Correcting Overstayed Visas: Navigating Bolivian Immigration Laws

If you've overstayed your visa in Bolivia, don't panic. You're not alone. Many travellers have found themselves in the same situation, and there are a few ways to resolve the issue. The standard tourist entry visa for Bolivia is 30 days, but it can be extended twice for another 30 days each time, and the process is relatively simple and inexpensive. You can also leave Bolivia for a few days and renew your 30-day stay when you cross the border back into the country. However, if you've overstayed your visa by a significant amount of time, you may have to pay a fine, and overstaying for months may result in detainment or being banned from entering Bolivia for a period of time. In this article, we will guide you through the process of fixing an overstayed visa in Bolivia, including where to go, what documents you need, and what to expect.

Paying a fine at the border when you leave

If you have overstayed your visa in Bolivia, you will be forced to pay a fine for each day you overstayed. The fine can be paid at the border when you leave the country. The amount of the fine seems to vary, with sources citing 12 UFV per day, 20 Bolivianos (~$3 USD) per day, $1 to almost $3 per day, and 28 B (~$3 USD) per overstayed day. UFV stands for "unidad de fomento de la vivienda", an accounting unit introduced to make payable amounts independent of inflation.

When paying the fine at the border, you can expect to encounter diligent public servants with a sense of humor. In one case, a traveler was asked, "Why didn’t you just find a Bolivian woman and get married if you wanted to stay that long?" before the border guards proceeded to perform the lengthy and complicated calculation of the fine. The payment is not a bribe; you will receive a receipt, handshakes, good wishes for your travels, and the information that you can return to Bolivia the following year without any problems.

It is important to note that overstaying your visa for an extended period, such as several months, may cause more severe issues and result in detainment and/or being banned from entering Bolivia for some time. Therefore, it is always best to try to extend your visa before it expires or pay the fine promptly when leaving the country to avoid further complications.

Getting a Special Purpose Visa

A Special Purpose Visa (or Specific Purpose Visa) is required for foreigners who wish to live, work, volunteer, do business, or retire in Bolivia. This visa must be obtained prior to travelling to Bolivia from a Bolivian consulate in your country or general region.

Types of Specific Purpose Visas

• Specific purpose visa for 180 days for work purposes
• Specific purpose visa due to family ties in Bolivia
• Specific purpose visa for health care in Bolivia
• Specific purpose visa for multiple entries into Bolivia
• Specific purpose visa for the purpose of working in Bolivia

How to Apply for a Specific Purpose Visa

• Completed application form
• Valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of 6 months
• One recent 2" x 2" passport-type photograph, solid colour background
• Application fee per person (check with your region's Bolivian consulate for the current fees)
• Letter of introduction explaining your specific purpose for wanting to seek residency in Bolivia. In your own words, explain why you are choosing to move to Bolivia and how you plan to make a living or provide for yourself and your family. If you have been hired by a company to work in Bolivia, they will need to send a letter stating that.
• Photocopy of a plane ticket or itinerary (does not need to be a round trip—the requirement for a round trip ticket is for tourists only)
• Bank statement or equivalent that shows economic solvency. Please note that the validity of the document should be for at least the travel period. This is required in order to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to ensure you will not become indigent while in Bolivia.
• Certificate of good conduct or police record (if you have no criminal record, your local police station should issue a certificate of good conduct which states you have no criminal background)
• Additionally, if you will be travelling to a tropical area in Bolivia, you should get a yellow fever vaccination. You can include a copy of the vaccination certificate with your visa application or take it with you to show to immigration officials upon arrival at the airport (most of them never ask to see it).

The specific purpose visa has a cost of approximately $85 USD per person (this can vary from country to country) and can be paid by credit card or money order payable to the Bolivian Consulate. No cash will be accepted.

Getting married to a Bolivian citizen

If you are a US citizen and you want to marry a Bolivian citizen, you must present the following documents:

• A certified copy of your US birth certificate, apostilled by the US Department of State Authentications Office.
• A Spanish translation of your US birth certificate, apostilled in the US or notarised at the US Embassy in La Paz or the Consular Agency in Santa Cruz.
• Your valid US passport.
• An Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry: Bolivia requires an affidavit by both parties as proof of legal capacity to enter into a marriage contract. No such government-issued document exists in the US. However, Bolivia will accept a statement from you regarding your ability to marry if your signature on the affidavit has been notarised by a US consular officer. This service is available at the US Embassy in La Paz and the Consular Agency in Santa Cruz for a fee of $50 or 350 Bs.
• Proof of three months' continuous residence in Bolivia. This requirement can be waived at the discretion of the local official.

If you are a US citizen and you are marrying another US citizen in Bolivia, you must present the following documents:

• Certificate of manifestation of the will to marry (Marital Edict). This document must be requested at the Consulate General in the physical presence of the contracting parties with valid identity documents (ID or Passport for Bolivians, and passport for foreigners if translated) and witnesses (not necessarily Bolivian with Bolivian CI or passports if properly translated) 15 days before the wedding.
• Birth certificate, apostilled in the case of being a foreigner.
• Marriage capacity (boyfriends) for Bolivians certification of non-existence of departure issued by the Consulate General and for Foreigners Certification of singleness or equivalent document in their country of origin duly Apostilled and translated, or proof of termination of previous marriages with death or dissolution certificates of marriage duly legalised or Apostilled and translated in case of foreigners if applicable.
• Valid passport or identity document.

Marriage Laws in Bolivia

Only civil marriages are recognised as legal in Bolivia. Civil marriages are performed by a civil registry official, either before or after a religious ceremony. Although the age of majority in Bolivia is 21, men can marry at 16 and women at 14 with permission from parents or guardians. Exceptions can be made for pregnant minors whose parents refuse permission and for orphans (who must have permission to marry from the Tribunal Tutelar del Menor and from the Juez de Familia). Marriage is not permitted between close blood relatives, and bigamy is against the law. Marriage is forbidden in some circumstances, including for the mentally ill. Widows, divorcees and women who have had marriages annulled cannot remarry sooner than 300 days after the death of a husband, the date of the final decree of divorce or the notice of annulment.

Getting a work or volunteering contract

If you are planning to work, study, or volunteer in Bolivia, you must apply for a separate visa. According to one source, the best places for tourists to volunteer are Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Tarija, and La Paz Sucre. These departments come with a temperate climate, making volunteer work far less seasonal than other areas of the country.

If you are a foreigner working in Bolivia, you will find that the majority of people are happy that you are there, especially if you are using skills that are not available locally. However, to really interact with the locals, you will need to learn Spanish as English is almost non-existent outside the cities.

Volunteer work in Bolivia is abundant due to the high level of poverty throughout the country. Volunteers who want to work and travel in Bolivia should consider that English is little spoken there. All volunteers should consider learning basic Spanish. This will give you a better chance of being chosen for a short-term job in Bolivia and the rest of South America.

According to Bolivia Bella, even if you are planning to stay for less than 90 days, you need to get a separate volunteer visa. Staying for more than 90 days may require you to apply for residency at the Embassy of Bolivia for your nationality. The Bolivian government considers volunteers, students, and temporary workers to be in the same category. Most volunteers in Bolivia agree that acquiring the volunteer visa is a relatively painless process. You can apply for one at any Bolivian consulate in the world. What they mainly want to check is that you have enough money to support yourself, so they can ensure you won't be staying long-term.

It is highly recommended that you do not attempt to volunteer in Bolivia using a typical tourist visa.

Getting residency

If you are planning on staying in Bolivia for more than 90 days, you must apply for a Bolivia tourist visa from a Bolivian Consulate before arriving in the country. You will be issued an entry stamp in your passport, allowing you to stay for 30 days, which can be extended for up to 60 additional days.

To apply for residency, you must enter Bolivia on a Specific Purpose Visa. Depending on your country of origin, you may need a visa to enter Bolivia. US citizens, for example, need a visa to enter.

The process of applying for residency can be complicated and time-consuming, as you will be required to visit additional institutions to fulfil numerous pre-requisites, each with its own requirements and costs. It is recommended that you hire a lawyer to help with your application.

• Real Estate Investment: There is no fixed amount for this type of investment. You can find urban land and properties ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Foreigners are restricted from purchasing properties in all rural areas and within the 31.1-mile-wide frontier band of the country. You will need to enter Bolivia to sign the contract or send a notarized letter explaining a power of attorney.
• Company Incorporation: You can incorporate three types of companies in Bolivia: a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a Corporation, or a Branch. You can be a partner with a Bolivian company and invest there, but if you want to be a company representative, you will need a residence registration. The company must be operational, and you cannot own an LLC in Bolivia as a sole shareholder.
• Immigration by Investment in Accidental Society: A temporary joint venture, or Accidental Society, is a commercial business arrangement between parties for a specific project or investment. This option won't provide residency for those who remain outside of Bolivia. It is considered a challenging path for foreigners, as it necessitates legal representation and tax obligations.

Required documents for these visa applications include:

• Criminal record from your country of origin or the place where you have lived for the last six months, apostilled
• Health certification, especially if arriving from a country with yellow fever or other illnesses
• Proof of economic solvency via a bank statement
• Red background photo
• Notarized letter confirming the request for a visa for a specific purpose

Once the documents are submitted, you need to obtain the Bolivian Foreigner's Identity Card and a valid residence visa. After two years of living in the country, you can renew your residency for a further two years with a valid passport. After three years of living in Bolivia, you can become a citizen.

Frequently asked questions