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 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 in during your time in 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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
