Bolivia visa requirements for some foreign citizens traveling to Bolivia have been changed by the Bolivia government and many of you must now apply for either a tourist visa or a specific purpose visa to enter Bolivia.

The difference is that you can use a tourist visa if you plan to visit only. But if you plan to live, retire, study, volunteer or work in Bolivia for more than 90 days you need a specific purpose visa to enter the country.

Not all tourists need a tourist visa. It depends on the treaties that exist between Bolivia and your country. However, ALL foreigners who plan to apply for residency need to enter the country with a specific purpose visa.

We provide this for your information. We cannot help you acquire a travel visa. However, if you are moving to Bolivia to seek residency Expat Services can help you process your residency application in Santa Cruz. If you don't feel your question is fully answered below, visit our Bolivia Visa Forum to read about the experiences other people have had, or to enter your own questions. Click here to locate a Bolivia consulate near you in English-speaking countries or here to find a Bolivia consulate in other countries.

This is a confusing issue. Laws about Bolivia visa requirements for tourists, and the pre-requisites for obtaining one, vary by your country of origin and often change quite frequently. You should contact the Bolivian consulate nearest you to be sure you understand the laws concerning Bolivia visas for citizens from your country prior to entering Bolivia. The information on this page should be used only as a general guideline.

Bolivia does not require travel visas for citizens of some countries, and does for others. For example, Americans do need a Bolivia visa. In addition, the length of stay and other information also varies by country. Be very, very sure you have the correct visa and you fulfill all the necessary requirements prior to traveling to Bolivia.

According to laws and documents displayed on the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, at the time of this writing (last update: June 2011) it is our understanding that foreigners who wish to enter Bolivia have been classified into 3 groups (click the links to see which group your country is in):

Group 1 lists countries that DO NOT need a Bolivia tourism visa.

Group 2 lists countries that DO need a tourist visa but DO NOT need to get it in the country of origin via a Bolivian consulate (you can get it at border points or an airport immigration point upon arrival).

Group 3 lists countries that DO need a tourist visa and DO NEED to get it in the country of origin by way of a Bolivian consulate BEFORE you arrive in Bolivia. However, there is an exception.

Exception for Group 3: Article 7 of Biministerial Resolution 01/2007 available on the aforementioned website states that foreigners from Group III who failed to get the tourist visa prior to traveling, but can show they have fulfilled all the requirements to obtain the tourist visa may, as an exception, get their tourist visa at the first migratory control point (overland border points or airports). Only if Bolivian immigration officials have verified that they've complied and fulfilled all requirements. We're hearing (through emails and forum messages) that foreigners who didn't know of the tourist visa requirement are being given visas upon arrival.

No visa extensions for citizens of some countries. On 26 February 2010 we were given this information by Immigration officials in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (and a week later the same information was given us by the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs): Foreigners from all three groups, whether they need a tourist visa or not, ARE NOT allowed to stay in Bolivia over 90 days in one year. There is no possibility for extension, for most. Citizens of some countries may leave Bolivia to a neighboring country and return on another tourist visa but most cannot (U.S. citizens can no longer do this, for example). Again, this depends on the treaties that exist between Bolivia and each specific country.

What if you stay in the country more than 90 days? Foreigners from all three groups (including those from Group 1 that do not need a visa) will be fined Bs. 20 per day if they stay in Bolivia beyond the expiration date on their tourist visa or entry stamp. Essentially, if you stay in the country beyond your visa expiration date, you are choosing to remain here illegally.

Multiple entries into Bolivia. We were told by Immigration officials in Santa Cruz that foreigners may enter Bolivia up to three times in one year, as long as they don't remain in Bolivia more than a total of 90 days. A phone call to Immigration officials in La Paz got us another response: "only one entry per year" is what they told us.

Why so much confusion? Foreigners in Bolivia are getting different answers from different immigration officials. When changes take place, it can take time for the information to trickle down to all border points and regions. Plan your travel times carefully to avoid complications. Visit our Bolivia Visa Requirements Forum to post additional questions you may have or alert us if you are being told something different so we can share the information.

Information about the specific purpose visa

Responses on this are much more straight forward. This is the option you would choose if you are planning to live in Bolivia for a length of time greater than 90 days per year, no matter what country you are from, and even if tourists from your country don't need a visa. This visa is valid for 30 days, not 90 days. This means that once you arrive in Bolivia you have only 30 days to initiate and turn in your application for residency. If you arrived on the correct (specific purpose) visa, BoliviaBella Expat Services can help you process your application for residency. Once you've turned in your residency application, you can remain in the country until you've received your residency response from Immigration.

It is extremely important that you enter on this visa if you plan to live in Bolivia. According to the sworn statement for visa application form, and Article 12 of Biministerial Resolution 01/2007, both available on the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website if you enter Bolivia as a tourist most people are not allowed to change migratory status once they are here. This means you cannot apply for residency if you have entered on a tourist visa. You will need to leave the country and re-enter on the Specific Purpose Visa. Immigration has, in some cases, allowed foreigners to pay a fine to obtain a specific purpose visa in Bolivia. However, it is a very large fine, and a lengthy process. Visit our very informative Bolivia Visa Requirements Forum to post additional questions or to share with us if you've already had experience with this.

About the requirement for a yellow fever vaccine

Biministerial Resolution 01/2007 states that everyone over 12 months of age must have a yellow fever vaccination card or immunization certificate to Bolivia. However, the document Vacuna Contra la Fiebre Amarilla, found on the same website states that authorities from the Ministry of Health and Sports passed another Ministerial Resolution 0028 dated 21 January 2009, whereby the yellow fever shot will be required exclusively of foreigners who will be traveling to zones at risk of yellow fever (there's a list of those zones) and they must have the yellow fever vaccine a minimum of 10 days prior to entering Bolivia. This page explains everything you need to know about the deathly yellow fever virus, causes, symptoms, and treatment, where and how to get the yellow fever vaccine, who needs the vaccine, the Bolivian vaccination card requirement, and more.

This is one of the reasons it may be a better option to apply for your Bolivia visa in advance of your travel. If you show up at the border and request a visa and don't have your yellow fever shot certificate, you may not be allowed to enter. At some border points, if the vaccine is available, they are requiring you to get the vaccine (and pay for it) at the border.

Disclaimers to the information posted on this page

1. Before you travel, check with the Bolivian consulate nearest you as immigration laws can change. Use the information on this page as a general guideline only. It should not be understood as legal advice. All of the above information was obtained from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, emailed questions to the Ministry of Foreign affairs, several websites of Bolivia consulates overseas, and personal discussions with Bolivian immigration officials.

2. Each person/case is handled individually by immigration officials in Bolivia and consular agencies overseas. No two persons' situations are identical. Therefore, relying solely on information posted by other travelers is not a good idea. Get your information directly from a Bolivian official or authority whenever possible.

3. When you read through our Bolivia visa requirements forum, keep the above in mind AND also take a look at the dates next to the messages posted by other travelers. What may have been true one or two years ago, may not apply now. Enter your own new message or question if you cannot find the information you need.

Processing your travel visa

Locate a Bolivian Consulate near you to find out what the visa requirements will be for your specific case. Remember, officials treat each case individually.