LANKA |
| ARMENIA | EL SALVADOR | KYRGYZSTAN | NIGER | SURINAM |
| AZERBAIJAN | EQUATORIAL GUINEA | LEBANON | OMAN | SWAZILAND |
| BAHAMAS | ERITREA | LESOTHO | PALAU | TAJIKISTAN |
| BAHRAIN | ETHIOPIA | LIBERIA | PAPUA NEW GUINEA | THAILAND |
| BANGLADESH | FIJI | MACEDONIA | QATAR | TOGO |
| BARBADOS | GABON | MADAGASCAR | REPUBLIC OF KOREA | TONGA |
| BELARUS | GAMBIA | MALAWI | ROMANIA | TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO |
| BELIZE | GEORGIA | MALAYSIA | RUSSIA | TUNISIA |
| BENIN | GHANA | MALDIVES | SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS | TURKMENISTAN |
| BOSNIA – HERZEGOVINA | GRANADA | MALI | SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES | TUVALU |
| BOTSWANA | GUATEMALA | MALTA | SAMOA | UGANDA |
| BRUNEI DARUSSALAM | GUINEA-BISSAU | MARSHALL ISLANDS | SAN MARINO | UKRAINE |
| BULGARIA | GUNEA | MAURITANIA | SANTA LUCIA | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
| BURKINA FASO | GUYANA | MAURITIUS | SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE | UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA |
| BURUNDI | HAITI | MICRONESIA | SAUDI ARABIA | UZBEKISTAN |
| CAMEROON | HONDURAS | MOLDOVA | SENEGAL | VANUATU |
| CAPE VERDE | INDIA | MONGOLIA | SERBIA | VIETNAM |
| CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC | IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC | MONTENEGRO | SEYCHELLES | ZAMBIA |
| COMOROS | IVORY COAST | MOROCCO | SIERRA LEONE | ZIMBABWE |
| CUBA | JAMAICA | MOZAMBIQUE | SIERRA LEONE | |
| CYPRUS | JORDAN | MYANMAR | SINGAPORE | |
| DJIBOUTI | KAZAKHSTAN | NAMIBIA | CHINA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC |
GROUP III LISTED COUNTRIES THAT REQUIRE A VISA WITH AUTHORIZATION FROM BOLIVIA
Citizens of the countries listed in Group III need a Visa with prior approval from the Directorate General of Immigration of Bolivia to enter Bolivia in any capacity.
| AFGHANISTAN | INDONESIA | ISRAEL |
| ANGOLA | IRAQ | RWANDA |
| BHUTAN | KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC | SOMALIA |
| CAMBOYA | LAOS, PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC | SUDAN |
| CHAD | LIBYA | SYRIA |
| NIGERIA | TIMOR LESTE | |
| CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC THE | PAKISTAN | YEMEN |
Requirement of visa:
- Visa for Consular Tourists for citizens of Group III countries has a 30-day admission period after the date of entry.
- The admission period may be extended at the Directorate General of Immigration’s offices.
- The Consular Tourist Visa is only valid for one (1) entry into Bolivia’s Plurinational State.
- A Consular Tourist Visa costs $30.00.
- 3 to 5 weeks for processing
- Before traveling, a visa must be obtained from any Consulate.
Types of Visa
1. Tourist visa
All US citizens will be issued tourist visas by the Consular Section of the Embassy or Consulates of Bolivia, as well as the Directorate General of Immigration through its land border posts and airport immigration control.
Tourist visas for US citizens will now be valid for ten (10) years, allowing multiple entries.
Requirements of visa
- The first step is to Fill out the complete Sworn Statement for Visa Application.
- a recent 2″ x 2″ passport photograph
- You must hold your original passport and be valid for at least 6 months.
- A copy of a hotel reservation or an invitation letter from Bolivian friends or relatives indicating the host’s address.
- Round-trip ticket or travel itinerary copy
- A bank statement or its equivalent demonstrates economic solvency. (A copy of the front side of a credit card will also be accepted.) Please keep in mind that the document’s validity should last at least the duration of the trip). Economic Solvency documents from a parent or legal guardian are accepted for underage applicants.
- The visa fee is $160.00 USD.
- Prior to departure, the visa must be obtained from any Bolivian Consulate.
2. Specific purpose
These Visas are valid for 30 days and can be extended by submitting a request to the Bolivian immigration office. When you apply for the above visa, you must include an introduction letter that states the specific purpose of the trip, the dates of travel and make a note that expenses will be covered by the sending or hosting company or institution. These requirements apply to executives in business, film crews, missionaries, volunteers, and so on.
- A Specific Purpose Visa is required for those people who are planning to engage in business, education, paid work, marriage under Bolivian law, or any other legal activity that is not related to tourism.
- Certain nationalities require authorization from the Bolivian Immigration authorities, which causes the application to take longer to process. It is advised to allow at least 2 to 3 weeks before departure.
- Applications can be submitted during office hours (Mon – Fri 09:00 am – 3:00 pm).
- The fees of $85.00 can be paid with a credit card or a money order made payable to the Bolivian Consulate. Please make a note that It is recommended that you send your passport via registered delivery or courier.
- The applicant is responsible for the costs of delivery, and the Consulate accepts no responsibility if the passport is lost in the mail.
Requirements of visa
- Form of application completed
- A valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months is required.
- a recent 2″ x 2″ passport photograph
- The fee is $85.00.
- Introduction letter outlining the purpose of the trip means of subsistence, and information about the company or institution
- Ticket or itinerary photocopy
- A bank statement or equivalent demonstrating economic solvency (Please keep in mind that the document must be valid for at least the duration of the trip.)
- Police Record / Certificate of Good Conduct
3. Student Visa
A student visa is issued to foreign citizens who are visiting Bolivia to study or participate in academic activities.
Student visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry, after which time you must apply to the national immigration offices for a one-year temporary residence permit. It is recommended that the visa be processed at least 2 -3 weeks before departure.
Requirement of visa
- Sworn Statement for Visa Application Completion
- You must hold your original Passport and be valid for at least 6 months.
- a recent 2″ x 2″ passport photograph
- The fee is $43.00.
- Police Record / Certificate of Good Conduct
- a medical certificate stating that the applicant is free of contagious disease (must include an ELISA analysis for HIV)
- Transcript of Education
- Itinerary or travel reservation copy
- In the case of the minor applicant, Bolivian law requires legal permission from parents or guardians, which must be countersigned by a competent authority, to travel and stay in Bolivia.
- Certification of the applicant’s or parent’s financial standing, if the applicant is a minor.
- Acceptance by a Bolivian university and/or educational institution.
4. Multiple Visa
Multiple Entry Visas are issued for only one year and are renewable for similar periods to foreign citizens who engage in investment or business activities in Bolivia and enter and exit the country on a regular basis.
Requirement of visa:
- Sworn Statement for Visa Application Completion
- You must hold your original passport and be valid for at least 6 months.
- a recent 2″ x 2″ passport photograph
- A $200.00 fee is required.
- INTERPOL’s current certificate of good conduct/background check
- Legalized documentation of the company’s constitution that you represent in your country of origin or residence.
- If the company was founded in Bolivia, a certified photocopy of the Tax Identification Number (NIT) or the original electronic certification is required
Cost of Visa application?
The cost of a Bolivian visa is determined by your nationality. If you are in the list of countries listed in Group 2, you may be able to obtain a visa for free, however, if you apply at an Embassy or Consulate before your trip. If you apply on the spot, you will have to pay a fee of around USD 160.
What is the Processing time of a Visa application?
A tourist visa to Bolivia is valid for a maximum of 30 days per entry. Before your visa expires, you can apply for a visa extension.
Best place to visit Bolivia
1. Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni is located near the Chilean border and leads into the national park, but it deserves to be included on this list on its own. It’s one of the world’s most bizarre sights.

Salar de Uyuni
2. Ojos del Inca
The Ojos del Inca, a lagoon about an hour’s drive from Potosi, is one of the more unusual places to visit in Bolivia.

Ojos del Inca
3. Sucre
The majority of Bolivia’s cities are less impressive than the country’s incredible natural settings, but this is not the case in Sucre.

Sucre
4. La Glorieta
The pink fairytale castle, La Glorieta, is another lesser-known destination that is ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of Sucre.

La Glorieta
5. Death road
This cliffside highway (the operative word here being “high”) is a must-see for any adrenaline junkie. Officially known as the Yungas Road, it is well-known for being the world’s most dangerous road.

death road
