Applying for a Bolivian visa and the requirements to enter Bolivia

How to apply for a Bolivian visa

To apply for a Bolivian visa, firstly, you need to apply online on this website: https://portalmre.rree.gob.bo/formvisas/

You need to fill out the form, and upload a passport photo and some documents:
– Itinerary / Travel Plan
– Your passport (I scaned by my phone and put it in a PDF file)
– Proof of economic solvency
– Book accommodation
Please note that each file needs to be less than 500kB.

After applying online, you will get the form with a code that is valid for 15 days. The only thing you need to do next is print that form. Then you bring the form with your passport to the Bolivian consulate near you. You need to pay $0 or $30 depending on your nationality. You can find it out in here: https://www.boliviatx.org/consular-affairs/visas/tv. You don’t need to pay any fee if you’re in Group II, and you pay $30 if you’re in Group III. For Group II, the Standard Processing Time for Visa at the Consulate takes 24 hours.
You can apply for 30 days visa and after entering Bolivian, you can extend the visa to 90 days.

I applied online and come to the Bolivian consulate in Calama, Chile. Even though they don’t speak English, and I don’t speak Spanish, they still support me very quickly. I printed all the documents but they did not need them. They only need the form with the code and my passport. After checking my personal information and the fee I need to pay, they give me the passport in less than 1 working hour. And for a Vietnamese, I don’t need to pay any fee.

Requirements to enter Bolivia

I enter Boliva by bus from Calama to Uyuni. I read online that you need to have travel insurance and a leaving ticket. But on the border from Calama to Uyuni, they did not ask anything of it. I only need to show my visa and fill out a form, nothing more.

Because I’m Vietnamese, on both Chile and Bolivian borders, they need more time to check my passport. Even though I’m leaving Chile but they still need longer time than other people. While I’m waiting they check my passport, I also see they’re done process for 6 other foreign 😀

Extend Bolivian visa

You can extend your Bolivian visa from 30 days to 90 days. You can do it easily in any immigration in big cities. The Immigration Department in La Paz only supports you to extend your visa less than 10 days before your visa expires. The Immigration Department in Uyuni supports you to extend your visa anytime before your visa expires. Some other Immigration Departments only extend your visa 5 days before your visa expires.

Other requirements when you staying in Bolivia

We only found this information from other travelers then we come to immigration to ask and confirm information.

When you’re staying in Bolivia, you need to register the addresses you stay at. You do it online on this website: http://sistemas.migracion.gob.bo/sigemig/#/seguridad/login

You click on create a foreign account and fill out your personal information. After registering, you log in with the username is your passport number and the password is also your passport number. Then you declare the addresses you stay at.

Note: In fact, when I left Bolivia, no one checked if I filled out this form. 😉

Wish you have a great trip to Bolivia!