Thinking of living in Bolivia? If you plan to retire in Bolivia, request residency, purchase property, work, invest or start a business, or just want to relocate because you love the country, visit our Live in Bolivia home page for a detailed guide: from facts about Bolivia culture and customs, health information, residency, property and real estate... to who gives the best dog wash... it's in there.

This is our living in Bolivia forum. Ask any question you want here and we'll do our best to find the answers you need.

If you have already lived in Bolivia, or currently do, we're especially interested in your stories. You can help make things easier for newcomers by sharing your points of view.

Are there rodents and insects in homes in Santa Cruz?  Hey, i am moving to Santa Cruz de la sierra, and i will be in a small house in Comarapa. I was wondering, are there problems with animals in this area?...

What can I do to make teen friends in Bolivia?  Hey, i am a teenage American girl, moving to Bolivia. i have been to Bolivia twice before and i have some really good Bolivian friends now. However they ...

Cochabamba - Future Resident Questions - Anyone?  My family and I are planning to relocate from the US to Cochabamba in mid 2012, for 12-24 months. I've been researching as much as possible, but have a ...

Do I really need a carnet de extranjero???  Hello! I am a german man married to a bolivian woman. i recently picked up my passport with 1 year residency visa for to be able to live and work in santa ...

Teaching in Bolivia  I am interested in relocating to Bolivia to teach in a Private School or a Public School. I understand that public school teachers do not make a lot but ...

Finding a place to teach in Bolivia?  Hi, I am coming to Bolivia (Santa Cruz), in February 2012 for at least a year. I have already been there before as a volunteer, but want to find a paid ...

Considering Teaching in Bolivia and Would Like to Hear from Other Teachers  I am considering teaching in Bolivia at The Santa Cruz Cooperative School. I am interested in hearing from any foreign teachers who have taught or are ...

My Mistaken Mariachis - Just Another Something to Love About Bolivia  It's midnight Tuesday. A dozen very off-tune and extremely LOUD mariachis just showed up under my window. They're singing to the wrong person (probably ...

need more information on living in bolivia  Hi, I need some information about Bolivian cost living. Although there are some information in some sites, I need real and exact information about Bolivia,...

Carnet de extranjero - Bolivian identification card  Hey all, I have a quick question about the carnet de extranjero. I finally received my carnet in July but it says it is only valid until October. I was ...

Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz  Hi, My wife (Beniana) and I are tentatively planning to be in Santa Cruz over Thanksgiving. We were wondering if there are any Americans gathering to ...

Chiropractor in Santa Cruz and Volleyball  I was wondering if anyone knew of a good Chiropractor in Santa Cruz. Also, is there a place to play some good volleyball in Santa Cruz? Looking for some ...

Bolivia Book Review: Two Books That Will Bring Bolivia to You  So if you can’t get to Bolivia (in my case thanks to bureaucracy), then Bolivia needs to come to you.

A search on Amazon.co.uk for Bolivia brings ...

Bolivia, te extraño  As I write this I am 10,000 Kms. and 5 time zones from Bolivia. Reading that feels worse than going over it in my head.

When I allow myself to think ...

Taxi driver wages in Bolivia?  How much does the average taxi driver make in a month in Santa Cruz?

Can anyone give me more info on living in Bolivia?  I am four years away from retirement. I am considering Ecuador or Bolivia. Obtaining info on Ecuador is no problem, however, that is not the case with ...

Moving to Santa Cruz in less than a month. Help with living options.  I am an American 28 year old male. I am moving to Santa Cruz to teach for the next two years. I will have about $500 a month to rent a place. I don't feel ...

rental of laptop computer in Santa Cruz/ alquiler de laptop en Santa Cruz  Does anybody know a business in Santa Cruz that rents out computers (preferably laptops)? Or does anyone have a spare that they could rent out for about ...

Bolivia!!! At Maximum Volume!!!  A few days ago I watched a critical part of what is probably otherwise a poor film (I don't know, I didn't bother to watch the rest of it). The lead character ...

Have never been to Bolivia!  What are the nicest places to live?

Moving to Bolivia to be with Bolivian Fiance.  My situation is as follows: my fiance has recently had to move back to Bolivia for immigration purposes and I would like for me and our child to move down ...

I love to swim...  I'd like to retire somewhere I can easily swim most days of the year. I prefer lakes or the ocean, and obviously the ocean's out of the question there....

Possibly Moving to Bolivia From Australia and Need Opinions  hola mi esposa es colombiana y yo soy finlandez. We are looking at options whether to live again in Bogota, Colombia or Bolivia. Just interested to hear ...

Reflections on my first few weeks in Bolivia  I'm always asked by people in Santa Cruz what ideas people in the UK have about Bolivia. I can't lie to save my life so I tell them the truth: Bolivia ...

Shipping to Bolivia  I wonder if anyone has experience shipping belongings or autos to Bolivia from the USA. New York city to Santa Cruz? I already know a little about taxes ...

Customs Regulations  We are from Germany and want to move to Bolivia in autumn 2011. We think about bringing our belongings along with a container. Now my questions:

1. How ...

need immigration help  have a difficult time getting anything done as far as legal residency. anyone knows a good traworthy lawyer here in santa cruz.

Housing Costs in La Paz Bolivia  We are considering moving to La Paz Bolivia - what is the housing situation like for a family of 4? We want to rent a house not an apartment preferably....

receiving packages from home  Hi, forgive me for posting but I really can't find this information anywhere else on your great site. Is there a de-minimus limit on packages below which ...

US single mother moving to Bolivia?  I am a single mother. I want to relocate to a different country. I live in the United States right now. Eventually I would like to find a country that ...

MOVING TO BOLIVIA TO BE WITH BOLIVIAN WIFE  I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE ON MIGRATING TO BOLIVIA AND WORKING THERE.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HAVING A PAST CRIMINAL RECORD WOULD CAUSE ANY PROBLEM WITH BOLIVIAN ...

how much?  how much would it be to buy a house in Bolivia?

Costs of Owning a Vehicle in Bolivia  Several website visitors have asked about the costs of owning a car in Bolivia, whether there are taxes to pay, what the requirements are for obtaining ...

Can a U.S. citizen own land in Bolivia  Can a U.S. Citizen own land in Bolivia

I would like to visit my country after 37 years overseas  I am planning to visit bolivia and see if I could stay sometime in bolivia mainly in Cochabamba my hometown. I am an Australian Citizen and my wife is ...

Looking forward to work in bolivia  Hi there. This site looks really amazing keep up the good work folks. I am a mechanical engineering grad from Singapore now working for a major MNC currently....

cost of living  How much would it cost to live in Bolivia?

Culture Transition Tip No. 9  It's easy to feel isolated when you move to a new country. Here's how to start getting involved in your local community and making new friends. This is ...

new life in Santa Cruz  hi Bella, great website! I have met a lovely man (a Camba) and am facing the reality of moving to Santa Cruz to be with him. I am very excited about this ...

health and treatment centers in bolivia  is their a treatment center in Bolivia where they will run extensive tests to see why a person has seizures
regards
madeleine voisey
mamevoisey@yahoo....

What is living in Bolivia like?  Hi, my name is Andy and me and my wife are getting out of the uk and are thinking of moving to South America, maybe Bolivia. So if anyone can give us a ...

Process and cost of buying land in Bolivia  I am planning on buying a piece of land in an "urbanizacion" in Bolivia, but I am having a hard time finding explanations of the legal process and the ...

Private schools in Santa Cruz  I can not find information on the tuition costs for private schools, specifically classes taught in English. I know of SCIS and the American Cooperative ...

Importing Vehicles  If you are moving to Bolivia and you plan to import your personal vehicle(s), there are several very important things you need to know. We contacted ADUANAS ...

Importing Household Goods  If you are moving to Bolivia and you plan to import your household goods, there are several very important things you need to know. We contacted ADUANAS ...

2 months Santa Cruz de la Sierra - Sept - Oct 2010  Dear Readers, I will be going to Santa Cruz with my daughter to see if I could start up my business there. I would appriciate any info upon the city. I ...

Can Americans own property in Bolivia?  We are a married American couple interested in possibly retiring to Bolivia. Is it possible to own property (Free and clear) in Bolivia? Is income (such ...

import tariffs and taxes for household belongings  Hello Thanks for info.concerning lawyers that can help me threw the 1 year visa process.At present the pressing issue concerns bringing personal items ...

Anticretico?  I have read the article on anticretico...but would like more realistic experiences. On average....is this merely a gimmick? Do most owners fail to refund ...

Home Improvement   You don't provide links to the Home Depot type of store in Santa Cruz and I can't seem to pull those two stores up on Google. How can I get there or aren'...

Can a foreigner living in Bolivia get Bolivian citizenship?  I'm a foreigner living in Bolivia. Can I get Bolivian citizenship? Or can I only get residency? How many years must I live in Bolivia before I can request ...

How do I register my divorce from a Bolivian citizen if I no longer live in Bolivia?  If I was married in Bolivia to a Bolivian, then moved overseas and divorced overseas, how to I ensure my divorce is also registered in Bolivia?

lots of questions not enough answers  hello, I have been married to my bolivian husband for almost 6 years we live in the US but I have traveled to bolivia 3 times and we try to go every 2 ...

Living in La Paz  I am thinking of taking a job in La Paz and would like to know if I would be able to live of approximately $300 per month... See, the pay is more, but ...

English speaking Church in La Paz  The English speaking church in La Paz is the La Paz Community Church and International center. The web page is http://lapaz.moonfruit.com Would love for ...

Basic Cost of Living per Week  Hello, I am planning a trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia in april/may 2010 and plan to stay 1-3 months,then comeback and decide what I want to do. I also plan ...

Health food supplements in Bolivia  My husband and I have been to Bolivia several times and are planning a move there. My Question: Is there a good place to purchase vitamins and supplements ...

Cost of university in Bolivia  Hi - Can anyone tell me what the average cost to attend university would be for a year in Bolivia - a price range including costs to live away from home,...

Apartment in Santa Cruz  Hi Bella, this is Jake, the guy with the dog who flew down here. I spent the last two months in the Yungas, but I am in Santa Cruz now and am in the process ...

New Life  Hi Bella,

My husband is taking a job in Santa Cruz next year and for my sins i am going to give up work and follow him. We don't have kids yet and ...

Expat Retirees in Bolivia?  Hola,
I would like to find out more about retirement possibilities in Bolivia. I didn't see a retirement forum, so will ask my questions here.
- Is ...

Giving Birth Overseas   I found out that I am pregnant with my third son only couple of months after we arrived to Venezuela. Venezuela was our first posting. I new almost no ...

El cholito rubio  1. Smile
2. Relax
3. Learn a few phrases in Quechua.
4. Don't argue with the taxi driver about prices. Smile and flag down the next one.
5. Don't buy ...

expat teens and the return home  Third Culture Kids (tck's) - Teenage Trauma on Repatriation
Author: Matthew MacLachlan
The phrase,' going home' evokes strong and very individual ...

Are there any missions in Bolivia for young adults?  Hey, i want to move to bolivia to do missions work with people around 18-22ish, are there any programs that do long term (5-10 months) missions trips or ...

What are the conditions of Bolivian hospitals like?  Hey, i am moving to bolivia to Santa Cruz de la Sierra in August, and my family is very concerned for me and my health. Santa Cruz is about 6 hours away,...

How much does a Bolivian maid or nanny earn?  About how much would one expect to pay a live in maid/nanny in Bolivia?

Importing Vehicles  Has anyone had experience importing a vehicle to Bolivia? I would like to hear from you, especially regarding import taxes (how much did you pay in the ...

How to Avoid Getting Short-Changed at Bolivian Supermarkets  Bolivian supermarkets have gotten into a very bad habit. They claim they don't have enough coins to give change and now expect the customer to have exact ...

Moving Household Items to Bolivia from the U.S.  I have priced having my items shipped from the US to Bolivia specifically Santa Cruz. I understand that there are some unknown fees that could occur if ...

Derecho a la pensionn que se queda en Bolivia  Si mi esposo tiene una pension que es depositada y se queda en Bolivia e vivimos en los Estados Unidos, yo tengo derecho a ella?

Retirement visa and USA IRA retirement accounts  I might like to retire in Bolivia. I am 57. I will qualify for Social Security age 62. I would receive over 800 USD then.

I have 200k in mutual fund ...

Purchasing a Condo in Santa Cruz as an American  Are there any special regulations that I should be aware about when purchasing a condo as an a foreigner?

Going to live in Cobija  We are going to live in Cobija, Bolivia. Anybody lived there or living there, I'd like to have some info about house or apt rent, prices, transportation,...

How to handle bureaucracy 101  Gary from Florida sent in this hilarious video filmed, apparently, in Spain but nevertheless applicable to life anywhere there is bureaucracy (in other ...

In Bolivia no bad thing can last a hundred years  Español I'm all for finding the positive in everything. Literally. Except for 50 degrees below zero for any length of time, or the noxious smell of ...

I met a lady in Bolivia  I am interesrted in traveling to Bolivia to meet a Lady, and maybe marriage. What do I need and what are the procedures?
Please respond to.. jpjames62@...

Import tax for work related items.  Hello, I have a work contract for Bolivia and am applying for the 30 day special objective. I work as a non-profit project manager for a research and development ...

Are you confused about expat taxes?  Expatriate taxes can be very confusing. People who live and work outside of their home country have unique and sometimes complex tax filing obligations....

Having a baby in Bolivia  Well, I am a foreign citizen, my husband is Bolivian and we are here waiting to get his Residency. Thing is I am extremely illegal, as are our 3 children,...

Eleven Tips to Help You Successfully Transition Cultures!  This is the last in a series of 10 video tips I've been posting weekly for some time now. In fact, this is a bonus tip - number 11, in an effort to help ...

go to live in la paz.  hi can anyone give me some info on good places to live in la paz. i will be going to live in la paz in the next month and wish to find an apartment. also ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 10  Planning to work abroad? What makes you successful in one country may work against you in another. This is Tip 10 in my 10-part series to help you transition ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 8  Expats, there is just no getting around this: unless you want to spend your time in lonely isolation when you move to another country there is one thing ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 7  Before relocating to a new country, there's something you can do to establish a sense of familiarity in your new home. This is tip 7 in my 10-part weekly ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 6  Before relocating to a new country, research social taboos in the culture you’ll be moving to. This is tip 6 in my 10-part weekly series to help you feel ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 5  Tip 5 in my 10-part weekly series of tips to help you make your transition and relocation go more smoothly involves learning to make friends and preparing ...

Cost of furniture/household items  Hello! We are considering moving to Bolivia within the next six months. We are thinking of selling everything but clothes and a few cherished items in ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 4  Tip 4 in my 10-part weekly series of tips to help you make your transition and relocation go more smoothly involves local dress and clothing customs. See ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 3  Tip 3 in my 10-part weekly series of tips to help you make your transition and relocation go more smoothly involves social norms. Each country has its ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 2  Part two in my series of ten Culture Transition tip videos, designed to help you in your decision regarding relocation, is about the importance of learning ...

Culture Transition Tip No. 1  Every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks, I will be showing you a brief 1 - 2 minute video with a tip to help you transition cultures. Today's question: are ...

thinking of living in Bolivia...need information on buying a home  We are interested in moving to Bolivia to live. My husband and I are 85 and 86 yrs of age in relatively good health, both of us. We are fluent in spanish....

Inquiry about work and living in bolivia  Hi there im also a webmaster myself and I am really proud of you that you did this very resourceful site even though you dont have any solid experience ...

Buying realestate in Bolivia  Hello, I am interested in real estate approx 5-10 acres for a small orchard and garden and perhaps a few head of cattle, few hives of bees, in essence ...

Concern about elderly medical care.  Our elderly parents in the USA have medicare. If they were to relocate to Bolivia....what kind of medical care could they expect and information about ...

Weekly tips and strategies for a new life in a new culture  Making new friends is the single most important thing you will do if you're planning to relocate, or already have. It will make the difference between ...

Learn to fill your life with friends and social opportunities in a new culture  Learn the Techniques You Need to Know to Fill Your Life with Friends and Social Opportunities!

Moving to a new place can bring up all sorts of positive ...

Ten easy steps to adjust to a new culture anywhere  You Only Need Ten Easy Steps To Adjust To A New Culture After Relocating

Are You an:
- An Expatriate, Moving Overseas for work?
- a Manager, VP, etc....

Moving abroad? 10 steps to ensuring your personal success  If you're moving or you've already relocated, then you've probably spent a lot of time packing, taking care of all the logistics of leases, bank accounts,...

Moving overseas for work or because of your spouses job?   If you're embarking on a work experience overseas, or you're the trailing spouse following someone taking that step, you're in for many changes. If you'...

Is living abroad really the best choice for you?  The decision to relocate is huge. If you're moving with a family, it's even bigger. You may be weighing whether this is a good career move, or whether ...

Taking the stress out of your military relocation  Are you about to embark on a PCS move, or have you recently done so?

Moving, in general, is a big and annoying process! You have to uproot yourself,...

What if my child is born in Bolivia  Someone asked today: If foreigners in Bolivia have a child born in Bolivia, is the child automatically, or easily eligible for citizenship? If so, how ...

Thanks Giving Day   I was trying to connect someone in Bolivia that will have a thanks giving dinner and will allowed us to make a press report please contact gus_vc@hotmail....

Absentee property owner  Please resend your email to me...somehow Windows classified it as JUNK...I labelled it NOT JUNK...then Windows Live email system 'lost' the email...Thanks ...

Mobile Dogwash in Santa Cruz  The other day someone left a stack of these flyers for a mobile dogwash in my apartment building. It's a great idea, really. They go to your house in a ...

learn the language  I moved to Santa Cruz Bolivia when I was three years old. My dad was a missionary pilot. He flew supplies to other missionary families who lived in the ...

Reasons Expats May Choose Vacation Rentals Over Hotels While Seeking Housing  Most expats research housing months in advance of a huge move overseas. And in some cases companies make all arrangements, whether temporary or permanent....

Top 10 Reasons Expats Should Ditch Their Books  How much does moving books, albums and DVD collections really cost? Why should you consider leaving your books behind? Have you ever calculated how much ...

20 things to know before you move to Bolivia  1. Know you are not alone. There are many expatriates in the same situation, feeling lost and confused and having a hard time getting adjusted. This is ...

teach at an international school  There are over 4000 international schools in the world. This international school teacher offers information and advice on how to get a job at these prestigious ...

parents guide to moving overseas  A Concerned Parent's Guide to Moving Your Family Overseas
Author: Karen Fusco

There are lots of issues to be considered when deciding to move ...

expat kids identity questions  But Mummy! Where Am I From?
Author: Dominique Lummus
When he was six years old my son asked me, “Mummy, where do I come from?” and instead ...

coping with living abroad  Moving to a New Country, How to Cope
Author: Steven Coleman
A while ago I wrote about moving countries, where to find information and what ...