South America Living

When planning your trip to Bolivia get ready for the visa fees. U.S. citizens must pay $135 USD to enter the country, and that includes all border crossings, not just when arriving by air as is the case for Argentina and Chile. Canadians can enter the country and visit for 30 days without any charge, yet must pay $30 USD and obtain a Tourist Visa if they want to stay longer.

Coat of Arms of Bolivia

British and Australian nationals do not have to pay upon entry and are granted up to 90 days, free of charge. If you get a 30 day stamp when crossing the border, just visit an Immigration Office in Bolivia and request an extension.

Maximum stay for visitors for Canadian, British and Australian tourists is 90 days. After 90 days you need to leave the country and re-enter with a new visa stamp in your passport. Not too difficult considering Bolivia shares borders with Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Important Note for Americans traveling to Bolivia: United States passport holders are allowed ONLY 90 DAYS PER YEAR, as of 2011. U.S. citizens CANNOT extend their tourist visit as other nationalities can.

If not a U.S. citizen… you can also extend your 90 day visa at an Immigration office within Bolivia, and pay for the additional time. If you overstay your visa past the 90 days illegally, you’ll be charged 20 bolivianos per day overstay fee at the border when you leave.

The visa fee charged to U.S. citizens is called a ‘reciprocity fee’ as it is the same amount that citizens of Bolivia are charged when visiting the United States. All fees quoted above are subject to change. If the corresponding country raises its entry fee for Bolivian nationals, Bolivia will then in turn raise its fee to enter their country. How the game is currently being played.

If you have questions, contact your countries embassy or consulate in Bolivia: Living in Bolivia – Embassies of the USA, Canada, Australia & UK

U.S. citizens can purchase a Tourist Visa before entering the country, or at any border crossing. Bolivia also requires a Yellow Fever Certificate but is not enforced across the board. A vaccine may be administered at the border if you have not already had the shot – or you may be allowed to enter without it.

Officially, the requirements for the visa for U.S. citizens also includes proof of income (bank statement, credit card, etc.), passport photos, return ticket out of the country (if arriving by air) and a hotel reservation or ‘letter of invitation’ from a Bolivian national. When entering the country by land, you most likely will only need to show your passport, Yellow Fever Certificate and pay the fee, but there is no guarantee.

Most importantly – to make the process go smoothly – have your $135 USD reciprocity fee ready to hand-over in U.S. dollars. The visa is valid for five years, multiple entries. Do not lose your passport (that has the visa stamp) or you will have to pay for another visa ($80 USD for replacement) and redo the process all over again.

Departure tax when leaving Bolivia

They don’t let you off the hook when you leave the country either. Bolivia charges a departure tax of $25 USD for international departures. If you are flying within the country, the fee is minimal – only 15 Bolivianos ($2 USD). To save any hassle, have the correct amount ready to pass over to the Immigration money collector, in U.S. dollars.

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