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Last Update: 12/11/2020
Country-Specific Information:
- The Bolivian Government suspended all COVID-19 restrictions until January 15, 2021.
- The wearing of facemasks in public places is mandatory and social distancing measures must be respected.
- Schools remain suspended.
- All borders remain open, however, some of the countries bordering Bolivia have maintained closure of their land borders and thus entering and exiting Bolivia by land may not be possible at this time.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- Air borders are open and commercial flights are permitted to operate. Returning Bolivian citizens and residents, foreign nationals, diplomats, members of special missions and international organizations, technical specialists, and drivers of international goods and cargo will be permitted to return to the country with no enforced quarantine upon their arrival provided that they submit a valid certification of the PCR test specifically for COVID-19 with a negative result prior to the flight.
- Travelers should be prepared for additional travel restrictions affecting international travel to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. Visit the Official Site of the Government of Bolivia on COVID-19 for updated information on these measures.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes.
- Returning Bolivian citizens and residents must present a negative COVID 19 (PCT-TR) test dated within 3 days of the flight if coming from a country bordering Bolivia, within 7 days of the flight if coming from within South and Central America, and within 10 days of the flight if coming from North America, Europe or Asia.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- All passengers will have their temperature taken prior to entering airports and the pre-boarding areas. Individuals with a fever or a temperature over 38°C (100.4°F) will be referred to the airport medical unit for a medical evaluation.
- Minors under 18 may only travel with a parent or legal guardian.
- Minors of any nationality who have been residing in Bolivia for over 90 days and will be traveling with only one parent, will need to get a travel authorization from the Juzgado del Menor.
- Children may not travel unaccompanied.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
Covid-19 Testing:
- The designated government agency regulating COVID-19 testing in Bolivia is the Servicio Departamental de Salud (SEDES).
- There are 9 branches of SEDES in the 9 Departments of Bolivia.
- First step is to contact SEDES for evaluation at 800-10-2930.
- The two available tests are the Quick Test and the CRP test.
- The test can be done through SEDES or at a private Hospital or Lab.
- In either case, the price for the Quick Test averages in: US$ 50.00 and the CRP test price averages in: US$ 135. The costs of the test are paid in full by the patient.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Commercial airlines operating in Bolivia have continued to run periodic flights to Miami and other foreign destinations during Bolivian quarantine measures.
- The two local airlines currently operating international and domestic flights are BOA and Amaszonas. Ecojet is only operating domestic flights.
- Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions affecting international travel to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes.
- Social distancing and the use of masks in public vehicles places remains obligatory.
Consular Operations:
- The consular section of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz is now open for limited routine appointments for U.S. citizen services, including passport applications, consular reports of birth abroad, and some limited notarial services. Please visit the U.S. Citizens Service page to make an online appointment. To request an emergency appointment, please e-mail ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov.
- In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State has temporarily suspended routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates. At the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments were suspended on March 20, 2020. However, as of November 3, the Embassy is offering a limited number of appointments for students (F, J and M visas). Immigrant visa services resumed on December 10, 2020
- Visa applicants with urgent travel needs can request an expedited emergency visa appointment at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/es-bo/niv. Requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
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