Visa Requirements for Bolivia

Recently Bolivia visa requirements for some foreign citizens 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, or are in transit through Bolivia. But if you plan to live, retire, study, volunteer or work in Bolivia you will need a specific purpose visa to enter the country.

Visa requirements are not same to all Nationals. It depends on the treaties that exist between Bolivia and your country. But all Nationals who plan to apply for residency need a specific purpose visa.

The Bolivia tourist visa

Visa is a very important factor for entering the country. Laws about Bolivia visa requirements for tourists vary by your country of origin and regularly change without notice. You must contact the Bolivian consulate nearest you to make sure that you understand the laws concerning Bolivia visas applicable to you. This post is just a GENERAL guideline. Bolivia does not require travel visas for citizens of some countries, and as well as does for others. Americans do need a Bolivia visa. Apart than this, the length of stay and other information also varies country to country. Therefore you have to make sure about the correct visa and all the necessary requirements prior to traveling to Bolivia.

According to Immigration laws and documents displayed on the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (Last Update: September 2010) it must be noted that foreigners wishing to enter Bolivia have been classified into 3 groups:

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

Group 2 list of 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 fail to get the tourist visa prior to their traveling, but can show that they have fulfilled all the requirements to obtain the tourist visa may, just as an exception, get their tourist visa at the first migratory control point (overland border points or airports). It is only if Bolivian immigration officials have verified that they've complied and fulfilled all requirements.

Extensions:  On 26 February 2010, Immigration officials in Santa Cruz, Bolivia announced that foreigners from all three groups whether they need a tourist visa or not, are NOT allowed staying in Bolivia over 90 days in every year. There is NO possibility for extension. If you even cross the border to a neighboring country to request another 90 days, this request will be turned down and you will be obligated to obtain a “Visa de Objeto De Terminado” (the specific purpose visa) which lasts only for 30 days. After that you may decide about how many days you will stay in Bolivia. If you wish to obtain a residency permit you have those 30 days to begin and complete your Bolivia residency application.

What’s about overstaying? 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 of their tourist visa or entry stamp. Essentially, if you stay in the country beyond your visa expiration date it will be considered as the illegal stay. You may have trouble to obtain a travel visa the next time when you plan to visit Bolivia.

The specific purpose visa

This type of visa is designed for those who are planning to reside in Bolivia for a length of time greater than 90 days per year to work, to do business, or to get an education there. This visa is valid for 30 days stay. This means that once you arrive in Bolivia you have only 30 days to initiate and turn in your application for residency.

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 you cannot change migratory status once you 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.

The 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 enter 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 for 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. Disclaimer Before you travel, it is your responsibility to check with the Bolivian Consulate nearest you because immigration laws change frequently. This post should not be considered as legal advice. All of the above information is obtained from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Visitors may get detailed information regarding Bolivian visas from www.boliviabella.com