Entering Bolivia on a US passport: visitor stays and overstays

For years Bolivia was one of the few countries in South America where US citizens needed a tourist visa. That changed on 1 December 2025. Bolivia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) announced that day that the United States, together with seven other countries, had moved into the group of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to visit. The US Embassy in La Paz confirmed the change for US citizens on 3 December 2025.

This guide sets out what the official Bolivian and US government pages say about entering Bolivia on a US passport after that change: what you need at the border, how long you can stay, where to go if you need more time, and what applies if you want to live there. Older articles that tell Americans to buy a visa on arrival or apply in advance describe the rules before December 2025.

What changed on 1 December 2025

Bolivia sorts foreign visitors into groups. Countries in Group I do not need a tourist or visit visa. Before the change, the United States sat in a group that required a visa.

On 1 December 2025 the Cancillería published the announcement "Bolivia elimina desde hoy restricciones políticas de visado a ocho países". It lists the countries that enter Group I (no visa required):

• South Korea
• South Africa
• Bulgaria
• Malta
• Romania
• United Arab Emirates
• Israel
• United States

The ministry said the measure is meant to promote tourism and business and to strengthen Bolivia's international ties. It also said implementation would be gradual and would follow the established procedures. The legal instrument is Supreme Decree 5497 of 1 December 2025, which modifies Bolivia's list of visa exemptions.

The US Embassy in Bolivia then published "Message to U.S. Citizens: Visitor Visas No Longer Required (December 3, 2025)". It says the Bolivian government announced that US citizens no longer require a visa to visit Bolivia for tourism and business, and that other purposes of travel, such as study or residency, may still require a visa.

What you need at the border

According to the US Embassy's December 2025 message, to enter Bolivia for tourism or business a US citizen must:

1. Present a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity at entry.
2. Declare the address where you will stay.

The embassy adds that you may also be asked for an International Certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination, especially if you are travelling to tropical areas of the country. If your plans include the lowlands, carry the yellow card with your passport.

Beyond those points, the official pages used for this guide do not list other entry documents, so this guide does not add any. Airlines may still ask about onward travel as part of their own checks.

How long can you stay?

The US Embassy states that US citizens may remain in Bolivia up to 90 days for tourism and business without a visa in a one-year period.

Two details in that sentence matter:

• The limit is counted over a one-year period, not per trip. Leaving and re-entering does not reset it.
• The 90 days cover tourism and business visits. Study, work and residence are other purposes and may need a visa or a residence permit.

Keep your own record of entry and exit dates so you can add up the days you have used.

Staying longer than your permitted time

The US Embassy's guidance for US citizens who want to stay longer is short: check with the Bolivian Embassy or Consulates in the United States, or with Bolivian Immigration. In Bolivia, immigration is the Dirección General de Migración (DIGEMIG), part of the Ministry of Government.

What DIGEMIG's own site offers:

• A section of procedures for foreigners (¿Eres extranjero?) listing the migration procedures a foreign national can carry out.
• SIGEMIG, its system for online migration procedures, and a Ventanilla Virtual for submitting documents.
• A tracking page for procedures already in progress.
• A main office at Av. Camacho 1468, Zona Central, La Paz, phone (591-2) 2110960, and the contact address [email protected].

Contact DIGEMIG before your permitted time runs out rather than after. The official pages reviewed for this guide do not publish an extension period or fee for US visitors under the new Group I rules, so this guide does not quote one.

What about overstays?

The US Embassy's first action item for US citizens is simple: obey Bolivian immigration laws. Bolivia's migration law does treat an irregular stay as an infraction, but the official DIGEMIG and Gaceta Oficial pages that set out the current amounts could not be loaded when this guide was checked, so no fine figure is given here. If you think you may go past your days, ask DIGEMIG in writing what your options are while you are still in status.

Living in Bolivia rather than visiting

The visa exemption covers tourism and business visits only. The US Embassy notes that other purposes, including study and residency, may still require a visa. In practice that means:

• If you plan to live, study or work in Bolivia, start with the Bolivian Embassy or a Bolivian consulate in the United States before you travel, as the US Embassy recommends.
• Once in Bolivia, residence and other procedures for foreigners are handled by DIGEMIG, through its offices and the online SIGEMIG system.
• The Cancillería runs a separate online visa application system (Sistema de Solicitud Visas) at visas.cancilleria.gob.bo, which requires an account.

Ask the consulate which category fits your situation and which US documents need an apostille before you leave, since gathering papers from abroad is slower.

Before you go

The US Embassy also recommends that US citizens:

• Review the Department of State Travel Advisory for Bolivia. The embassy site currently shows Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution.
• Review safety considerations for adventure travellers.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates.

A short checklist

1. Check that your US passport has at least six months of validity left on the day you arrive.
2. Have the address of your first accommodation ready to declare.
3. Carry a yellow fever certificate if you are heading to tropical areas.
4. Count your days: 90 in a one-year period for tourism and business.
5. Talk to DIGEMIG or a Bolivian consulate before your time runs out if you need more, and before you travel if you plan to live there.

Common questions

Do US citizens still need a visa for Bolivia? Not for tourism or business visits. Bolivia moved the United States into its visa-exempt Group I on 1 December 2025, and the US Embassy in La Paz confirmed the change on 3 December 2025.

How long can an American stay in Bolivia without a visa? Up to 90 days for tourism and business in a one-year period, according to the US Embassy in Bolivia.

What documents do I need to enter Bolivia? A US passport valid for at least six months at entry and the address where you will stay. You may also be asked for a yellow fever vaccination certificate, especially for tropical areas.

How do I stay in Bolivia longer than 90 days? The US Embassy advises checking with the Bolivian Embassy or consulates in the United States, or with Bolivian immigration (DIGEMIG), which handles procedures for foreigners in Bolivia.

Does the visa exemption cover living or studying in Bolivia? No. The US Embassy says other purposes such as study or residency may still require a visa.