Dear Warden:
Below please find a Warden Message from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia.  Please share this warden message with any U.S. citizens in Bolivia with whom you have contact.  We hope this information is useful to you.  If we may provide further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at (591-2) 216-8297 or email USCit.Services.Bolivia@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
American Citizen Services Unit
U.S. Embassy La Paz, Bolivia

WARDEN MESSAGE
U.S. EMBASSY LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
November 30, 2007

This Warden Message is being issued to notify American citizens traveling to and residing in Bolivia of the new visa requirement for American citizens entering Bolivia as tourists. 
The Bolivian government has announced that effective December 1, 2007, U.S. citizens seeking to enter Bolivia as tourists must obtain an entry visa.  Below is an unofficial translation of a diplomatic note received by the U.S. Embassy on November 29, 2007 from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   This note describes the procedures for U.S. citizens applying for Bolivian tourist visas at Bolivian international airports and other ports of entry, commencing December 1, 2007. 

Please also see the Embassy website for the text of an earlier warden message dated November 15, 2007 describing the procedures for U.S. citizens applying for Bolivian tourist visas at Bolivian Consulates in the U.S.

Please note that the unofficial translation of the Bolivian note below details the requirements and procedures for tourist visas only.  The requirements and procedures for other types of visas (such as student or work visas) under Bolivian law may be different.     

The U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia will continue to seek clarification of this policy from the Government of Bolivia and will continue to post new information on our website at:  http://bolivia.usembassy.gov

Please continue to direct specific inquiries to the Bolivian Embassy in Washington or your nearest Bolivian Consulate (see http://www.bolivia-usa.org/ for contact information).  The phone number for the Bolivian Consulate in Washington, D.C. is (202) 232-4827 or (202) 232-4828.  If you are in Bolivia, please contact Bolivian Immigration Services at 211-0960.

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[Unofficial translation of November 29, 2007 Bolivian Diplomatic Note:]

 

“Ministry of Government
National Immigration Service

Tourist Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens Entering
into Bolivian Territory via Airports and at Border Entry Points

1. The sworn statement for visa application form
2. A passport valid for six months
3. Hotel reservation or invitation letter
4. Photocopy of roundtrip ticket or travel itinerary
5. Economic solvency
6. Payment of $100 visa issuance fee
7. International yellow fever vaccination certificate

Clarification:

1. THE SWORN STATEMENT FOR VISA APPLICATION FORM.  If the tourist does not already have the application form, he/she will be able to obtain one at each immigration checkpoint.

2. VALID PASSPORT. The passport must have a validity of not less than 6 months.

3. HOTEL RESERVATION.  In case the tourist is unsure about which hotel he/she will stay at, the immigration officers will provide the tourist with a list of hotels to choose from, according to the tourist’s travel budget.  A tourist who arrives in the country bearing a letter of invitation shall submit such letter to the immigration officer.

4. PHOTOCOPY OF ROUNDTRIP TICKET OR TRAVEL ITINERARY. In the event the tourist does not have a photocopy of their ticket, he/she shall show a ticket stating his/her return to the United States or to a third country.  This information will be recorded in the sworn statement for visa application form.

5. ECONOMIC SOLVENCY. Credit card or equivalent, which must be valid for the duration of the planned stay in Bolivia. In the event the tourist does not have either a credit card or an invitation letter, he/she must be in possession of at least US$50 per day for the length of the anticipated stay in Bolivia.

6. CASH PAYMENT. The US$100 visa fee payment shall be made in cash. No credit or debit cards will be accepted.

7. INTERNATIONAL YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE. In case the U.S. citizen does not have an international yellow fever vaccination certificate, he/she must sign an affidavit exempting the Bolivian state from any liability in case of yellow fever contagion within the Bolivian territory.  This provision shall apply until further notice.

La Paz, 26 November, 2007”