Pros and cons of Bolivia visa on arrival

Bolivia, located in the South American continent, is a country with incredible cultural, historical and natural wealth. It is coveted by tourists and travellers worldwide for its high altitude trekking that takes you to admire the wonders of nature and humanity. The country's cultural identity is very strong and takes us out of time for an authentic journey within Latin America.

So if you plan to visit the beautiful attractions that Bolivia hides, it is convenient that you find out all the Bolivia visa requirements you must meet to enter the country.

Read below to find out if you can obtain a Bolivia visa on arrival, what documents or vaccination certificates will be required, costs and length of stay.

What Countries Do Not Need a Visa to Visit Bolivia?

Bolivia divides its regulations to enter the country into 3 different groups. A Bolivia visa-free country belongs to Group 1:

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Czech republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Palestine
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• The Vatican city
• Venezuela

From the Bolivia visa free countries list, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay can enter Bolivia with their identity card or passport with a minimum validity of 6 months. The rest of the nationalities may enter Bolivia exclusively with a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months. The length of stay granted by the authorities is 30 days.

Group 2

Some countries can get the Bolivia visa on arrival or go previously to the Bolivia Embassy or Consulate of your country of origin. The difference between them is that if you choose to get the visa on arrival, you have to pay USD 95 (the cost depends on your nationality), and if you apply through the Embassy, it is without any cost. You can only pay in cash, and the dollars must be in perfect condition. The borders also accept Bolivian pesos. The length of stay granted by the authorities is 30 days.

Also, it should be clarified that to obtain the Bolivia visa on arrival, your flight must land in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz airports.

The Bolivia visa on arrival countries is explained in the Picksvisa's Bolivia visa policy section, and you can check it for more details.

Bolivia visa on arrival for Indian citizens

If you are from India, you belong to group 2 of the Bolivia visa on arrival countries. Still, you have to pay USD 55, and both you and those who belong to this group must present the following documents:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate
• A recent 2 x 2 passport size photo
• Travel itinerary
• Accommodation reservation or invitation letter
• Flight tickets
• Proof of financial solvency

The Bolivia visa on arrival for Indian citizens for other countries will be ready in just a few minutes.

Arrival visa: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• You don't need to wait. They give it to you at the moment
• You do not need to pass the consular interview
• It is only necessary to present general documentation
• It is applicable to almost all countries

Cons:

• It is not free for any country that chooses this option

Group 3

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• Chad
• China
• Congo
• North Korea
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Nigeria
• Palestine
• Pakistan
• Rwanda
• Syria
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Timor Leste
• Yemen

Group 3 citizens must apply for a visa in advance and can only do so directly at a Bolivian Embassy. The cost of the visa is USD 30. The length of stay granted by the authorities is 90 days.

Bolivia Tourist Visa: What Do You Need?

The Bolivia visa requirements for tourism purpose are:

• Complete the online form and sign it
• Your passport with a minimum validity of 6 months
• 2 passport size photo with white background
• Your ID card and its photocopies
• Certified against yellow fever
• If your country of origin and citizenship are different, you must present your residence permit and its copy with a minimum validity of 3 months
• Travel itinerary
• Accommodation reservation or invitation letter
• Flight tickets reservation
• Proof of financial solvency
• Proof of the visa fee payment (it depends on your nationality)

The Bolivia tourist visa process can take a maximum of 10 days. On the other hand, if your country of origin is in Group 3 described above, according to the Bolivia visa policy, in addition to the requirements mentioned for the tourist visa, you must also present the following documents:

• Certificate of Police Record issued by the country of origin, translated into Spanish or English, if applicable
• The invitation letter must be notarized

The visa is subject to approval by the General Directorate of Bolivia Migration, and the processing time will depend on your country of origin.

Bolivia Work Visa: What Do You Need?

If you are wondering, how do I get a visa for Bolivia? In case you want to work in this South American country, then you should go to the Bolivian Embassy or Consulate of your country of origin with the following documents:

• Complete the online form and sign it
• Your passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and its photocopies
• 2 passport size photo with white background
• Your ID card and its photocopies
• If your country of origin and citizenship are different, you must present your residence permit and its copy with a minimum validity of 3 months
• Travel itinerary
• Accommodation reservation or invitation letter
• Flight tickets reservation
• Proof of financial solvency
• Valid Certificate that proves that you have no criminal or police record
• Certified against yellow fever
• Proof of the visa fee payment (it depends on your nationality)
• Invitation letter from your employer clarifying the business details (address, telephone, etc.) it must be notarized
• Registration Authorization Document in the General Migration Directorate, attaching a simple copy of the Constitution Act
• Trade record of your employer/company
• Work contract duly legalized and translated into Spanish if necessary
• Certificate of good health

To get the Bolivia work visa can take a maximum of 10 working days. Also, read about the visa policy here. Select Bolivia, then Visa Types and Bolivia Work to read about the fees.

Customs and Sanitary Formalities

When entering Bolivia, a form known as "Sworn Declaration of Accompanied Baggage and Foreign Currency" is delivered, where any item indicated in the document must be declared.

Without having to be declared, the elements that can be entered into the country correspond to articles for personal use in quantities that do not suggest that they are imported or exported for commercial purposes. While new items, for example, gifts, must be declared.

Regarding health formalities, it is important to declare at the time of entry to Bolivia, all plant and animal origin products carried in luggage. In general, food that does not exceed 5 kg can be entered in airtight containers without signs of alteration, while homemade food is not allowed.

Requirements to Travel to Bolivia by Car

Enter the country by car, in addition to mentioned above Bolivia visa requirements. You must have a valid driver's license, vehicle documents, form "Affidavit of Entry and Exit of Private Use Vehicles for Tourism" and "Form of Exit and Temporary Admission of Tourist Vehicles". It is also advisable to have valid insurance against third parties in Mercosur.

Once the customs authority has reviewed the documents presented, the vehicle can remain in Bolivia for six months.

Bolivia and COVID-19

To close your question to how do I get a visa for Bolivia? You should know that apart from the yellow fever certificate, which is mandatory to enter the country, you must also have the certificate of a COVID-19 test with a negative result, which must be performed within 72 hours before Entrance to the country.

Also, you should know that you must carry out the 10 days of quarantine from your admission. And finally, if you do not have a residence in the country, you must have health insurance that covers the expenses of Covid-19.