Llama introduces you to this landlocked country of terrifying heights, endless salt planes, and 37 official languages. Did you get the pun? Okay, this might be silly, but llamas are one of the main things this land is recognized for, alongside the richest forests, the highest lake of South America, and the most vibrant fabrics that colour the bodies of local people. Yes, I am talking about Bolivia, and you are in the right place if you are looking for more information that will help you get there. It is no wonder that so many want to visit it - many unique sights, flavours, and activities are there to be explored but to do this, you need to make sure that you can get into this country.
You can probably guess by now that what I am talking about is the Bolivia visa policy that you have to get at least slightly acquainted with. If that is the topic you are willing to explore further, be my guest - this is an article just about that. How to get a visa for Bolivia, what is the Bolivia visa price and how to apply for Bolivia visa? These are just a few of the details I will talk more about. So sit tight and read on because, in the following paragraphs, you will find the basic information and be able to figure out the basic Bolivia visa requirements if you are willing to go there for a short-term visit, but first stuff first.
Which are Bolivia visa free countries?
To ensure that the basics are covered, let’s see if you should keep reading the article or ditch the effort completely. Namely, let’s see which ones are on the list of Bolivia visa free countries and if you need to apply for a visa to this beautiful land at all. The list is not too long, but if you happen to have citizenship of one of the below, you can happily skip the rest of the text (unless you are a fact nerd like I am).
Citizens of the following countries can travel to Bolivia visa-free:
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, Holy See (Vatican), Venezuela.
If you don’t find your country on this list, then check out the remaining information!
What place do short-term visas have in the Bolivia visa policy?
The typology is rather simple here. You can either apply for a short-term or a long-term visa. The one you should choose depends on your needs and intentions in Bolivia. The first one will be required if you wish to do any temporary travel that might be connected to any of the reasons - tourism, visiting family or friends, business travel, short-term education programs and training, exchange programs, short-term work, etc. That means - if we are talking about a Bolivia short-term visa, then you can choose if you would need one of the following types:
- Bolivia Tourist Visa
- Bolivia Business/Congress/Trade Fair Visit Visa
- Bolivia Cultural, Scientific, Sports Events Visa
- Bolivia Visiting Family and Friends Visa
- Bolivia Study (Short-term) Visa
- Bolivia Work (Short-term) Visa
What are Bolivia visa requirements?
As you saw, there are quite many visa types in this category. It makes it quite reasonable that the actual requirement list will differ depending on the type of short-term visa you wish to obtain. Let’s say that there is a basic bunch of documents that you will need in any case, and here are them. Besides a filled and signed Bolivia visa application form, you will need to provide:
- A passport that is valid at least 6 months after departure date from Bolivia.
- Two recent passport size and format photos (not older than 6 months).
- Photocopies of the main page and previous visas in your passport.
- Travel itinerary - flight reservation and an existing accommodation booking with full address and contact information.
- Proof of occupation - a letter from employer, sponsor, or university. If it is a sponsor, then a copy of their passport and residence visa will be required, too.
- Proof of financial means - bank statement for the last three months, credit card or cash, traveller’s cheques, etc.
And then, for each of the visa types, you can count in all the necessary documents that support your travel intentions. For example, if it is a business visa, you will need to provide a letter explaining the nature of the business and the existing business relations, but for a study visa - an acceptance letter from an educational institution, etc. The easiest and surest way to be aware of all the requirements ahead is to ask the nearest embassy or consulate, as they deal with these questions every day and will be able to provide the most recent information.
How to get a visa for Bolivia short-term visits?
Okay, you have been waiting to get an answer to this question for too long, am I right? The truth is that all the information before (and ahead) this article will directly help to understand how to get a Bolivia short-term visa. Nonetheless, I will also briefly explain the procedure for obtaining it. Why shortly? Because it is a rather standard one. If you have ever gotten a visa to any other country, you might have a perfect impression of what it will take to get one to Bolivia. There are two options. The classic way is applying through the Bolivia embassy or consulate, and this is an option that will offer a clear result before departing to your destination. The other option that will be possible for most travellers that want to get a visa that will grant them entry for no longer than 90 days is arranging the document on arrival. It is probably a more convenient way but take into consideration that citizens of the following countries are not eligible for this option: Afghanistan, DR Congo, Mongolia, Somalia, Angola, Indonesia, Nigeria, Sudan, Bhutan, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, Syria, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Chad, Libya, Rwanda, Yemen.
How long does it take to get Bolivia visa?
It is impossible to say exactly how long does it take to get Bolivia visa, as it depends on the type you will apply for, the country where you do it, and the precision of your submitted documents. Nonetheless, the official sources say that it usually takes from 1 to 10 working days, and it sounds like a breeze considering that there are countries where you have to wait for weeks or months to get a visa. Yay for you!
How much does a Bolivia visa cost?
The pricing system for anyone who wants to make a Bolivia visa application is quite simple. It doesn’t matter which travel purposes you have, and the Bolivia visa price is the same for any short-term visas. A simple and humble 30 USD that you will pay to make your documents processed.
Let’s wrap this up. You see, arranging formalities to be allowed to enjoy the delights of this beautiful South American country should not be something you have to fear. The system is pretty straightforward, and even if you apply for Bolivia visa clueless, the officers can always grant you some information on what is required and how to proceed. After all, the Bolivia visa cost is not too high, and the processing time - not too long. A bit of dedication, and you can be hopping that very awaited flight of yours in a matter of a few weeks! With all of that said, I want to wish you a smooth way along the Bolivia visa application process and the most amazing travel experience!
* Please remember that currently, any travel should be planned with great caution. First, the borders may still experience some closures or restrictions regarding the people allowed in the country and those who are not. Since the pandemic is not over yet, the situation can change day by day, and here are a few suggestions that will make you regret the paid fees less in case of a sudden change in plans.
First, always buy tickets and book accommodation with an additional option that allows cancelling with no extra fees. That means you will pay a few extra bucks now, but in return, you get peace of mind that you might change the dates or cancel the trip altogether if there is a change in your health or the national restrictions regarding movement or other activities.
Second, you might consider getting health insurance - these come with a broad palette of options that will save you lots of unrest and money if you need to quarantine yourself or other changes related to the C-19 affect your plans.
And third, always check the situation with restrictions in your destination before departing, because who would want to cross half a world to end up sitting in quarantine for 10 days, right? And whatever you plan regarding travel...just be ready for unexpected changes. Better safe than sorry, and that’s just how it is and will be for a while now.
