To visit Bolivia, all foreign travelers need proper travel authorization. The government of Bolivia has categorized visa applicants into three groups. Applicants from foreign countries in the first group do not need a visa and can stay up to three months, while travelers from countries in groups two and three are required to get a visa either before entering the country or on arrival.

The government also mandates all passengers to register for the Bolivia SIGEMIG, its migration management system. The SIGEMIG is a traveler location form, and foreigners can register their accommodation details before arriving in Bolivia. Immigration officials at the port of entry will also help foreigners register their information on SIGEMIG.

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Three-tiered policy

Not all foreign travelers need a visa to visit Bolivia for tourism or business. The government of Bolivia permits ordinary passport holders of around 51 nations, including Venezuela, Andorra, Iceland, Vatican City, Mexico, Canada, and Norway, visa-free entry for tourism. They can stay up to 90 days. Initially, they are allowed to stay for 30 days. They can extend it up to three months.

Holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports do not require a visa to enter Bolivia. This is applicable even to the holders of the Chinese public affairs passport. Travelers from countries like India should obtain a visa from the Bolivian embassy or consulate in their country. They can also get a visa on arrival at select international airports in Bolivia. Note that while an embassy visa is free of cost, travelers have to pay a processing fee of around 30 USD if they opt for a visa on arrival.

Visitors from other groups of countries, such as Cambodia and Yemen, should get a visa before planning a trip to Bolivia. They are not eligible for a Bolivian visa on arrival in the country. Bolivia has separated its visa policy into three groups.

Bolivia SIGEMIG online registration

Foreign travelers must register their accommodation details with Bolivia’s SIGEMIG system. This can be done pre-arrival or with immigration official assistance at entry points. Failing to register results in hefty fines upon departure. While most travelers need a visa, those from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Colombia may enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable to three months.

Stays beyond three months require a visa application from a Bolivian mission in their country.

Citizens from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay, and Uruguay can enter using national ID cards instead of passports.

Visa-Free Entry to Bolivia

The government of Bolivia allows foreigners from around 51 countries visa-free entry for short-term stays for tourism and business-related activities. They can stay up to 90 days in the country without a visa. To stay more than three months, they have to get a Bolivian visa.

For this, they have to apply through a Bolivian mission in their home country. There is no Bolivian electronic travel authorization or eVisa.

Visa-needed entry to Bolivia

Travelers from visa-required countries can either apply for a Bolivian visa free of charge at their nearest embassy or consulate, or pay a processing fee for a visa upon arrival at certain Bolivian airports. The embassy application process, which involves filling an online form and submitting travel documents and a yellow fever vaccination proof, can be lengthy, taking 10-15 days. Not all countries house a Bolivian mission, so some applicants may need to mail their documents. On the other hand, visa on arrival, available in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba airports, involves an undefined procedure and potentially cash-only payments.

Special authorization needed

A few foreign countries, such as Syria, Israel, Angola, and Sudan, are not eligible for a visa on arrival in Bolivia.

They have to apply for a visa at a Bolivian mission. The process may take a little longer as they have to further obtain special authorization from the Bolivian national immigration service.

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