The Bolivia visa on arrival requirements consists of the documents and the eligibility criteria an applicant must meet to qualify for the visa. These requirements are not cast in stone but hardly ever change because they are consistent. If you want to apply for any of the Bolivian visas on offer, you must meet all the requirements set by the government of Bolivia. In this article, we review the documentary requirements.
What Is A Visa On Arrival?
A visa in arrival is issued to visitors at the Bolivia airport or border crossing. Instead of obtaining the visa before traveling to Bolivia, the visitor arrives first and is issued the visa at the entry point after submitting a completed application form and a visa fee to the immigration authorities. Not everyone qualifies for a visa on arrival; only citizens from selected countries do. There are 26 countries on the eligibility list, most of which are African, Latin American, and Asian countries.
This visa is issued at Bolivia's La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz airports. The visitor is also expected to pay the visa fee in US dollars or the local currency before their documents can be processed. Since most visitors will not have the local currency by the time they arrive in Bolivia, their only option is to travel and pay in dollars.
How To Apply For A Bolivian Visa?
Applying for a Bolivian visa is one of the easiest things any international traveler will ever do, and this is because of the relatively straightforward application process. The first thing you should do before leaving your country is to ensure you qualify for a visa on arrival. If you do not meet the conditions for this visa, it makes no sense to travel to Bolivia because you will be turned back. So check your eligibility first to be sure before proceeding to the next step.
To submit your application, you must arrive at any of the designated airports, request the visa application form, fill it out, and submit it for approval along with your passport and visa fee. This process takes a few minutes or up to an hour, depending on the people waiting in line.
Alternatively, you can download the application form and fill it out before traveling for your trip. Once you arrive in Bolivia, present the visa to the authorities, and your visa on arrival will be processed. This second option is ideal as it helps you avoid wasting time at the airport.
Bolivia Visa On Arrival Requirements
So what is the visa requirement for this visa? Let us review each of them in detail.
Passport: You will need a valid passport that meets all the validity conditions of the Bolivian government for visitors. Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity before it expires.
Photo: A recent 3cm x 3cm photograph of you taken not too long ago. The photo must meet the requirements of the authorities.
Travel Itinerary: Your travel information showing the places you intend to visit and arrival and departure dates.
Proof of Accommodation: A hotel reservation or house address to show proof of accommodation. Hotel rooms can be reserved over the internet.
Invitation Letter: An invitation letter issued by a Bolivia host showing the trip details. The letter must carry the host's house or office address, including their contact information.
Vaccination: A vaccination certificate for yellow fever to show the authorities that the visitor has truly been vaccinated for yellow fever.
Apart from these documents, the authorities may require additional documents depending on your nationality. Do your due diligence before boarding a flight from your country to Bolivia.
Visa Processing Time
Once you arrive in Bolivia, your application can be processed within a matter of minutes or hours. Visa on-arrival applications are processed on the spot, so it doesn't take time. The visa will also be issued to you on the spot.
Types of Visa On Arrival
The visa-on-arrival type is linked to the purpose of the trip. If you are from an eligible country, you can avail of a visa on arrival for the following.
Transit Visa: This visa is issued by the Bolivian embassy to travelers who wish to take a connecting flight from Bolivia to another country. Changing flights without leaving the airport will not require a transit visa, but you need this visa if you wish to leave the airport for a day or two before your flight.
Tourist Visa: A Bolivia tourist Visa on arrival is given to tourists from eligible countries who wish to spend some time in the country exploring and enjoying the sights and sounds of Bolivia
Business Visa: Business visitors can use this visa to enter for business trips.
You can get any of these visas at the airport if you meet Bolivia visa on arrival requirements.