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Visa Requirements for Bolivia: Everything You Need to Know

Visa Requirements for Bolivia for us citizens

As you begin to prepare for your trip to Bolivia, you will need to consider something important visa requirements for Bolivia based on your nationality: One quick Google search into this topic and soon you will discover a lot of incorrect or unhelpful information. 

Luckily, getting a visa for Bolivia is not complicated but there are a few important details to know before you head to the airport. 

Below we break down everything you need to know about the Bolivia visa process including getting the 
Bolivia visa for US citizens. 

Getting the Bolivia Visa on Arrival (Tourist)

For many nationalities, there is no need to get a Bolivia visa in advance. 

Citizens of the European Union, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and many other countries do not need to obtain a visa in advance. Most South American nationals can also enter Bolivia visa-free (except Guyana for some reason)

Our recent experience in Bolivia taught us that for European Citizens, Australia, etc there is no fee to enter the country or for the visa on arrival. Technically for the nationalities mentioned above, you do not get an actual visa on arrival as there is no physical visa placed into your passport. What you get is more of a visa exemption status and a stamp in your passport. 

If you hold citizenship from one of the above-mentioned nationalities, you are typically allowed to stay for 90 days.

bolivia visa for americans
Welcome to La Paz!

Bolivia Visa for US Citizens

This subject probably has the most conflicting information related to Bolivia travel that one can find online! So let’s set the record straight and keep things nice and clear. 

This information was updated in June 2024. Here is what you need to know about the Bolivia tourist visa for US citizens:

There is no need to apply for the visa in advance at an embassy in the US. There are however a list of documents you need to print out and bring with you to the airport and also present to immigration when you arrive in Bolivia.  

Visa requirements for Bolivia for US Citizens:

  • Your hotel booking reservation document for when you arrive in La Paz (does not have to be every hotel you plan on staying ion Bolivia.). You will also need the address of the hotel where you are staying. 
  • Your return flight details (showing when you are entering and departing Bolivia).
  • 2 color copies of your passport
  • 6-month validity remaining on your passport
  • Debit/credit cards to pay the visa fee
  • Visa cost for Americans: $160 USD

Note on the visa payment: As of May 2024, the Bolivian immigration people no longer accept cash payment for the visa (unless you happen to somehow have Boliviano currency). You can pay using a debit/credit card upon completion of the visa form upon your arrival. We suggest that you have 2-3 cards in your wallet as the first two our staff tried were declined – so it is good to have a few backup options.  

Note #2: We suspect that the information provided on the US State Department Bolivia info website is out of date as many other documents are listed that were simply not needed when our team just went through this whole process. 

Visa Requirements for Bolivia for us citizens
Here is the visa sticker US citizens get upon arrival

What to Expect Upon Arrival

This section is especially relevant to persons of US nationality. 

When you arrive at the airport in El Alto (La Paz) or at one of the land borders, the process goes like this:

You need to get a special form from the immigration officials – just tell them you are American and need a visa on arrival. You then stand off to the side and fill the form. After the form is complete, you re-approach the immigration window and hand over the documents listed above. You then get your photo taken (you do not need to bring your own photos). 

Once everything has been entered into the visa computer system by the immigration official, he/she prints out the visa sticker and places it in your passport (it takes a whole passport page!). 

You then pay the $160 fee via credit card and that’s all there is to it. For US citizens with a Bolivian tourist visa, you may stay 30 days per trip (see extension session below), not to exceed 90 days per year. The upside of this expensive visa is that it is good for 10 years so you don’t have to pay again if you come back to Bolivia in the next decade. 

Show up with all of the correct documents in order and you shall have no issues!

Visa Requirements for Bolivia

How Can I Apply for Bolivia Visa Online?

For any of the nationalities including USA people mentioned thus far, there is no need to apply for the Bolivian visa online in advance. 

If you are from one of the countries not eligible for a visa on arrival, then you can use one of the many third-party websites to help you with the process. We don’t have any direct experience doing an online visa application for Bolivia so, unfortunately, we can’t advise you on a visa company to use. 

Usually, the government website of your home country can provide options of reputable visa agents to use. 

Getting a Bolivian Visa at an Overland Border

Bolivia shares territorial borders with five countries. These are Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Paraguay. The most common border crossings are the Peru-Bolivia border and Argentina-Bolivia border. 

The process for entry and obtaining a Bolivian tourist visa are the same as described above for the different nationalities. One thing to note is if you plan on entering Bolivia with your own car, expect a much longer process, more forms, etc. 

The Peru - Bolivia land border. Photo: No Road Back

Getting a Bolivian Tourist Visa Extension

Tourists who wish to extend their initial 30-day stay can apply for an extension through the Dirección General de Migración (National Migration Service), which has offices in most major cities. If you go to one of the offices (in La Paz as an example), you should be prepared to speak at least basic Spanish. 

As far as we know, there is no cost to get a visa extension – which can be extended for a period of 30 days, twice. 

Dirección General de Migración la paz
The Dirección General de Migración building in La Paz

Wrap Up: Visa Requirements For Bolivia

There you go – you are now armed with everything you need to prepare yourself for your adventure in Bolivia. We hope now you have a solid grasp of the Visa requirements for Bolivia! 

As with other countries in South America, for the most part, the visa-on-arrival scheme is pretty straightforward. Simply take the time to print out the documents you need (for Americans), have everything organized before you head to the airport and you shall have no trouble at all. 

We hope to see you here at some point for our one-of-a-kind Bolivia Trekking and Climbing Expedition

most beautiful places in Bolivia

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2 Replies to “Visa Requirements for Bolivia: Everything You Need to Know”

  1. Thank you very much for the information. I have been researching the Bolivia visa process/requirements and found conflicting information, even from the official US Department of State website. I plan to go there in Oct and this is very helpful.

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Welcome to our Journal!

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Here at Epic Expeditions, adventure is constantly on our minds. 

Our blog – or Journal as we like to call it – contains epic trip stories, photo diaries, and news about new tours. 

Thanks for checking it out! 

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The trip we're most stoked about

NEPAL
Island Peak Climbing Expedition

Next trip: October 14th - 31st, 2024

Adventure Guide

Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a  love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.

In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to. 

When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer. 

Adventure Guide

Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.

She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos. 

Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team! 

Adventure Guide

As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…

for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry. 

He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world! 

He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)

– Coastal

Head of canine operations

Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight. 

She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.

These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen. 

Adventure Guide

An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.

Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.

A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.

We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!

– Monika Steinlechner

epic expeditions team

Adventure Guide

Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.

His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.

Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens. 

His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.

We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations! 

– Alexandra Ruth

Fairy Meadows

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Our Favorite Experiences

#1 Sunrise from Reflection Lake

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#2 Hiking to Nanga Parbat Base Camp

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#3 Playing cricket with the locals

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Trips Where We Visit Fairy Meadows

Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour.  Road trip with some  hiking and cultural immersion.

A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.

Adventure Guide

João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare. 

With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.

João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions. 

After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.

João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none

When not in Pakistan, João is  guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails –  discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.

João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!

– Jeffery 

travel hunza valley

Adventure Guide

Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains. 

Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles 

in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.

Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!

– Borgan

iran travel tour

Adventure Guide

Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.

Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.

Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020

When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.

 I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!

– Coastal

Diane Bouvet

Adventure Admin / Marketing

After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe

She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements. 

Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.

k2 gondogoro la trek

Head of Operations | Guide

A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. 

Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.

Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.

Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge. 

– Calvin


Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.

– Katrina 

adventure tours pakistan

Founder | Adventure Guide | Director

Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way. 

Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.

A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.

Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe. 

For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.

He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands. 

Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.  

Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!

Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”

– Will De Villers

Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]

Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.

– Clark Tyler

epic backpacker tours

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