Bolivia gives a visa on arrival to most western countries, to other South-American countries such as Chile and Peru, and India. But this on-arrival visa is only available at Santa Cruz and La Paz airports (and perhaps at a few land borders). The Bolivia visa on arrival for Indian citizens (and others) costs USD 55 (and sometimes even $120 or $160). You also need crisp currency notes else your money won’t be accepted.
As I was crossing into Bolivia via land, I decided to get a visa for Bolivia beforehand. I went to the Bolivian consulate in Cusco. The visa application process was fast; Bolivia visa for Indians is free; and I had the visa in an hour.
I have received mixed reviews about the visa on arrival in Bolivia from Indian travelers. It’s not surprising as getting visas for Indians is always a mixed experience. But posts and forums such as these shows that even citizens of other countries (and when I say other country I mean the US) are also struggling.
If you are planning to get a Bolivia visa on arrival, please confirm by calling the Bolivian consulate in your home country. Ask them about the requirements, prepare your documents, and in the above forum it is also suggested to fill an online application form and get it stamped by the nearest consulate.
Well, I just found it easier to get a Bolivia tourist visa for Indian citizens through the Bolivian consulate.
What does this Bolivia Visa for Indians guide contain?
- Bolivia Visa for Indians – The Application process from Peru
- Bolivia Visa for Indians – The Application process from India
- What is the validity of Bolivia travel visa?
- How can you extend your Bolivia visa?
- What will happen if you overstay in Bolivia?
Bolivia Visa for Indian Passport Holders – Application Process from Peru
The officer at the Bolivian consulate in Cusco directed me to a nearby cyber cafe to fill the visa application. The cyber cafe owner, who was overloaded with travelers, asked me to fill a form, upload the necessary documents, and submit the application. And I followed his instructions methodically.
Bolivia Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens and the Application Process
1. Fill the application form
Complete the official online Bolivia visa application form provided by the government of Bolivia. The form is available in both English and Spanish.
2. Attach the documents required for the Bolivia visa for Indian citizens
- Hotel reservations – I made a few fully-refundable and cancellable bookings on Booking.com. If you have made temporary reservations, remember to cancel the bookings after you receive the visa.
- Travel tickets – I didn’t have to show any tickets as I told the consul I was going to Bolivia on a bus from Cusco. If you are flying into Bolivia, make sure you attach a copy of your confirmed air tickets. If you haven’t booked the flight tickets, attach on-hold flight tickets, or an itinerary from an airline’s website would suffice, too.
- Bank account statements – I applied for the visa in March and attached the February’s bank statement. The bank records were in English.
- Rough itinerary – A simple itinerary with your approximate travel dates, destinations you intend to visit, and the duration of your stay.
- Passport size photo – The consulate or the form didn’t mention a specific format of the picture, so I attached a five-years-old soft copy. Always carry a few prints and jpegs of your passport size photos while traveling.
- Passport – Attach the scan of the front and the back page of the passport.
- Yellow fever vaccination card – I have written about the requirements of a yellow fever vaccination card here in my comprehensive Bolivia travel guide. If you are going to the Amazon in Bolivia and have included it in your itinerary, you have to attach the yellow fever vaccination proof with the visa application. Otherwise, you don’t need to worry about yellow fever proof.
3. Submit the Application Form
Preview the application and save it. If all the details are correct, submit the application.
4. Print the complete application form and the attached documents.
5. Visit the Bolivian Consulate in Cusco (or the one in your home country)
Bring the documents, the printed application form, a photo, and your original passport.
6. Show the documents, pay nothing, and get the Bolivia visa stamped on your passport.
That is all to getting a Bolivia visa for Indians from Peru.
Suggested read: My experiential guide to Chile Visa for Indians.
Visa for Bolivia for Indian Citizens – The Application process from India (or any other country).
Steps 1 to 4 are the same for applying for a Bolivia travel visa from India (or any other country).
But as the consulate of Bolivia is only located in New Delhi, you either have to go to Delhi to get the visa or you can hire a visa agent who will submit your passport and other documents at the consulate. Then the agent will collect your passport and mail it back to you. I am guessing you can follow the same process in other countries, too.
The Bolivian consulate has been known to be helpful regarding visa queries. So call them if you don’t receive an update.
Contact of the Bolivia Embassy in India
Bolivian Consulate in New Delhi, India
A-2/7 Ground Floor, Vasant Vihar
New Delhi, 110057, India
Phone: 91-11-46060934
Fax: 91-11-46060935
Email: almaba10@hotmail.com
Relevant Read: How to Get a Peru Visa – Thoroughly explained visa process from India and Chile.
What is the validity of Bolivia Travel Visa?
Bolivia visa is valid for 30 days. It allows a single entry and exit into Bolivia. And remember that the entry and exit days are included in the 30 days (this is true for most visas).
How can you extend your Bolivia visa?
Bolivia is a gorgeous country, and that is why I have written a 8,500 words long comprehensive travel guide to Bolivia.
If you want to stay for more than 30 days in Bolivia, get your Bolivia tourist visa extended for another 30 days. What if even after 60 days you find yourself lost in the Bolivian Andes? Get the visa extended for another 30 days.
You can stay in Bolivia for a total of 90 days including the original visa duration (30 days) and two extensions (30 days each).
What are the documents needed to extend the visa for Bolivia?
- Original Passport and a printout of the first and the last page of your passport.
- A copy of the passport page with the Bolivia visa.
- A copy of the passport page which has the Bolivia entry stamp.
- Your Bolivian tourist card and a copy of the tourist card – You get a stamped card when you enter the country. Keep that card safe as you need it for extending the visa, and you have to return it when you leave Bolivia. But sometimes the border officers don’t give you this card. Don’t panic if that happens, and explain to the consulate you didn’t receive one.
Where to get the Bolivia visa extended?
You will have to go the Bolivian consulate in one of the big cities of Bolivia – Cochabamba, La Paz, Sucre, and Santa Cruz – to get the visa extended.
- Hiking the Andes in La Paz? Go here – Directions to the immigration office in La Paz.
- If you are learning Spanish in Sucre, visit here – Directions to the immigration office in Sucre.
- Waiting to see the Jaguars in Santa Cruz? Head this way – Directions to the Immigration office in Santa Cruz.
- Have ended up in Cochabamba for no fault of your own? Get to this location – Directions to the Immigration office in Cochabamba.
When should you get your Bolivia visa extended?
During the last three days of the visa validity period.
How to get the travel visa for Bolivia extended?
- Carry the documents I mentioned above and visit the immigration office of the city you are in. Go early to avoid queues.
- Get a token number from the information desk, or there might be a separate desk to attend people. Watch out for your token number on the screen.
- When your number displays, go to the counter and request the officer for a 30-day visa extension. The Spanish translation for this phrase is “Quiero trenta días más, por favor.”
- Voila!
What will happen if you overstay in Bolivia?
For each day you overstay in Bolivia you need to pay a fine of 20 Bolivianos (or $3) at the border while leaving Bolivia.
Like my guide to Bolivia tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens? Please pin it so that more people can find it!
Are the Bolivia visa requirements clear to you now? Please ask your questions in comments.
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I entered Bolivia from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile in Nov 2024. Stood in line along with tourists of other nationals, mainly Europeans, for whom entry is free. One guy from immigration quickly checked the passports and their nationalities. He asked me if i have a visa. I told him that i don’t have and would like to get one. I was asked to step aside and come inside.
Inside, there were an elderly white couple from US, who came prepared with all the documents. He charged them 160 USD each and pasted the visa sticker. I forgot to do my homework about the documents required. He asked for yellow fever certificate, itinerary, bank statements, etc. I could have provided all of them from my mail if there was internet. But, located in a no man’s land in the desert, no chance. I talked with him the ‘Indian way’ to get things done. He smiled, took the calculator, typed ‘130’, and said this is the visa fee in USD. As you don’t have the documents how much will you pay? I typed 150. Ok, he said and handed me a one page application. Luckily, I had my photo with me. He scanned my passport and pasted the sticker for 30 days. He also left a comment while handing over the passport, “visa at the embassy is cheap, but here at the frontier, it is expensive”.
Thus, i got my visa at the border without any supporting documents.
Please be aware, Bolivian officers don’t speak English. I learnt that they don’t teach English in school. My basic Spanish helped me to strike the deal.
Wow! thanks for letting us know this, Mohan. I didn’t know one could get visa at the immigration border. No one has ever let me a visa at the border. Once I was at Bolivia-CHile border, probably where you were but the other way around, and my visa for Chile had no more days left on it. The Chilean immigration, of course, couldn’t give me a visa, and I had to go back all the way to La Paz to get the Chile visa. That story is there on the blog as well.
I am curious to know did someone tell you you could get the visa on the border or how did you decide to go without one?
Oh my god, this comment has been such a relief.
I have planned my Peru Bolivia trip from 15 Dec and geographically stupid me decided that I’ll do this from San Pedro instead of the usual Cusco-La Paz-Uyuni route. (Flying from Mumbai to Santiago)
I’m definitely gonna try to get a visa from India itself and in case I can’t – I’ll print all bits and pieces and carry USDs with me to this border. Changing the trip itinerary now will cost me a lot more. I feel so stupid, if only I had been more patient with my research about this visa and finding this blog earlier…
(I currently hold active US, UK, CA, & Schengen visas but I doubt if any of that will matter there)
you easily get Bolivia visa in Cusco, so don’t worry. At least it was easy to get it in 2017. US visa doesn’t help with Bolivia visa?
Hi Priyanka, Thank You for sharing detailed information about the process. I have a question; I’m making last-minute spontaneous travel plan for Peru & Bolivia (Departure date 2 weeks from now). I currently live in USA (Indian Passport with US work visa; i.e. H1B). I plan to be in Cusco, Peru for couple of days (4-6days) before flying from Cusco to La Paz, Bolivia. I read on your blog that you applied for Bolivian Visa in-person in Cusco, but you entered Bolivia via land. As I have couple days in Cusco, I plan on doing the same i.e. apply for Bolivian Visa at consulate in Cusco. However, I plan to enter Bolivia by air as opposed to land (to save time). Do you know if I can follow the the same process like you did?
Many Thanks in Advance!!
Hi Akash, I think you can. because the visa was irrespective of the mode of entry into Bolivia. However, why don’t you call up a Bolivian embassy/consulate and ask this question just to be safe? I do think that your mode of transport shouldn’t matter though.
Hi Priyanka, i want to travel to la paz for few days next month and interested in taking visa on arrival,i am curious after reading your advice about different opinions on getting visa on arrival,what could be the possible problem? I am a permanent resident of Brazil and having passports full of visas of every continent, i have to travel to Sao Paulo for the visa which i just don’t want at the moment, kindly advise
Hi Rohan. I’m not sure about the visa requirements for Brazilians. Why don’t you just call the consulate and ask?
Rohan ji i am visiting to bolivia.i listing the Bolivia very good country.But Bolivia ambesy is not working in India
Priyanka,
Hats off to you. People
Like you are doing yomans
Service for people like us
Who are travel maniacs.
Thanks again
I am planning to travel South America overland by public transport. I planning the route: Columbia-Peru- Bolivia- Chile- Argentina and fly back to India. Some of the countries are asking for onward flight tickets for VISA. How to provide flight tickets, as I am planning to travel overland by crossing land border. Please guide.
Hi. Why don’t you tell the embassies that you are traveling by the road? Or just show them flight tickets on hold or print itineraries. Also think about taking the next visa in every country if you are not strict on dates and have time on your hand. I took Peru’s visa in Chile, Bolivia’s in Peru easily. BUt it was hard to get a Chilean visa in Bolivia. When I took the visa from individual embassy I showed them an itinerary and even told one embassy I was traveling by road. Hope this helps.
Give travel itinerary.
Many websites provide
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Little as doller ten
Thanks priyanka. I want to visit Bolivia next year. Which months are good enough to visit. I like to go solo, though i am 73. informations you gave helped me to know about Bolivia visa system.
Janardan pati
Bhubaneswar
Hi,
Iam Anton from from Sri Lanka,
Your site helped me lot to undestand about bolivia visa requirement.
Thank you and wish you for your travel future with safe.
Anton.
Hi Anton. I am glad that I could be of help. Wish you good luck with your travels. Keep reading 🙂
HI PRIYANKA
IM PLANING TO TO TRAVEL NEXT YAER CAN YOU PLZ TELL ME HOW TO GET THE VISA FROM INDIA
Hi Yuva. If the information above isn’t sufficient, please visit the embassy’s website or visit the consulate of Bolivia. Thanks.
Thanks Priyanka… i didnt realise you have already responded. I shall do that. Many thanks once again.
Hi Priyanka,
Thank you for the detailed post. I am travelling to Bolivia next month and as part of my itinerary, I have to enter and exit Bolivia twice to travel to other countries in 30 days. So the question is, do they issue multiple or double entry visa? I would like to apply from India. Kindly advice. Many thanks for your post as it certainly helpful for travellers like me..
Vijay
Hi Priyanka,
Thanks a ton and your post came across really helpful. I have clarification – I am based in Bangalore and will be travelling to Bolivia in Dec 2019 and do they provide multiple tourist visa? I am doing Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, so i am ending up flying in and out of Bolivia more than once. Kindly let me know as i am planning to apply for my visa in India. Kindly suggest what are the options if they dont grant multiple entry. thanks a bunch
Vijay
Hi Vijay, thanks for your kind comments. I am not sure if Bolivia provides multiple entry visa. Why don’t you call or email the Bolivian embassy contact I have given in the article and ask them? I think they would be the best source to confirm this.
Let me know what they say. Enjoy Bolivia.
I am 19 years old I am ashamed to travel to Bolivia for three months. If I apply for a visa. Then can I go? I will get a visa. I have not visited any other country. I am the first to apply asylum to Bolivia. Can I go?