UK citizen married to Bolivian citizen. Do I get automatic residency?

by Maria
(Marinkovich)

I'm a UK citizen and I'm married to a Bolivian man, we married in Bolivia and have 2 children. I've been told that I should be entitled to automatic residency when we decide to go back to live Bolivia, is this true? My children already have dual nationality.

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Aug 24, 2013
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Thank you
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your comment, that's very helpful :)

Aug 24, 2013
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No, you don't get automatic residency
by: anon

Hi Maria

The foreign wives of Bolivian citizens used to receive Bolivian nationality automatically (whether they wanted it or not) so maybe that is where the confusion arises.

You will need to go through the same residency process as any other foreigner that wants to live in Bolivia (first one year residency, then 2 year residency, then permanent). You will still need police and interpol checks, blood tests etc however the reason you give on your paperwork for needing to be in Bolivia is that you want to live with your Bolivian husband and children.

I have gone through this myself and whilst it was a hassle, I did not encounter any problems with my applications. The fact that you got married in Bolivia will also make it easier as you don't need to deal with legalising/ translating your marriage cert.

After 2 years of living in Bolivia (legally), you can apply for Bolivian nationality.

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Visa question for marriage in Bolivia

by Denise
(UK)

Hi. I'm from the UK and am hoping to marry my Bolivian boyfriend in Bolivia next year and know a bit about most of the paperwork that will be required.

However, how does he go about writing a letter inviting me to marry him? I mean what sort of thing does he have to say in it?

If anyone can help i'd be grateful as starting to stress. Thanks.

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Dec 31, 2013
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Married
by: Anonymous

I am a US citizen that was married in Bolivia. A letter was not required from my Boliviam wife and I have never heard of one being required. I am sure you will need to arrive with a specific purpose visa since you are planning on getting married, if you do not arrive with this visa you could possibly not be able to marry here in Bolivia! Good Luck

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How can i bring my bolivian girlfriend to the uk to marry her?

by mason macci
(swansea south wales)

Hi my name is mason, my girlfriend is a Bolivian and i am a british citizen we are trying to find out how we can get her here so we can marry, recently i have sustained an accident in work,that has left me unable to work. my girlfriend intends to come here to care for me, but we can not find out what it takes to complete the transfer from her country to the uk,could you please advise. thank you.

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Apr 26, 2016
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just got married in Bolivia
by: Anonymous

Hi im an American and i just got legallcarnettied in Bolivia to a Bolivian and have been told that I still have to wait two years to get naturalized.

I would like to go back to work but I don't want to get set back more time than the two years I already have to wait.

Iv been told i can leave for three months, no more. ive also been told I can leave for 6 months, and that i can't leave at all.

Whats The truth? My question isnt whether my carnet will expire but will i have to start my two years to naturalization over again if I leave for more than three months even thought im legally married

Nov 26, 2014
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visa for your girlfriend
by: Anonymous

As you can't work how will you support yourself and your girlfriend? That's the first question you will be asked when applying for the visa and you will have to supply bank statements etc. You need to have enough funds to support both of you and definitely cannot be claiming benefits. check the UKBA website (home office), you will find all the information you require

Nov 25, 2014
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Contact the British Embassy
by: Anonymous

Actually, you need to contact the Embassy of the United Kingdom in La Paz to see what the requirements are for her to emigrate to your country. She can leave Bolivia any time she wants. The question is, what does she need to do to enter YOUR country.

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-bolivia

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What are the requirements for getting married in Bolivia?

Hi I met a fantastic person who I fell deeply in love with and we want to get married in his country = Bolivia. He is an Bolivian citizen but is currently in America, and we both decided that we want to move to Bolivia and start our life there. I am a Danish citizen and would like to know what I should / can do to marry him and stay with him in Bolivia.

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Mar 28, 2019
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need visa
by: shajan ahmed

i am a bangladeshi my wife is bolovian need bolovin parmanent visa

Mar 27, 2015
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marrying in boliva / uk
by: ian b

hi i wonder if you can help i am marrying my fiance i dont care how but its gonna happen i live in the uk and she lives in cochabamba i have not got the faintest idea of what i need to do who/where i apply too and prices in £££ please please help us !!!! x

Nov 17, 2014
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Two foreigners getting married in Bolivia
by: Anonymous

For two persons from other country to get married in Bolivia, need the following documents:

1.Certified copy of birth certificate translated into Spanish and authenticated by the country of origin.

2.Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity.

3.Certification of eligibility to marry, such as death or divorce certificates for prior marriages, or certificate of no record of marriage translated into Spanish and authenticated by a Bolivian Consul in the country of origin

4. In order to get married in Bolivia, you have to enter the country with an "visa de objeto determinado" visa (pre-determined use visa). You can NOT get legally married in Bolivia if you come in on a tourist visa. To get the special visa, you will need to go through the embassy in the country you are coming from.

- for more information write rebecagonzales@gmail.com

Nov 17, 2014
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MARRIAGE
by: Anonymous

Hi,
Im from philippines and my fiance is from united states. We are planning to get married in January 2015. I have a letter stating im single, can you advice what are the other documents I need to get married in bolivia? And what are the procedure? And how fast the marriage and how long the documents be prepared?

please let me know at the earliest.

Jul 24, 2014
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Requirements for Civil Matrimony in Bolivia
by: Anonymous

First of all, in Bolivia, no matter if you will have a church ceremony, and no matter what your religion may be, you are still required to contract civil matrimony first.

In the case of one Bolivian and one foreigner, here are some of the requirements:

http://www.matriqui.bo/consejo_proc.asp?Seleccion=18

Scroll down and read all of the comments below. Some of them are very detailed and complete as to the requirements.

Jul 20, 2014
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Need help
by: Aniket nadiu

Hi,
My name is ANIKET, and I belong to India. My fiance belong to sucre bolivia, We have planned to get married asap. I just need to know something that what will be the procedure if we want to settle in India. If I go to Bolivia first and I get married to her there in Bolivia so will I lost my citizenship of India? OR if she comes here first and we get married to India so will she lost her citizenship of Bolivia? Please help me to be aware with this info.
thanks

Best regards
Aniket naidu

Jul 16, 2014
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a question to Alison
by: Anonymous

you have mentioned that 2 foreigners cannot marry in Bolivia. are you 100% sure? because I was thinking of marrying my Brazilian girlfriend and I am Indian. previously we intended to marry in Brazil but I was refused to be given entry at Brazil airport due to some weird reasons. when I asked to give the reason of refusal, airport staff gave me lame excuses. So now we were thinking of getting married in Bolivia. But i just read your comment, so please get it confirmed that whether me and my girlfriend (both are non Bolivian).. are we eligible to get married or not in Bolivia? later after marriage we intend to live in Brazil..

I am waiting for your reply.

God bless you.

Dec 12, 2013
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:O
by: Tstri1

Well i dunno

Sep 12, 2013
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What are the requirements for getting married in Bolivia?
by: Anonymous

We all have the same kind of problem,¨to be legal in bolivia¨, for your own kind of reasons.it will be 9 years in december 2013,i have two childrens with a bolivian woman,4 and 8 years and for some reason i still have the problem to become bolivian citizen or just to receive my recidence permit.....i think my bigest problem is $$$ there are not enought of that

1.get married
2.amectia
3.political help,

that is the options and all requier $$$.Paperwork no matter what - all your paperwork needs to be in order,white paper or green paper....!

Regards to everyboby and good luck

Jun 24, 2012
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getting married too
by: bill

i plan on marrying in bolivia with an cochabamba woman, who has my 1year old daughter, and immigrate to canada for two yearsa and then come back to bolivia to work . at this point i think cheaper for me to fly every month to bolivia and work in canada until the visas can come through . getting married seems interesting process and just going through it myself.

May 29, 2012
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fiance invitation letter
by: Karla

Hi Alison,

I have a questions as well. My fiance, who is Bolivian, and I are hoping to get married in about a year, so I'm starting to get my papers together and everything (I'm a US citizen). I was looking at the requirements for a specific purpose visa and it says I need my fiance to write a letter inviting me to marry him in his country. What would this look like? Is he writing the letter to me and I make a copy of it for the application? Or is he writing the letter to the consulate stating that he would like me to come and marry him there? Thanks for your help!

May 05, 2012
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:-(
by: James

We gave up - as the certificate of non impediment marriage takes more than 3 weeks to get! To get this legalised and translated and then tomhv to send it back to Bolivia just doesn't even leave enough time

So frustrated with all the beaurcracy with just getting married in Bolivia - it's not as if I wanted to even live there and I was only going for 9 days!

We are going to apply for the uk fiancé visa here with a view to my fiancé living here with me - and hope that we get it - even though I have no savings ( spent all momey on going to bolivia and back 4 times ) and my salary isn't the best AT ALL!

James

May 03, 2012
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embassy problems
by: James

Well what a nightmare ... After a 600 mile coach and train journey I was turned away from the Bolivian embassy in London for not having the right documents.

It was my part in fault, as I had a statutory declaration and NOT the cert of non-impediment to marriage - as I thought this was the same thing and was advised this by my solicitor.

My flight is booked for the 31st - but I know that I will have to get the cert of non-impediment to marriage , translate it , legalise it and then wait for all my documents to be processed by the embassy and get them all sent to my amorcito in Bolivia to show the registry office 10 days before our wedding - plus there is a bank holiday in the middle of all this!

She also told me that my change of name deed was not valid (even though it was done by a solicitor and it has been translated by a certified company and legalised by the fco. She told me that I have to have an official document from deed poll (when I called them they told me that they don't keep records of this before 2000 so it's impossible to get this) She then told me that because my name was not actually changed but that I'd dropped Arthur from my name (name was Arthur James Connor before 1992 - but now is just James Connor ) she told me that I might be able to get away with it.

I'm so confused and stressed and cant get this document from deed poll but then she told me it might be ok!?

I might be screwed because I am really pushing getting the cert of non-impediment to marriage mi amor on time to show the registry office in bolivia

I was so stressed at the interview at the embassy that I forgor to ask more questions and when I went back they wouldn't talk to me saying that they were taking afternoon sessions - also they wouldn't answer the phone to me - now I am on my way back to my home town 250 miles away very stressed and hurt with the whole situation - plz advise!

Apr 30, 2012
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FAO:- James from the UK
by: Alison D

hi James

If it is any consolation at all, I found the whole visa/ getting married in a foreign country issue THE most stressful thing I have ever done.

Firstly, is this whole increase in income requirement for a UK spouse visa actually law? I can't find any reports anywhere of this being passed by parliament and quite a few reports suggesting that they weren't likely to be able to get it through (as the Tories don't have a majority). [I am interested in this whole issue and I bet I'm not the only one so if you have any links please would you post them, when you have a moment].

If you guys really do need to be back in the UK by June 15th, I am not sure you have enough time to get legally married in Bolivia.

I can understand that her parents would like to see her get married (or at least know that she is getting married) before she leaves Bolivia but you guys need to do what is right for you as a couple.

If you had a church "wedding" in SCZ would this help with the in-laws at all? (NB this would not legally recognised as a marriage by the state but many Bolivians will consider the church ceremony to be the point at which they actually got married - apologies if you are not religious and this is not appropriate).

It is generally considered best to get married in the country in which you intend to settle (at least for the first few years) so on these grounds maybe it would be more sensible for you guys to get married in the UK.

Please focus on the end result (being with your amorcito) and take whichever legal steps you need to do this.

Please let us know how you get on.

Apr 29, 2012
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Bolivian civil ceremony
by: James

Hi Alison,

Thank you for your quick response to my question! I live 300 miles away from the embassy and work full time Monday to Friday and was about to go to London tomorrow (Monday) to the Bolivian so I'm glad I read your post!! I'm in a bit of a difficult situation (wish I'd read your post sooner)

I booked a flight this morning to go to Bolivia which arrives on the first of June - but am stressed about the visa application.

We are making two visa applications at the same time; one for a fiance visa in the UK and one to get a civil ceremony in Bolivia! Her parents want to see her married before she leaves Santa Cruz, but we also want to have a civil ceremony here in the UK so we can just be together and live here,
We need to get the UK fiancé visa approved BEFORE June 14th as the UK goverment are changing legislation so that partners have to earn a minimum of £27k to bring their spouses from that date but I earn nowhere near that!

Judging from your response of how long the consulate take to process a visa and actually just put a stamp inside a passport I don't think I'm going to have time to do this as we have to start doing the UK fiancé application on May 15th for which I need all my paperwork for!! (birth certificate and passport etc). - I've also just thought that I need my passport for travelling to Bolivia in June which may be with the UK Border Agency if we make the visa application in mid May!

I'm so stressed and just want to be with my fiancé - any advice?

Apr 24, 2012
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FAO: James from the UK
by: Alison D

Congratulations James!

Regarding the Bolivian embassy in the UK, I hope the following helps (this is how I found things in July 2011, please check as it might have changed since).

They only accept applications for legalisations/ authentications of translations on THURSDAY mornings. They will give them back 2 weeks later (again on a THURS morning). They said it would take approx 1.5 weeks AFTER this to put the visa in my passport. I didn't want to hang around any longer and ended up getting the visa at migraciones in Santa Cruz (MUCH more expensive).

If you get it all done in London it will be 2xUS$43 plus 2xUS$26, plus US$85 for the visa. You will need to pay at the BBVA near Harrods and return with 5 slips (one for each amount). You can pay in UK pounds if you want and they will covert (maybe not to your advantage). The consulate will give you the bank details and the bank address.

Give the consultate the original and a photocopy of everything.

They also ask for the following for the visa:
1. invitation letter from your Bolivian fiancee
2. cover letter from the company you work for in the UK
3. bank statements for the last 3 months
4. flight details
5. hotel bookings
6. yellow fever certificate
7. valid uk passport with at least 6 months validity
8. 2 passport sized photos

Please don't forget that the birth cert and cert of non-impediment to marriage first need to be legalised by the FCO in Milton Keynes.

I hope this helps and good luck. Any more queries please let me know.

Apr 24, 2012
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translations of birth cert etc
by: Alison D

FAO:- anonymous. No, the Bolivian consulate will authenticate the translation (ie put a stamp confirming that the translation is an accurate reflection of the original document). They might want you to use an approved translator. I would check with them. Good luck

Apr 24, 2012
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FAO: Vimal
by: Alison D

hi Vimal. I'm not sure what your situation is (you guys married in India and would like to use your marriage to give you the right to stay in Bolivia?). Have you asked the Indian embassy in Bolivia how you can speak with their counterpart? Or maybe put your own post on BoliviaBella.com? As strange as it may sound, I have heard that some Bolivian embassadors to other countries actually reside here in Bolivia. If I find out anything I will post back on here. Good luck

Apr 16, 2012
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Bolivia marriage visa
by: James

Hi Alison D,

Just a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind answering them!

I am from the UK, and am getting married to by Fiance who is currently living in Bolivia.

I have been told thatI will have to travel to the Bolivian embassy - how long will it take for them to process the visa, and how will I get it back? IS it a same day thing?

How much does the visa cost in total in £s??

Many thanks

James

Mar 23, 2012
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translated documents
by: Anonymous

So the birth certificate and "solteria" can be translated by the Bolicvian Consulate in your own country?

Mar 12, 2012
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Thank you
by: Vimal

I am yet to legalise my marriage with my wife who is Bolivian. My question is there is no Bolivian embassy in my country hence I came here on a Visa on arrival. So any ideas how i could get my visa change to residency please?

Mar 06, 2012
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marriage requirements part 3
by: Alison D

(please see parts 1 and 2 below).

I realised I forgot to include the charge by Bolivian embassies for authentication of translations: US$26.

Once in Bolivia you will need to get each document legalised by the cancilleria (this is to authenticate the signatures in the Bolivian embassy in your home country). It will cost around US$10 per document and should only take a day.

Any more questions please ask!

Mar 06, 2012
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doing paperwork remotely
by: Alison D

Hi again. Whether you can get these papers done whilst you are in Bolivia will depend 1) whether you can convince someone to go to the Bolivian embassy in Copenhagen for you and b) whether you can obtain a certificado de solteria remotely. This will depend on the laws in Denmark. A friend from another European country did manage to get all his papers done by his dad back home whilst he himself was in Bolivia with his fiancee. In the UK I had to attend an appointment and swear on oath that I had not been married before and could not be related by blood to my fiance! Hopefully it is simpler for you guys. I would suggest you speak to the registry office in Denmark and maybe the DANISH embassy in Bolivia to see what they know.

Mar 05, 2012
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Thank you
by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for the list of all the things we have to go through. I was wondering if you or anyone else knew if going through the process while in Bolivia ?
Once again thank you

Mar 02, 2012
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it won't be easy but it will be worth it!
by: Alison D (again)

(part 2 - see part one below)
7. Witnesses. They will need to go with you to the registro civil to sign the notice of marriage form. They cannot be family members. I am not sure whether they need to be bolivian nationals. We were asked for 2 witnesses, a foreign friend of mine who also got married here was asked for 4! You need to choose reliable people who will also show up to your wedding as they must be the ones who witness your marriage.
8. Money! I think the total bill for the registro civil came to just over US$200 which includes a copy of the marriage certificate. The prices are fixed and they should be able to give you an explanation for all charges.
9. You need to give the registro civil all these requirements at least a week before your intended date (the notice of marriage needs to be posted for 5 working days).
10. There are soooo many registro civil offices in most cities. Go and speak to a few different ones to find someone who is clued up and deals with you (as a foreigner) in a professional way. They will be responsible for the most important hour of your life!

If you are obtaining your Objeto determinado outside of Bolivia (probably easiest and definitely sooo much cheaper) then you will need your fiance to write you a "letter of invitation" to come to Bolivia and marry you. You should include a copy of his ID card and contact details. The Bolivian embassy that issues your visa OD may also ask you for other items eg proof of economic solvency or how you will support yourself in Bolivia.

IMPORTANT. Passport holders of most countries (including the US) are NOT able to obtain a visa objeto determinado inside Bolivia. I know UK citizens can (at the moment anyway) and I believe this extends to all group 1 countries BUT PLEASE CHECK. A visa OD issued inside Bolivia costs nearly US$400 (ouch) and has different requirements, so best to pay US$85 in your home country if at all possible.

RESIDENCY

Bolivia no longer extends automatic citizenship to foreigners married to Bolivians. You will be obliged to go through the residency process once you are married. This starts with 1 year temporary residence. You will still need to provide all the same documents as those who are in Bolivia for other reasons. This will include a certificate from Interpol, blood tests, Bol police checks (all done once inside Bolivia) but instead of showing them a work contract etc you can give them your marriage certificate. They processed my residency in under 4 weeks (which included Christmas and New Year) so I can't complain.

I hope I've remembered everything.

So, it sounds like a lot (and it is) but keep in mind why you are doing this (to spend the rest of your life with your amorcito) and you will be fine!

Let us know if you have any more questions and good luck!

Mar 02, 2012
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it won't be easy but it will be worth it!
by: Alison D, Santa Cruz

(part 1)
Well, congratulations! I got married 3 months ago to a Bolivian (in Santa Cruz) and I hope I can shed some light on this for you.

I think that lots of people want to know about the process of getting married in Bolivia so I will try to cover a few general things too.

Firstly, the Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (Bolivian govt) requires all couples to have a civil "ceremony". You are welcome to have whichever church/ temple ceremony you wish, but you must also go through the formalities with an official from the registro civil (registry office). This can take place wherever you want, but you will have to pay them extra for their travel time.

One of the parties needs to be a Bolivian citizen and have a valid Bolivian ID card. That is, 2 foreigners cannot have a destination civil wedding in Bolivia.

Documents I needed to give to the registro civil: [we got married in the Dept of Santa Cruz 3 months ago]. I would hope that the requirements would be the same in all Depts of Bolivia but cannot confirm that.

1. Original birth certificate, legalised by Bolivian Embassy in your country of origin. US$46. You will probably need to get this legalised by your own govt before the Bolivian embassy will accept it as genuine.
2. Certificado de solteria, legalised by Bolivian Embassy in your country of origin. In the UK we call this a Certificate of Non-impediment to marriage but basically it is just to confirm that you are free to marry your Bolivian sweetheart. Please see above for price etc.
3. If you have previously changed your name for any reason then this document will need to be legalised too. This includes previous marriages which ended in divorce or widowhood.
4. If documents 1. 2. and 3. are not issued in Spanish then they will need to be translated into Spanish and the translations legalised by the bolivian embassy in your country of origin. Check with the Bol embassy whether they have a list of translators you must use, or whether you are free to choose anyone. Whatever document 2. is called in your country, I would ask the translator to include the words "certificado de solteria" in the title.
5. Visa objeto determinado (your objeto determinado will be to get married to a Bolivian and live in Bolivia). This will cost US$85 if bought outside of Bolivia (please see below). OR if you already live in Bolivia then your residency.
6. Certificate of Visa Objeto determinado or residency. 100Bs if bought in Bolivia, don't know how much if bought outside. The reason for this is that your visas and residencies are stamps in your passport and you can't leave your passport with registro civil.

CONT in separate post

Mar 01, 2012
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Tillykke
by: Michael

Lyder dejligt---held og lykke.

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What visa for American husband of Bolivian/American Wife?

by Darren
(Seattle )

My wife holds both an American and Bolivian passport, and we are both planning on moving down to La Paz to live with her parents for a little bit. We do not have any definite plans, but we are looking for a visa that would allow me the most time possible, and possibly the ability to work. The consulate has not been very helpful, so does anyone know what we should apply for? I understand that we need to send out birth and marriage certificates to the consulate for authentication, but after that we are lost.

Any help would be appreciated!

Comments for What visa for American husband of Bolivian/American Wife?

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Dec 01, 2013
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Forum communication etiquette
by: ben;bandido

Hi unanimous,
I noticed that you too compiled a very long and relevant reply to a question by an ‘hi-sole’ who stated “Any help would be appreciated!” on issues of a Visa to Bolivia, I am sure you didn’t expect a million thanks for it, rather perhaps just an acknowledgement on your efforts.

The question playing in my mind at present is; would you ever bother again to spend your precious and valuable time tabling a reply to a thankless individual who might never care to acknowledge your mental exertion? Or are you more compassionate, perhaps with just a slight tinge of resentment for the ignorance and thoughtlessness of an ill-mannered little punk as being just an ungrateful nut who lacks the sense of community and the etiquette of forum communication?

Nov 28, 2013
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What visa for American husband of Bolivian/American Wife?
by: ben.bandido

Hi Daren
Residence Visa
You as a husband of a Boliviana are entitled to apply for a Bolivian residence Visa which will allow you random movements between the US and Bolivia, automatic freedom to take up employment and to join volunteering network if you wish to help these very deserving and needy people.
Applying for residence Visa consist of three separate application stages, the first stage is the most tedious, very detailed and is the longest application process which on completion will allow you a one single year stay. During this first year stay you are not allowed to be absent from the Bolivian soil for any more than ninety (90), default even by a single solitary day entails repetition of the whole monotonous process over again, starting from scratch.
Preparing for the residence application necessitates your arrival in Bolivia on a “Specific Purpose Visa” obtainable from a Bolivian Embassy/Consulate at your country of origin, and since you are applying for residence on marriage grounds which took place in the US you have to also produce your marriage certificate dully translated to Spanish language by the US government body and authenticated by that same department (nothing to do with the Bolivian authorities), an authenticated birth certificate is only needed if you intend to get married here, it doesn’t apply in the situation of your residence application issues, however I suggest that you get both certificates authenticated together just for peace of mind and in case they might be needed together for any other reason including this.
The quickest way to get a Bolivian “Specific Purpose Visa” (SPV) is to call at their Embassy, ask for details and inform your intention as to apply for a Bolivian residence permit, you will be given a piece of paper with detailed requirements such as fee amount payable, Valid Passport requirements, confirmed ticket booking and may be your authenticated marriage certificate to be presented for the purpose; point to the required fee and ask for the Bank name and the payable account number so that you can also produce the payment receipt on delivery of the other requested documents saving the rush out to a Bank for fee payment on your second visit.
To get your certificates authenticated is just a matter of tolling the internet looking for the nearest office within your Union State, I suggest you start with words such as “Document legalisation” or “Apostles/Authentication of documents”
The very following day upon your arrival in Bolivia I suggest you start your application phase for a year stay option by calling at the Immigration office in La Paz to inquire for the needed documents and then proceed onwards since this application process could take longer than the allocated 30 days/now 29 and counting, which in consequence could cost you overstay levy of $3+ a day.
Good luck and kind regards,
Ben.

Nov 26, 2013
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Don't go on a tourist visa
by: Anonymous

It's true. You need the SPV. If you go on a tourist visa, you can't request residency.

Nov 26, 2013
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Specific Purpose Visa
by: Anonymous

Even though your wife is a Bolivian citizen, you will need to travel to Bolivia on a "visa de objeto determinado" (specific purpose visa). This visa indicates that you are entering Bolivia for the specific purpose of applying for residency. You cannot work legally in Bolivia unless you are a legal resident.

The specific purpose visa gives you 30 days in Bolivia to apply for residency. During your first 30 days in the country you must immediately begin your visa application process. It will take you most of those 30 days to do so.

Once you have turned in your application, along with all of the required accompanying documentation and requirements, Immigration will issue you a slip of paper that states your residency application is in progress. With this slip of paper you can travel anywhere inside Bolivia and you can remain in Bolivia legally until they return your passport with the residency stamp in it.

Because some of the requirements take time to process, you should begin your residency application process IMMEDIATELY upon entering the country. Begin with your visit to Interpol, as that office seems to take the longest.

FOR EXAMPLE:

You will visit Interpol where you will fill in a document. They will keep a copy and request Interpol in the United States send them any criminal history you have.

You will also visit Cenetrop (the Center for Tropical Diseases) where you will have to get a physical and will be tested for AIDS/HIV.

You will visit the Police station where you will need to get two documents: one is a Certificado de Antecedentes (criminal background check to see if you have any criminal history in Bolivia) and a document that proves where you will be living in Bolivia.

You will be required to prove that you have the financial means to maintain yourself (or that you have a job, are retired with a retirement pension, or will be starting a business) during the time you are in Bolivia.

There are other requirements and they all take time and patience so once you enter Bolivia, do not wait to begin.

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Married to a Bolivian. Do I need a visa?

by Jess
(Seattle, WA)

I recently married my Bolivian husband in the US and we are planning to visit his family for a couple weeks in December. I have been to Bolivia many times before on a Tourist visa and I was wondering if I have gained any privilege by getting married. Anyone have experience with this?

I would like to avoid paying for a visa again (mine has expired) and all the stress of dealing with immigration...

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Sep 24, 2014
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It isn't hard to get a tourist visa
by: Anonymous

It's not really hard to get a tourist visa to Bolivia. You can even do it by mail. You just have to send them a self addressed stamped envelope along with all the requirements and they will mail your passport back to you with the visa stamp on it. I suggest using the Bolivian consulate in Washington DC even if there is one nearer to you. They are super friendly, and helpful, and if you want to you can use FEDEX. You just send in your envelope a self-addressed postage-paid FEDEX envelope for them to return your passport to you.

Sep 24, 2014
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Unfortunately, you do need a visa
by: Anonymous

As a US citizen traveling on a US passport, even if you are married to a Bolivian, you do need a visa. The cost is $160 for a tourist visa at the Bolivian consulates in the US. The requirements are not a big deal, really.

Sep 24, 2014
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Bolivian visa
by: Anonymous

My wife is a Bolivian citizen and a naturalized U.S. citizen. I still had to obtain a Bolivian visa at the El Alto airport (near La Paz). I filled out the visa application form and had the proper photos, etc. before I left the U.S. The Bolivian Embassy in the U.S. has an internet site with directions on this.

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Marry visa for Pakistani citizen

by Wajid
(Pakistan)

How to go Bolivia from Pakistan. I want to go to Bolivia. Hi. I'm from Pakistan. I want to go to Bolivia. My girl friend live in La Paz Bolivia how come to Bolivia .. What requirement please told me.

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US Citizen Married to Bolivian Moving to Cochabamba

by Daniel
(Tiquipaya Bolivia)

Hi, Im 22 years old and married my Bolivian wife in September. I have the Matrimonio visa and just got the objeto determinado: Tramite Residencia in the US. Im planning on moving in may. I have a job offer with an American School there and will begin working in August oficially. Ive gotten used to the hassel of the Bolivian government, so Im expecting it to be a journey to get residency. My only question is if Im married to a bolivian why do I only get Temporary residency for a year, then extend? According to the migracion website there is a "boliviano por matrimonio" visa/or status that can be applied for...but it really doesnt give any details of what it allows you to do. My goal is to stay but want to have the option to leave if for more than 90 days with invalidating anything. It seems like if youre married to a Bolivian, bam! youre bolivian too. Also, if anyone can provide a tramitador in Cochabamba that would be great!

Thanks everyone.
Daniel

daniel.willis@live.com

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Feb 04, 2012
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bolivian tramites
by: Rachel

Hey there - I am in a similar situation (married to a Bolivian citizen and just moved down to Bolivia last November on Visa de Objeto Determinado)...I am THRILLED to say I just got my 1 year residency VISA approved yesterday!!

You are right that your first step is the 1 year residency VISA - supposedly after that you apply for a 2 year residency VISA and during that 2 year visa you can finally apply for naturalization (citizenship). I have heard conflicting stories of whether you can apply for naturalization after 2 yrs. or 3 yrs....but in any case you can't jump straight to naturalization.

Get ready for a long ride with the governmental agencies - it took me 2 months instead of 1 and I really busted my butt to move as quickly as possible (except I did it all legally and without bribes - yippee)!! The problem is that your Objeto Determinado is only valid for 30 days once you enter the country, so since it's practically impossible to do everything in those 30 days, you can either pay a fine ($3/day) for each day you overstay your Visa de Objeto Determinado, or there is some way to apply for an extension of your VISA, but that also has a cost, and for me it was pretty much the same cost either way, so I just paid a total of 30 days x $3 = $90 fine.

Anyways, I would HIGHLY recommend that before you come down to Bolivia, you get the following documents legalized through the Bolivian embassy/consulate: Birth Certificate, Marriage License, FBI or State criminal background check (you will need this for Interpol fingerprints in Cochabamba).

In case you don't know, the legalization process is the following: get each U.S. document translated, then notarize both the English and Spanish versions, get them authenticated at your County Clerk office (they will sign off that the notary public was on their registry), then take them to your state Secretary of State to get authenticated, and finally send or take them to be authenticated at the Washington D.C. Secretary of State (where Hillary Clinton works). FINALLY after all of that, you send or take them to the Bolivian Consulate (not sure if it has to be the Washington DC one or if it can be the Miami, New York, Chicago one) and you pay around $85 per document (the marriage license should be a bit less since your wife is bolivian, and bolivians pay around $42 for legalizations) for them to "legalize" it, so that when you get to Cochabamba you can present them to be stamped at the Cancillería de Relaciones Exteriores (located off Plaza Colon) and you will be able to present those documents as if they were issued here locally by a bolivian authority. I guess they really mistrust documents from other countries because of so much falsification and corruption, so I kind of understand the reasoning behind it, but it's a huge pain!!

Feb 04, 2012
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Rita Espana at Quillacollo Tours
by: Anonymous

Rita Espana at Quillacollo Tours in Cochabamba is great.

http://www.turismo.gnb.com.bo/datempresa.php?cod=38970

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Bolivia Residency if Married to Bolivian Citizen

by Marcus Carter
(Naples, FL USA)

Hello, Me and my family are looking to move to Santa Cruz in 2012. I have been married to a Bolivian Citizen for 18 years, and I have two girls who both already have citizenship because of their mother. We own property, and are currently building a house in the North Zone. My wife has bank accounts down there, and my children are enrolled in school. Will all of this help my residency process?? I want to have as much done as I can before I arrive so I can make sure the process isn't a terrible experience.

Thanks,

Marc Carter

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Jul 13, 2017
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marry a bolivian girl
by: priyan

Hello I am PRIYAN and I love one Bolivian girl if I take visa on arrival after we get married I get permanent resistance in Bolivia or renewal of visa.

Sep 16, 2015
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Bolivian marriage valid in the UK
by: Gaby

Hello there, I would like to know if my British boyfriend and I -Bolivian citizen, get married in Bolivia.. is the certificate valid for the uk? as in..the next time I apply for a visa .. can I come as a Family visitor?
Thanks

Jun 25, 2013
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Immigration Attorney
by: Marcus Carter

Hello, Is Ms. Gonzales still doing Immigration paperwork in Sta Cruz? Thank you,

Marcus Carter

Jun 07, 2011
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immigration lawyer
by: Anonymous

Rebeca Gonzales (591) 7788-2222
rebecagonzales@gmail.com

Jun 07, 2011
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Attorney
by: Marcus Carter

Hello again,

Can you please e-mail me the name and number to the Immigration Attorney in Santa Cruz.

Thanks,

Marcus Carter

MarcusCarter856@Hotmail.com

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