Last Updated on February 15, 2025
If you’re wondering whether you can live in Bolivia, rest assured there are numerous ways to do so without excessive difficulty. You can reside here as a transient traveler, a tourist, a resident, or even a naturalized citizen, with fewer restrictions than in many other countries. Bolivia doesn’t have any “blocked countries,” so as long as you complete the correct paperwork, you can live here.
Foreigners are legally permitted to stay and live in Bolivia as transient travelers for up to 15 days, as tourists for up to 90 days per year, as temporary residents for up to 3 years, as permanent residents indefinitely, and as naturalized Bolivian citizens.
Here, we’ll provide comprehensive details on whether you’re permitted to live in Bolivia, the extent of your stay, the various residency statuses, and the purposes for which you can reside here, such as work, family, etc. We’ll also offer insights into the paperwork and expenses involved in obtaining permission to live in the country. We are real estate experts and Bolivian citizens who have lived here our entire lives.
Yes, You Can Live in Bolivia, at Least for 90 Days
According to the laws and regulations governing how foreigners are treated in Bolivia, individuals from overseas have the right (with the appropriate authorization documents) to stay up to 90 days as tourists. Tourism is the sole purpose that allows for a 90-day stay in Bolivia.
You can also stay in Bolivia with transit permission (Transit Visa) for up to 15 days.
In both cases, you’ll need to obtain a Bolivian visa. You can complete the paperwork to obtain this at the country’s border posts (for various visa types, including transit and tourist visas) upon entering Bolivia.
There’s good news regarding extended stays. If while being a tourist you get a valid reason to reside longer (for example, if you secure employment, enroll in studies, or for other valid purposes), you can then transition your transitory residency to a temporary one, which will allow you to live in Bolivia for up to three years.
Living in Bolivia with Transitory Residency
In summary, you can live in Bolivia with transitory permission for the following reasons:
- For tourism (maximum 90 days per year).
- For transit (maximum 15 days).
- For work (30-day visa, extendable).
- For temporary work (180-day visa, extendable).
- For health purposes (90-day visa, extendable).
- For studying (60-day visa, extendable).
- For family purposes (90-day visa, extendable).
- For investment and business (up to 1-year visa, extendable).
- For humanitarian reasons (30-day visa, extendable).
- Due to an invitation issued by a Bolivian public institution, embassy, or similar entity (maximum 60 days).
Remember that you can change your residency status, for example, from tourist to temporary resident, but to do this, you need to have a valid reason (for example, you started working in Bolivia).
Living in Bolivia with Temporary Residency
You also can live in Bolivia with temporary permission for the following reasons:
- Work
- Study
- Health purposes
- Family purposes
- Humanitarian purposes
We have a complete guide about how to get the Bolivian residence link, also on how to get the Bolivian citizenship link, we see the links for more detailed information.
Living with Permanent Residency or as a Citizen
You can obtain permanent residency for the same valid reasons you have for a temporary residence. But you will need to present more requirements to change your status. This permanent residence will allow you to leave the country for up to 2 years, without losing your status of permanent resident.
Furthermore, you can live here as a naturalized citizen, but you’ll need to comply with the proper conditions and requirements to become a Bolivian citizen, as we show in our guide on how to become a Bolivian citizen link.
Remember that the rights you have when either being a resident or a citizen are almost the same, Bolivian laws apply equally for both of them.
Laws and Regulations Governing Your Stay in Bolivia
The following laws, currently in effect in the country, regulate all aspects of how and under what conditions foreigners are permitted to stay in the country. These laws haven’t undergone significant changes in recent years, so expect them to remain largely the same, without major modifications, in the short and medium term.
You can view Bolivia’s Immigration Law at the following link (translated):
You can also review the technical regulations of this law through Supreme Decree No. 1923 (translated):
These regulations of the Immigration Law outline the conditions and requirements you must meet to stay in Bolivia.
Living in Bolivia According to Different Residency Statuses
1) As a Transient Traveler
If you’re simply passing through Bolivia en route to another country, you can stay for up to 15 days with a transit visa. To obtain this document, simply complete the paperwork at a Bolivian border post; it will cost around $100.
2) As a Tourist
If you wish to visit Bolivia as a tourist, you can also stay for up to 90 days. However, you first need a tourist visa, which is initially valid for 30 days. *It then needs to be renewed* to extend your stay for up to another 60 days.
You will also be permitted to work while staying here as a tourist. Furthermore, if you find a job in Bolivia while on a tourist visa, then near the visa’s expiration date, *you can apply for temporary residency for work purposes*, extending your permission to live in Bolivia for up to three years.
Not only that, but if you have any other valid reason to stay longer than 90 days, as mentioned earlier, you can also transition from tourist status to temporary resident status and live in the country for several years.
The paperwork for obtaining a tourist visa can be completed at a border post, and it will cost approximately $150. You’ll need to extend this tourist visa after the initial 30 days.
3) As a Temporary Resident
You can also reside in Bolivia as a temporary resident. This status allows you to stay within the country for at least one year and extend this temporary residency for up to three years. However, as previously mentioned, you need a valid reason or purpose to reside in Bolivia as a temporary resident.
The advantage of this status is that you’ll receive your foreigner’s ID card, which grants you access to full banking services, healthcare services, real estate services, and other benefits. With your foreigner ID card and temporary residency, *you’ll be treated like any other Bolivian*, with the same rights and responsibilities.
4) As a Permanent Resident
If you choose to become a permanent resident, you’ll enjoy the same situation as a temporary resident, *with the added benefit of being able to leave the country for up to two years* without losing your permanent resident status.
This differs significantly from temporary residency, where you can only leave the country for up to 90 days, or you risk losing your temporary resident status.
Furthermore, after residing in the country for at least three years, *you can apply for Bolivian citizenship*, or you can simply extend your permanent residency indefinitely.
5) After Becoming a Bolivian Citizen
Finally, once you’ve become a Bolivian citizen through naturalization, you have no restrictions on living in Bolivia. You can leave the country for a decade if you wish. You’ll also possess all the rights, without exception, that native-born Bolivians enjoy.
We have a comprehensive guide on obtaining Bolivian residency [link], as well as on obtaining Bolivian citizenship [link]. Please refer to these links for more detailed information.
To Live More Than 90 Days in Bolivia, You Need a Valid Reason
As we mentioned in an earlier section, to stay and live in Bolivia for more than 90 days (in the case of a tourist, or more than 180 days in some specific cases of transitory residence), you’ll need a valid reason.
You cannot simply remain in Bolivia as a tourist without any other valid justification. *Staying in the country for more than 90 days solely for tourism purposes is not permitted under Bolivian law*. While you are still a tourist, you’ll need to establish a valid purpose, such as:
- Finding employment in Bolivia to obtain temporary residency for work purposes.
- Starting a business or investing to obtain temporary residency for investment purposes (the multiple visa).
- Marrying a Bolivian citizen to obtain temporary or permanent residency for family purposes (*exercise extreme caution with this option*, as your assets may be at risk and in the control of your future spouse).
- Undergoing medical treatment to obtain temporary residency for health purposes.
- Enrolling in studies in Bolivia to obtain temporary residency for educational purposes.
Once you’ve established a valid purpose for staying in Bolivia for more than 90 days, you can obtain your foreigner’s ID card, which, as we’ve mentioned, will allow you to open a bank account and be treated like any other Bolivian within the country. This status can also be converted to permanent residency if necessary.
How to Obtain Temporary Residency Status in Bolivia?
The steps, requirements, documents, and paperwork needed to obtain temporary residency status in Bolivia are quite complex and beyond the scope of this article. For example, you’ll need:
- Proof of your valid reason (e.g., a job contract in Bolivia, ownership documentation for a Bolivian company, enrollment in a Bolivian educational institution, a written document outlining medical treatment, etc.).
- Your passport, valid for at least six months.
- A legal form, provided by the Bolivian government, where you request temporary residency.
- Payment of the required fees and bills.
- Assistance from a Bolivian lawyer (be extremely cautious with this).
- And many other requirements and steps.
We have a comprehensive guide on obtaining temporary residency in Bolivia, outlining all the conditions, requirements, and steps you need to fulfill, available here: [Link].
Conclusions:
In this article on whether you can live in Bolivia, you’ve learned that it’s entirely possible, whether you’re a short-term visitor, a tourist, a temporary or permanent resident, or a naturalized citizen. As a short-term visitor, you have up to 15 days; as a tourist, you have up to 90 days per year to stay and live in Bolivia.
You’ve also seen that while you’re a tourist in the country, you can apply for a job, start a business, enroll in studies, seek medical treatment, marry a Bolivian citizen, or invest, among other activities, to transition your transitory residence into a temporary residence. These temporary residencies will allow you to stay in the country for up to three years.
Finally, you’ve learned that various types of permits and visas can be issued by the Bolivian government based on the purpose of your visit. However, once you obtain temporary resident status, you’ll receive your foreigner ID card, which grants you all the rights and responsibilities of any other Bolivian, allowing you to live in the country with very few limitations.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn more about the best cities to live in Bolivia, including detailed information on why they are the best choices for different purposes like work, tourism, etc., please visit our dedicated guide here: The best cities to live in Bolivia: All you need to know.
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.
