Last Updated on February 15, 2025
If you become a Bolivian citizen and obtain a Bolivian passport, you’ll have a relatively limited document that grants visa-free entry to approximately 80 countries. Most of these are located in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, with very few in Europe and none in North America.
Bolivians and naturalized citizens of Bolivia have visa-free access to around 80 countries, but almost none of these are developed nations. Most are located in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. All countries in Western Europe and North America require Bolivians to present a visa.
Here, we’ll discuss the restrictions Bolivians and naturalized citizens face when visiting other countries, how the Bolivian passport performs in terms of visa-free travel, and provide a comprehensive list of countries that offer visa-free entry to Bolivians and those that require a visa.
Bolivia Currently Has Visa-Free Entry to 80 Countries
Currently, Bolivia has multiple agreements with many other countries to permit visa-free entry for its citizens. However, these are primarily other Latin American countries and some Asian countries with which the current Bolivian government has political alignment.
On the other hand, with the exception of Ireland, no developed country in North America or Europe offers visa-free entry to Bolivians or naturalized Bolivian citizens. These countries typically require Bolivians to present a valid visa before entering their territories.
The Bolivian passport is ranked 68th in terms of travel freedom and lack of restrictions for Bolivians. This makes it a relatively limited passport, ranking significantly lower than passports from many other countries, including some Latin American nations like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
Bolivia’s Entry Status with Every Other Country
Now, let’s examine in detail the list of countries that allow Bolivians to enter either:
- With only their ID card (10 countries).
- With a passport (70 countries).
- With a valid visa (the remaining countries).
10 Countries Where Bolivian Citizens Can Enter with Only Their ID Card
Bolivia has established agreements with most other South American countries, and one Central American country, allowing its citizens to enter *without even requiring a passport*, simply by presenting their national identity documents (ID cards).
The following is a list of countries that permit Bolivian naturalized citizens to enter their territory *by presenting only their ID documents*:
South America:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Central America:
- Costa Rica
North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Oceania:
- None
As a naturalized citizen or a Bolivian, to enter the countries listed above, you’ll only need to present your ID card; a passport is not required.
70 Countries Where Bolivian Citizens Can Enter with Only Their Passport
There’s another group of countries that allow Bolivians and naturalized citizens to enter their territory by presenting a passport. As of 2023, these number around 70 countries.
Most of these countries are located in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, *with only three in Europe and none in North America*.
This is due to Bolivia’s current political relationships with other countries. The Bolivian passport allows its citizens to enter Iran and Russia without significant difficulties.
North America:
- None
South America:
- French Guiana
- Suriname
Central America:
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Mexico
- Bahamas
- Virgin Islands
- Dominican Republic
- French West Indies
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent
- Grenadines
Europe:
- Ireland
- Russia
- Serbia
Asia:
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Timor-Leste
Middle East:
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Iran
- Jordan
- Oman
- Qatar
- Turkey
Africa:
- Benin
- Cape Verde
- Comoros Islands
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Gambia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Réunion Island
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
Oceania:
- Cook Islands
- French Polynesia
- Micronesia
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Palau Islands
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
Therefore, if you are a naturalized citizen or a Bolivian and wish to visit or enter the countries listed above, you’ll only need to present your Bolivian passport to do so.
For the Remaining Countries, Bolivian Citizens Must Present a Visa
Any country not listed above will require Bolivians and naturalized citizens to *first present a valid visa* to enter its territory. These countries include:
- Every country in North America, including:
- The United States
- Canada.
- Almost all countries in Western Europe.
- Most developed and first-world countries, including England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, etc.
- Some Asian countries do not readily allow Bolivians to enter their territory:
- China
- North Korea (entry is almost impossible for Bolivians)
As previously mentioned, many developed countries do not easily permit Bolivians to enter their territory, and most require a valid visa. This is due to several factors, such as:
- Concerns about over-immigration. Many countries suspect that Bolivians may attempt to enter and remain in the country indefinitely to seek better opportunities, as is the case with the US, Spain, and some other European countries.
- Political factors. The current Bolivian government, which is socialist, is not aligned with the political ideologies of countries primarily in North America, like the US, and some European countries. This affects the freedom these countries grant to Bolivians for entering their territories.
Other Details About the Bolivian Passport and Its Visa-Free Access Scope
As we’ve demonstrated, the Bolivian passport reflects Bolivia’s relationships with other countries worldwide. As a developing nation, and often with a socialist government, Bolivia hasn’t cultivated strong relationships with countries in Europe and North America.
Consequently, Bolivians and naturalized citizens *are typically not granted easy access to countries in these regions* and must first qualify for a visa. The situation is even more challenging for Bolivians attempting to enter the US, as is the case with many other South American and developing countries.
Ultimately, the Bolivian passport has many restrictions for entering developed countries and those with liberal political leanings, such as nations in North America and Europe. On the other hand, Bolivians can enter other South American countries without even presenting a passport, only their ID cards.
Conclusions:
In this guide on the current visa-free entry situation for Bolivians and naturalized citizens to other countries, you’ve learned that, as of 2023, Bolivians have both visa- and passport-free entry to 10 countries: all other South American nations and Costa Rica.
You’ve also seen that Bolivians need only present their passports to enter approximately 70 countries, most of which are located in Central America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, but none in North America or Western Europe. The Bolivian passport is ranked 68th in terms of its ability to provide visa-free entry to other countries.
For the remaining countries, you’ve seen that Bolivians and naturalized citizens must first present a valid visa. These countries include the United States, Canada, all countries in Western Europe, Australia, China, and most developed nations worldwide, such as Israel, Japan, South Korea, etc.
You’ve realized that the Bolivian passport is not a strong option for obtaining visa-free entry to most countries around the world, as it only allows this for around 80 countries in total, compared to other passports that provide access to over 170 countries. This situation is due to Bolivia’s socialist leanings and its status as a developing nation.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to know whether a visa is required to visit Bolivia, which countries can enter Bolivia with only their IDs, only a passport, or require a visa, along with other details, please visit our dedicated guide here: Is a visa required to visit Bolivia? All the facts and lists.
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.
