Bolivian Visa for Americans $100

[runnoft]

Just a heads up for any Americans headed to Bolivia. A us$100 visa is now required to enter this country. Don't let that, or the talk of four eastern departments(states) wanting to breakaway and be independent stop you. It really is a beautiful country, and the people are very nice.

Safe travels.

Oh Brother, Where Am I ?

[AndyT]

Do you know if this is for travel by air only, or does it apply to land crossings as well? I know Brazil had (has?) a $100 visa fee for Americans in retaliation for our (the US government) charging Brazilians the same to come here, but it didn't aplly to land crossings. At least that is what I was told.

[lorraine]

Do you happen to know if it applies to EU passport holders? Probably not but...
Lorraine

[runnoft]

As far as I'm aware it's for all border crossings. One of our group was a few days behind us at the crossing near Copacabana and was the first one to get the news. Needless to say, he wasn't too happy.

And I think it only applies to U. S. citizens, but Lorraine, you might want to check.

Travel Safe

Oh Brother, Where Am I ?

[DLbiten]

A little looking up it seems that Bolivia is mad at the USA demanding reciprocity from the citizens of the USA. Moving US tourists from the lest regulated to the most regulated category. For the US side seems there mad Bolivias Morales office friendship with Presidents Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. And Morales has recently accused the United States of using its aid to support his conservative opposition.

Here some of the document I have cut it down it bit as its dam dry and boring.

Ref: VREC-DGRC-UAB-3213/2007
Classification: Ordinary

La Paz, September 6, 2007

To the Honorable,
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
La Paz.

Supreme Decree No. 28997

Presidency of the Republic
Bolivia
Evo Morales Ayma
Constitutional President of the Republic

Whereas:
Supreme Decree No. 27150 of September 3, 2003 modified the Tourist Visa Exemption and Issuance List, aimed at fostering tourism toward Bolivia by allowing the entry of tourists to the national territory and adopting specific measures for the issuance of tourist visas.
To that effect the aforementioned legal norm established a country classification distributed in three (3) groups: countries not required to obtain entry visas to Bolivia, countries required to obtain entry visas to Bolivia without consultation, and countries required to obtain entry visas to Bolivia with consultation.
The lists of Countries in the I, II, and III groups of Supreme Decree No. 27150 were prepared in accordance with international bilateral and multilateral agreements on visa elimination, in application of the principle of reciprocity and taking into account aspects related to the security of the State.
According to Article 3 of such legal norm, the country group list can be modified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship in compliance with international bilateral and multilateral agreements on the subject and in observance of the principle of reciprocity.

In council of ministers

Decrees:
ARTICLE 1. (Objective). The objective of this Supreme Decree is to modify the Visa Exemption and Issuance List approved my means of Supreme Decree No. 27150.
I. The following countries are transferred from Group I to Group II:
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
CYPRUS, REPUBLIC OF
II. The following country is transferred from Group I to Group III:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
III. The following countries are transferred from Group II to Group III:
ANGOLA, REPUBLIC OF
BHUTAN, KINGDOM OF
CHAD, REPUBLIC OF
CONGO, REPUBLIC OF
RWANDA, REPUBLIC OF
YEMEN, REPUBLIC OF
INDONESIA, REPUBLIC OF
CHINA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF (Including TAIWAN)
IV. The following country is transferred from Group II to Group I:
CROATIA, REPUBLIC OF
ARTICLE 2. (VALIDITY OF NORMS). Supreme Decree No. 28801 of July 18, 2006 is abrogated.
The Ministers of State, in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Worship and of Government remain in charge of the application and enforcement of this Supreme Decree.
It is given at the Palace of Government of the city of La Paz, on the first day of January of the year two thousand seven.
SIGNED: EVO MORALES AYMA
David Choquehuanca Céspedes,
Juan Ramón Quintana Taborga
Alicia Muñoz Alá
Walker San Miguel Rodríguez
Casimira Rodríguez Romero
Hernando Larrazábal Córdova
Luis Alberto Arce Catacora
Abel Mamani Marca
Celinda Sosa Lunda
Salvador Ric Riera
Hugo Salvatierra Gutiérrez
Carlos Villegas Quiroga
José Guillermo Dalence Salinas
Santiago Alex Gálvez Mamani
Félix Patzi Paco
Nila Heredia Miranda

Republic of Bolivia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship

BI-MINISTERIAL RESOLUTION No. 01/2007
La Paz , August 31, 2007

CONSIDERING:

ARTICLE ONE. (Approval.) To approve the requirements and procedures for the exemption and/or issuance of Tourist Visas pursuant to the classification established by Supreme Decrees No. 27150 and No. 28997 in the terms of this Bi-Ministerial Resolution.
ARTICLE TWO. (Group I List). The aliens from the countries in the Group I List are not required a tourist visa to enter to Bolivia, provided they meet the following requirements:
1. Andean countries, countries of the Common Market of the South and associate states:
Valid passport and/or identity card.
2. Countries from the rest of the world:
Passport valid for no less than six months
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Roundtrip tickets or travel itinerary
ARTICLE THREE. (Group II List.) In order to enter Bolivia as tourists the aliens from countries included on the Group II List will have to apply for a visa at the corresponding diplomatic or consular office. In case there are no such offices in the place of residence of the applicant, the visa can be issued in the closest diplomatic or consular office to his/her place of residence.
The Chargé of Consular Affairs or Consular Officer will issue the corresponding visa without the need for consultation, but verifying the compliance of the following requirements:
1. Personally fill out the Visa Application Affidavit.
2. Presentation of a passport valid for no less than six months.
3. Presentation of a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
4. Presentation of roundtrip tickets or travel itinerary.
5. Presentation of proof of address in Bolivia.
ARTICLE FOUR. (Group III List.) In order to enter Bolivia as tourists the aliens from countries included on the Group III List will have to apply for a visa at the corresponding diplomatic or consular office. In case there are no such offices in the place of residence of the applicant, the visa will be issued in the closest diplomatic or consular office to his/her place of residence.
The applicant will have to comply with the following requirements:

1. Personally filled out and signed Visa Application Affidavit with personal data and attached 4cm x 4cm color photograph of the applicant, taken without glasses and on red background.
2. Presentation of passport valid for no less than six months.
3. Presentation of Police Antecedents Certificate, as fit in the country of origin.
4. Present hotel reservations with due supporting evidence for the applicant’s entire stay in Bolivia or, alternatively, a notarized letter of invitation from a family member or friend with permanent residence in Bolivia in which he/she commits to pay for all the guest’s lodging and sustenance expenses during his/her stay in Bolivia. The National Migration Service may interview the host prior to granting or denying the visa.
5. Presentation of a round trip ticket or a travel itinerary.
6. Proof of economic solvency in the country of residence by means of supporting documentation.
7. Presentation of yellow fever vaccination certificate.
ARTICLE FIVE. (Procedure). The Chargé of Consular Affairs or the consular officer will be responsible for verifying compliance with requirements. In case there were reasonable doubts regarding the authenticity or validity of any document, the officer may require additional evidence from the applicant. Once the visa application is accepted, it will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship for submittal to the National Migration Service.
The National Migration Service shall examine the application and will communicate its acceptance or denial to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship within 10 days upon reception of the application.
The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Worship will convey the diplomatic or consular office the migration authority’s determination on visa authorization or denial, as to inform the applicant.
Any expense incurred for the issuance of the visa shall be paid by the applicant.

ARTICLE SEVEN. (Entry through border points). When the citizens of the countries on the Group III List comply with the requirements set forth in Article Four, as an exception, they will be able to obtain the entry visa at the first aerial or ground migration control checkpoint. Compliance with the requirements will be verified by National Migration Service officials.

(Signatures)
David Choquehuanca Alfredo Rada Velez
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Minister of Government

There it is wonder how this is going to cost there tourist industry. By there admission 1 in 5 tourist are from the USA spending $40 million a year.

[FREDDY ARANIBAR]

Hi, Im From Bolivia And Yes, Only The Americans Have To Have The Visa.

And It Is Mandatory For Us Citizens Who Are Entering The Country.

By Air, Road Or Any Kind Of Transportation.

If Anybody Has Questions Feel Free To Contact Me.

[Laser Jock]

Bummer, I was on my way to Bolivia. But I´m not going to pay a hundred bucks for the privilege of spending my money in the country.

[albert crutcher]

I wouldn,t want to go anywhere that supports this 21st century Socialism bullshit anyway,especially when like Evo they want to change the constitution so that like Fidel Castro they can re-elect themselves for life and subject the population to a communist experiment that everybody knows does not work!!!
I,ll stick to Peru
Albert theturtleshead

[LTGTR]

but at least it's good until your passport expires.

[fritzsampson]

I was planning to go through Bolivia to Argentina this year. So does anyone have any up to date information on crossing into Bolivia from Peru? I would particularly like to know if USA types are able to cross at the land entry point by just paying the $100 and presenting enough paper to make it look good. Or will the traveler have to get the visa months in advance at the consul general in Chicago or Washington DC?

Fritz

[DLbiten]

from the department of state you can get the visa at the border. Here it is Bolivia

Have fun on your trip.

[fritzsampson]

Thanks. I went on the Bolivian Embassy USA website and it indicated the same, but with a lot more requirements. The Bolivia website is very interesting and I think I might just make an application here beforehand.

The good news is that at least I found out about this problem on HUBB well in advance of the trip. So now I can worry with confidence!!

[mollydog]

My feeling is that once the Smirking Chimp criminal Bush is out of office in a year the Bush admin. policies could be turned around.

[albert crutcher]

One quick question Mollydog.Where do you actually live and for how long?
I live work and employ people in Latin america.
Albert theturtleshead

[charapashanperu]

Mollydog,

Have appreciated your input and wisdom in sooo many blogs, but I don't think this is the forum for political venting! I am of a different outlook. Don't be quick to throw me into the "evil right wing" category either,.. I said DIFFERENT. There are more than 2 sides on things like this..

I have lived beside and worked with the poorest of the poor in the neighboring (and very similar) country of Peru for most of my life (volunteer work in education with my own funds - NOT US GOV). I have listened to the people on all socio-economic levels who benefit and/or suffer from policies made out of their control. I been prisoner of the terrorists (also wanting justice), and been unjustly treated myself for the good things I have attempted to do...

I spoke with many (in Spanish and Quechua ) while in Bolivia 8 months ago and many, many do not stand behind their leader... in fact 7 in 10 in Santa Cruz disapprove....

I'm just saying: "There's more than two opposite sides to this thing.."

When I was younger, in a moment of frustration once, when I just wanted to BE Peruvian and not stand out as a Gringo even tho I lived as they did, I asked my father (then veteran of 30 years in Peru): "What do I have to do to become totally Peruvian ?!!

His wise response: "You can't, you just be the BEST GRINGO to ever come down the block."

Am I, are you, are each of us being the BEST GRINGO these people have ever met ????

Appreciate you guy.... Toby Around the Block 2007 |