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Last Updated on February 15, 2025

Western Union operates in over 200 countries worldwide, and Bolivia is no exception. Western Union functions fully for both sending and receiving money to and from Bolivia. Importantly, Western Union is accessible to both tourists and residents within the country.

There are no restrictions on using Western Union in Bolivia, whether you’re sending or receiving money domestically or internationally. To send or receive money within the country, you only need your passport. Fees in Bolivia are around 5% for sending money.

In this article, we’ll address whether Western Union operates in Bolivia and to what extent. We’ll provide comprehensive details about its services, the requirements for using it in our country, its agencies, operating hours, and typical working days.

Yes, Western Union Operates Fully in Bolivia

Currently, Western Union operates in Bolivia without any restrictions, as it does in many other countries worldwide. Regarding Bolivia, Western Union facilitates the following activities (*”anyone”* refers to Bolivians, tourists, residents, naturalized citizens, etc.):

1. Anyone inside Bolivia can send money to anyone.
2. Anyone inside Bolivia can receive money from anyone.
3. Anyone outside Bolivia can send money to anyone inside.
4. Anyone outside Bolivia can receive money from anyone inside.

In summary, anyone within the country can send and receive money to and from anyone, both domestically and internationally, and vice versa.

Western Union is Fully Accessible to Tourists and Residents

Western Union has no restrictions for individuals who are only tourists in Bolivia. Unlike some other financial services in the country, *you can send and receive money to anyone* simply by presenting your passport at a Western Union agency within Bolivia.

Western Union services are available to foreigners with the following residency statuses in Bolivia:

• Tourists (presenting their passport).
• Temporary residents (presenting their foreigner ID card).
• Permanent residents (presenting their foreigner ID card).
• Naturalized citizens (presenting their Bolivian ID card).

Requirements and Steps for Using Western Union in Bolivia

Here, we’ll outline the requirements and steps for both sending and receiving money through Western Union in Bolivia.

Requirements

As previously stated, at a minimum, you:

• Only need to present your passport to either receive or send money within Bolivia.

That’s all.

However, if you possess a more formal identification document, such as a foreigner ID card or even a Bolivian ID card, you can also present that, simply for greater accuracy. *Keep in mind that Bolivia has no “legal restrictions” on using Western Union within the country.*

Steps

To send or receive money *while you are in Bolivia*, follow these steps:

1. Locate an available agency or bank partnership that Western Union has within the country:
   1. You can use this tool: https://location.westernunion.com/bo.
   2. Utilize the GPS functionality and appropriate filters within the tool.
2. Visit the chosen agency or Bolivian bank, bringing the necessary identification document (your passport, ID card, etc.).
3. Provide the employee with:
   1. Your accurate personal information to receive your remittance.
   2. Both your personal information and the recipient’s personal information to send money.
4. Pay the fees if you’re sending money (fees in Bolivia range from 4% to 7% of the amount you’re sending). *Remember that there are no fees for receiving money*.

Fees for Sending and Receiving

In Bolivia, Western Union charges between 4% and 7% of the amount you send, regardless of whether it’s sent to another region within Bolivia or to a foreign country.

Also, in Bolivia, as in any other country where this company operates, *there are no fees for receiving money*.

Western Union Agencies Available in Bolivia

Western Union has its own agencies within the country, *but it also partners with many Bolivian banks*, allowing you to receive money at these institutions as well.

If you want to find the *specific* agencies and bank partnerships Western Union has in Bolivia, for either sending or receiving money, use this tool from the company:

• https://location.westernunion.com/bo

Remember to use the filters and enable the GPS functionality on your cell phone to find the nearest open agency.

Western Union’s Hours and Working Days in Bolivia

Western Union’s operating hours and working days vary *depending on the type of agency*:

• Western Union agencies inside Bolivian banks. These agencies are typically open:
  • From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
  • From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
  • Closed on Sundays.
• Standalone Western Union agencies. These agencies are typically open:
  • From 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
  • From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
  • Some standalone agencies are open all day on Sundays.

Conclusions:

In this article about whether Western Union operates in Bolivia, you’ve learned that the company functions fully within our country, for both tourists and residents staying or living here. To send or receive money with Western Union in Bolivia, you simply need to present your passport, and there are no Bolivian legal restrictions preventing anyone from using it.

You’ve also seen that this company currently has numerous partnerships with major Bolivian banks. Therefore, many banks have in-house Western Union agencies where you can perform the same operations of sending and receiving money. Additionally, there are standalone agencies that offer more extended hours, with some even open on Sundays.

Finally, you’ve learned that to send or receive money in Bolivia, you’ll need to pay a fee between 4% and 7% and use the Western Union tool to locate the nearest open agency. To find it, remember to enable your cell phone’s GPS and use the appropriate filters.

We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to explore the various payment options and methods available in Bolivia, with comprehensive details on each, based on whether you’re a tourist or a resident, please visit our guide here: Payment options available in Bolivia: A complete guide.

CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.