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Bolivia — Complete Emigration Guide 2026

11,365,333 people · Capital: Sucre · South America

Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis

Safety
60/100 (average)
Cost of Living
€525/mo
Healthcare
38/100 (limited)
Career
45/100 (limited)
English Level
Moderate
Visa Pathways
22

Overview

Population
11,365,333
Capital
Sucre
Currency
BOB Bs.
Language
Aymara, Guaraní +2
Timezone
UTC-04:00
GDP per Capita
$4,421
Unemployment
3.3%

Bolivia is located in South America, with a population of 11,365,333. Its currency is the Bolivian boliviano. Our database tracks 22 visa pathways for Bolivia, each linked to a named source.

See also: Bolivia country profile

Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.

Visa Pathways (22)

Sponsored Employment (3)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Permanencia transitoria por objeto determinado€251/mo€196 mo30d
Visa de Objeto Determinado — Trabajo + Permanencia Temporal (Work Visa + Temporary Residence)€1,308/mo€26212 mo30d
Visa de Objeto Determinado — Trabajo Transitorio (Transitory Work Visa)€188/mo€256 mo30d

Study (5)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Permanencia transitoria por intercambio académico€126/mo€706 mo30d
Permanencia transitoria por objeto determinado de estudio€314/mo€132 mo
Visa de Estudiante + Permanencia Temporal Estudiante (Student Visa + Temporary Student Residence)€462 mo60d
Visa de Estudiante de Intercambio con Convenio Estatal (Student Exchange Visa — State Agreement) — GRATUITA€31/mo6 mo30d
Visa de estudiante de intercambio sin convenio estatal€466 mo

Family Reunification (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa de Objeto Determinado — Familia + Permanencia Temporal por Familia (Family Reunification Visa)12 mo

Spouse & Partner (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Naturalización por Vínculo Familiar — 2 años (Naturalisation by Family/Marriage)€1,046/mo€8712 mo

Birthright (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Nacionalidad por Nacimiento (Citizenship by Birth — jus soli + jus sanguinis)

Free Movement (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Acuerdo MERCOSUR sobre Residencia — Bolivia, Chile y Estados Parte (MERCOSUR Residency Agreement)€43624 mo30d
Decisión 545 CAN — Estatuto Migratorio Andino (Andean Migration Statute)€1324 mo30d

General Residence (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Cambio de condición migratoria€151/mo€1312 mo30d
Visa múltiple€18512 mo

Permanent Settlement (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Permanencia Definitiva (Permanent Residence — after 3 years temporal)€436/mo€17412 mo30d

Naturalisation & Citizenship (3)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Naturalización por Permanencia — 3 años continuos (Naturalisation by Residence)€174/mo€13112 mo
Naturalización por servicio militar€151/mo€6324 mo30d
Naturalización por servicios al País€314/mo€2524 mo30d

Medical Treatment (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Medical Treatment Visa€151/mo€6312 mo30d

Tourism & Short Stay (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa de Turismo o Visita (Tourist/Visit Visa)€131 mo30d

Transit (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Visa en Tránsito (Transit Visa)€6324 mo30d
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Cost of Living

ItemBoliviaW. Europe AvgDiff
Rent (1BR)€320€1,200-73%
Rent (3BR)€480€2,000-76%
Groceries€95€350-73%
Transport€25€80-69%
Utilities€85€150-43%
Dining (meal)€4€15-73%
Baseline monthly cost (1BR rent + groceries + transport + utilities)
€525/mo

Salary & Employment

Average Salary
€402
EUR/month gross
Minimum Wage
€311
EUR/month gross
Unemployment
3.3%
SectorMedian (gross, €/yr)
Construction€8,500
Education€7,500
Engineering€12,000
Finance€11,000
Healthcare€8,500
Hospitality€6,000
IT€18,000
Retail€5,500

Shortage Occupations

  • Software Developer (Information Technology)
  • Nurse (Healthcare)
  • Mining Engineer (Mining)
W
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Tax

Tax System
Flat
Top Income Rate
13%
Effective Rate @€90k
19.8%
VAT
13%
Net Monthly @€90k
€5,350

Healthcare

Healthcare Index
38/100
System Type
mixed
Spending per Capita
$255
Life Expectancy
68.7 years
Emergency Number
118
S
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Education

Total Universities
51
UniversityQS RankEnglish ProgsTuition (Intl)
Universidad Mayor de San Andrés12€1,200
Universidad Católica Boliviana28€3,500
Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno8€1,800
Universidad de La Paz6€1,000
Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra22€4,200

Practical Info

Banking

Wise: No   N26: No
Access difficulty: medium

Driving

Drives on: right

Phone & Internet

Operators: Entel
Internet: 20.1 Mbps

Credentials

Recognition: Case_by_case

Quality of Life

Safety
60
Climate
subtropical
22°C summer / 18°C winter
English Proficiency
Moderate
Score: 41/100
Expat Satisfaction
6.2/10
N
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Official sources

The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 23 of the 23 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 24 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.

Verified requirements — exact official citations

Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.

Visa de estudiante de intercambio sin convenio estatal · 2 verified requirements

Requirement: “Exchange student visa without state agreement; USD 50 consular fee; 180 days” bolivianembassy.ca

Savings / proof of funds: “Requisitos Completar la Declaracion Jurada de Solicitud de Visa. Pasaporte por lo menos 6 meses de validez. Certificado de vacunacion contra la fiebre amarilla y/u otra certificacion de salud, si corresponde. Una fotografia tamano pasaporte. Pagar el costo de US$50.00” bolivianembassy.ca, 2026-07-06

Permanencia transitoria por intercambio académico · 2 verified requirements

Requirement: “180-day academic exchange transitoria; private conv 160 UFV≈Bs.523; state conv free” consulados.cancilleria.gob.bo

Savings / proof of funds: “Solvencia economica acreditada mediante extracto bancario y/o tarjeta de credito, excepto por motivos religiosos y por familia.” consulados.cancilleria.gob.bo, 2026-07-06

Visa de Objeto Determinado — Salud + Permanencia por Salud (Medical Treatment Visa) · 2 verified requirements

Requirement: “COSTO Hasta 60 días 460 UFV´s Costo en bolivianos: 1058” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Savings / proof of funds: “Solvencia económica acreditada mediante extracto bancario y/o tarjeta de crédito.” gob.bo

Visa de Estudiante + Permanencia Temporal Estudiante (Student Visa + Temporary Student Residence) · 2 verified requirements

Requirement: “COSTO Hasta 1 año y renovación 510 UFV´s Hasta 2 años 810 UFV´s Hasta 3 años y prórroga 1110 UFV´s” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Savings / proof of funds: “Requisitos Completar la Declaracion Jurada de Solicitud de Visa. Pasaporte por lo menos 6 meses de validez. Certificado de vacunacion contra la fiebre amarilla y/u otra certificacion de salud, si corresponde. Una fotografia tamano pasaporte. Pagar el costo de US$50.00” bolivianembassy.ca, 2026-07-06

Visa de Objeto Determinado — Trabajo + Permanencia Temporal (Work Visa + Temporary Residence) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Hasta un (1) año 960 UFV´s Renovación 960 UFV´s Hasta dos (2) años 1.260 UFV´s Hasta tres (3) años 1.560 UFV´s” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Naturalización por Permanencia — 3 años continuos (Naturalisation by Residence) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “SEGUNDO.- Aprobar la Creación de Tasas y Aranceles... 64 Por permanencia por más de tres años en el país No aplica 4000” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Permanencia Definitiva (Permanent Residence — after 3 years temporal) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO 2510 UFV´s Para menores de 18 años: 1260 UFV´s Para Religiosos Católicos, Metodistas: sin costo” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Cambio de condición migratoria · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “6 Autorización de traspaso... 62 De permanencias (transitorias, temporales, definitivas) La que corresponda de acuerdo a la vigencia de la permanencia. 150” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Permanencia transitoria por objeto determinado de estudio · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Costo en UFVs: 160 Costo en bolivianos: 368” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Naturalización por servicio militar · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Costo en UFVs: 2050 Costo en bolivianos: BS.- 5166” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Visa Humanitaria + Permanencia Temporal Humanitaria (Humanitarian Visa) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “50 Humanitaria Hasta un año Sin costo / 51 Prórroga temporal humanitaria Hasta un año Sin costo” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Visa múltiple · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “V-5 Visa Múltiple (múltiples entradas e salidas durante un año) $US 200.00” consulados.cancilleria.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Visa de Estudiante de Intercambio con Convenio Estatal (Student Exchange Visa — State Agreement) — GRATUITA · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Convenio Estatal : SIN COSTO Convenio Privado: Hasta 180 días Costo en UFVs: 160 Costo en bolivianos: 368” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Naturalización por Vínculo Familiar — 2 años (Naturalisation by Family/Marriage) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “3. NATURALIZACIÓN POR MATRIMONIO CON BOLIVIANA O BOLIVIANO. CODIGO: NAT-003/MBOL/502... MONTO DEL COSTO DEL TRÁMITE EN UFVs) 2000” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Visa de Objeto Determinado — Familia + Permanencia Temporal por Familia (Family Reunification Visa) · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “DIGEMIG – Dirección General de Migracion ... Sin resultados encontrados — DIGEMIG entity portal loads but lists no specific trámite content; no income figure available to quote. Official migracion.gob.bo page is JS-shell/blocked.” gob.bo

Visa de Objeto Determinado — Trabajo Transitorio (Transitory Work Visa) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Hasta 30 días 160 UFV´s Hasta 90 días 360 UFV´s Hasta 180 días 610 UFV´s” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Visa de Turismo o Visita (Tourist/Visit Visa) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Costo en UFVs: 250 Costo en bolivianos: 580” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Acuerdo MERCOSUR sobre Residencia — Bolivia, Chile y Estados Parte (MERCOSUR Residency Agreement) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “COSTO Costo en UFVs: 450 Costo en bolivianos: 1035” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Refugio (Refugee Status — Ley 251) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “Artículo 11°.- (Gratuidad) El procedimiento seguido por una persona solicitante ante la Comisión Nacional del Refugiado - CONARE, no tiene costo alguno. Se eximirá del pago de timbres, valores y de cualquier otro tipo de pago, en los trámites que toda persona refugiada deba…” lexivox.org, 2026-07-09

Visa en Tránsito (Transit Visa) · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “16 OD por trânsito Hasta 15 días 50” migracion.gob.bo, 2026-07-09

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visa pathways does Bolivia have?

Our database tracks 22 visa pathways for Bolivia across 12 categories, the largest being Study, Naturalisation & Citizenship, Sponsored Employment. Each entry links to a named source — 29% direct to an official government portal, the rest to a named embassy or professional reference while we complete direct verification.

What is the minimum income for the Cambio de condición migratoria?

The Cambio de condición migratoria lists a minimum income of EUR 151 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-24).

What is the average salary in Bolivia?

The average gross salary in Bolivia is EUR 402 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 311 per month.

How much does rent cost in Bolivia?

A one-bedroom apartment in Bolivia averages EUR 320 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 480 per month.

What is the top income tax rate in Bolivia?

The top personal income tax rate in Bolivia is 13%. The standard VAT rate is 13%.

How long does it take to qualify for citizenship in Bolivia?

Among the pathways we track, the Visa de Objeto Determinado — Familia + Permanencia Temporal por Familia (Family Reunification Visa) lists 2 years to citizenship. Timelines vary by route and personal circumstances — check the official source for your case.

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