Includes information on business customs, travel advisory, visa requirements, currency, language, health, local time, business hours and holidays, acceptable business etiquette, dress, business cards, gifts, temporary entry of materials and personal belongings, etc.
Last Published: 7/13/2019

Business Customs

Many members of Bolivia’s private sector have had direct exposure to U.S. and European business customs and practices.  The exchange of business cards is a common practice at the beginning of the meetings, and can be initiated by any of the participants. 

Punctuality for social engagements is not strictly observed, and should not be expected.  Normally meetings need to be confirmed multiple times before they occur.  Do not be surprised if Bolivian counterparts call several times to confirm and then change the time at the last minute.  If you are hosting the meeting, it is recommended to call and email your counterparts to confirm the day before as well as a few hours before the meeting.  Hosting a meal is a good business practice, and may lead to a more fruitful discussion than a quick meeting.

Business dress is conservative, especially in the cities of La Paz and Cochabamba.  Due to its warmer climate, Santa Cruz business dress is more casual.  Company logo gifts are very common and welcomed.

Foreign firms should be prepared to deal with government officials and occasionally complicated bureaucratic procedures.  The importance of occasional personal visits from U.S. executives, as well as prompt, responsive handling of communications, cannot be overstated.  This is especially true given the crucial role of local agents and representatives in business in Bolivia.  After establishing a relationship, local representatives generally expect to visit the parent company’s facilities and headquarters to become better acquainted with the company’s personnel and operating techniques.
 

Travel Advisory

To access the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Specific Information Sheet for Bolivia, please go
here.
 

Visa Requirements

U.S. Citizens traveling to Bolivia need a visa.  The exact requirements change frequently and the most up to date information can be found here.  Before traveling to Bolivia all U.S. citizens are encouraged to review the country-specific information here and to register with the embassy through http://step.state.gov so we may better assist you in the event of an emergency.

The Bolivian visa application can be submitted by mail or in person at any Bolivian Consulate, or visitors can apply for a visa upon arrival to Bolivia.

Bolivians who have acquired U.S. citizenship are exempt from the visa requirement, provided they can provide evidence of their status as a Bolivian with any of the following current or expired documents: identity card, birth certificate, family book, Military Service Book, Bolivian passport or Bolivian National Single Registry (RUN).  A United States passport that states that the Place of Birth is Bolivia will suffice.

If an applicant is traveling to visit friends or relatives in Bolivia, a letter of invitation specifying the host's address meets the invitation letter requirements.

Bolivia has several non-immigrant visa categories:

  1. Tourist Visas: U.S. citizens visiting Bolivia require tourist visas.  U.S. citizens may apply for a visa in Bolivian consulates or at the time of arrival.  As of May 2018, the tourist visa for U.S. citizens is valid for ten years from the date of issue.  A U.S. citizen tourist visa holder may use a tourist visa for up to three (3) entries of 30 days each per year for a total of ninety days per year.

  2. Specific Purpose Visas: Those who wish to travel to Bolivia to live in Bolivia, work in Bolivia, or retire in Bolivia require specific purpose visas (“visa de objeto determinado” in Spanish).  You must apply for a specific purpose visa before entering Bolivia.  Because the immigration authority must authorize all specific purpose visas, it is recommended to apply at least one month prior to visiting Bolivia.

  3. Temporary Residence Visas: temporary residence visas are valid for one to two years, and may be extended to immediate family.  Visas may be obtained through the National Immigration Service in Bolivia.

  4. Bolivia also offers permanent residence permits.  To obtain them, applicants must have had two-year temporary residence visas.


Temporary residence visas and permanent residence permits cover principals, managers, and trained and specially qualified employees involved in a foreign firm’s operations.  No special qualifications are required for entry, and individuals are not limited in the type of work they can perform after receiving visas.  The visa holder’s spouse and children may enter Bolivia with the visa holder provided their names are included in the legal petition presented to the Director General of Immigration.

The Bolivian government reserves the right to accept or deny requests for indefinite residence.

For additional information, please contact:

Servicio Nacional de Migración
Ministerio de Gobierno
La Paz, Bolivia
Phone:           591-2-211-0960
Fax:                591-2-211-0955
Web

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process.  Visa applicants should go to the following links.

State Department Visa Website
U.S. Embassy Consular Section


Currency

The local currency is the Boliviano (B).  It is freely convertible to other currencies, mainly U.S. dollars, at Bolivian banks and exchange houses.  The exchange rate has remained fixed, at 6.96 Bs/$1 for selling and 6.86 Bs/$1 for buying, since October 2011. 

Traveler’s checks, dollars, and major currencies may be exchanged in banks, exchange houses, and major hotels.  Most automated teller machines (ATMs) in large cities offer cash withdrawals in either Bolivian currency or U.S. dollars.

Telecommunications/Electronics
Several firms offer local, long-distance, and international telephone services, including one U.S. company, Nuevatel/Viva (Trilogy International). 

Cellular phones are popular in the major cities and towns.  Coverage is good in the larger cities, but can be poor to non-existent in rural areas.  Aggressive competition has led to some of the lowest prices in the hemisphere.  The three service providers include Entel (State-run), Telecel/Tigo (Millicom), and Nuevatel/Viva (Trilogy International).

When planning to use your own cell phone, you must check with your service provider about coverage areas and international plans.  Cell phones on GSM technology, such as AT&T or T-Mobile will usually work in the larger cities. CDMA technology from Sprint and Verizon may not work.

You may also purchase a compatible SIM card from one of the local companies (ENTEL, Viva, or Tigo) for between $3-5.  Pre-paid airtime cards for these SIM cards are available in the provider's offices, kiosks, and through street vendors.  Phones must be unlocked and should be registered at a cell-phone company if you are planning to use them for more than three days.  After this period of time the service will be suspended until the device is registered.  Keep in mind that unlocking the phone may be a violation of the contract with your U.S. carrier.

All telephone service providers in the major cities provide long distance service in addition to local service.  According to the Transport and Telecommunications Authority, of the private companies that offer long distance service, the most competitive prices are from ENTEL, Boliviatel, Unete, and Hablando Todos.

Internet service is becoming increasingly more prevalent and is available throughout Bolivia, but is generally still limited to the larger cities.  Internet cafés are widely available, and there is some 4G service where cell phone coverage is available.  Although coverage and bandwidth are increasing, Bolivia still has one of the most expensive and slowest internet services in the region.


Transportation

Travelers can fly directly to Bolivia from the United States via American Airlines or the Bolivian national airline, Boliviana de Aviación (BOA).  LATAM also offers service through Lima, Peru; Avianca offers flights through Bogota, Colombia; and Lima, Peru, Gol has flights via Sao Paulo; and Aerolineas Argentinas flies via Buenos Aires.  In addition travelers can fly to Bolivia from Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires via BoA.  BoA, LATAM, and Amaszonas provide services to more remote onward domestic destinations.  A variety of airlines offer flights to neighboring countries, most on a daily basis. 

Travel within Bolivia is sometimes difficult as limited infrastructure hinders overland transportation.  Of Bolivia’s 90,568 kilometers (km) total of roads, fewer than 9,792 km are paved.  Another 34,840 km are gravel, and 45,936 km are dirt.  Paved roads connect La Paz to Desaguadero (on the Peruvian border), Arica (in northern Chile), Oruro, Potosí, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Trinidad.  Other roads, including those to Brazil, are often impassable or extremely slow-going due to seasonal rains and poor maintenance.

The Bolivian railroad system has a total of 3,960 km of track, divided into two non-connecting segments.  The western segment is 2,500 km long and connects La Paz to the Pacific ports of Arica and Antofagasta (both in Chile), the lake port of Guaqui, and major cities in the altiplano and Andean valleys.  However, much of the western segment is in disrepair and is no longer operational.  Maintenance has been more regular on the eastern segment and it is thus operational.  It links Santa Cruz to Brazil and Argentina.

Within local jurisdictions, taxis are available and are generally inexpensive.  However, it is important to be cautious about taxis in Bolivia.  For safety, travelers should use a radio taxi as opposed to a shared taxi.  At night, it is best to only take taxis that you have called for.  Taxi fares from the El Alto airport to La Paz range from 70Bs to 130Bs ($8.50 to $18).  Within the city, fares generally range from $1.50 to $5.00, depending on the length of the trip. Rental cars are also available, but are expensive since some companies require clients to hire drivers.  Other types of public transportation, such as buses and "trufis" (shared cars), though cheap at $0.20 to $0.45, are harder to navigate and are therefore not recommended for visitors.


Language

Bolivia has 37 official languages including Spanish and 36 indigenous languages.  The most prevalent of the indigenous languages are Aymara and Quechua.  Many business officials who work with international partners speak English, but use of English should not be expected.  A list of translators is available at the U.S. Embassy's web page.
 

Health

All of the major cities in Bolivia are between 1,330 and 13,600 feet above sea level.  El Alto International Airport (La Paz) is the highest international airport in the world, at 13,325 feet above sea level.  This altitude poses risks of illness, hospitalization, and even death, regardless of whether or not travelers have medical conditions that affect blood circulation or breathing.  The risk is especially great when travelers land at the La Paz airport without acclimation at a lower altitude.  Approximately 75 percent of people experience an unpleasant period of acclimatization after they arrive in La Paz.  This usually persists for a few days, until the body adjusts to the altitude, but it takes up to 40 days for the body to completely adjust.  Symptoms of adjustment may include headache, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia.  These symptoms occur equally in males and females but may occur more frequently or be more pronounced in children and teenagers.  There seems to be a genetic predisposition to slow adjustment to altitude, but it is unpredictable.  Those who have had previous difficulties are likely to have similar problems each time they go to altitudes above 8,000-10,000 feet. Persons with pre-existing medical problems and/or respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia should delay travel until fully recovered.  Pregnant women should delay travel to altitude until after delivery due to the high risk of miscarriage, pre-eclempsia and preterm labor.  Individuals with hypertension, diabetes, angina pectoris, heart disease, anemia, hemaglobinophathies (e.g., sickle cell disease and trait), and significant obesity, are at particular risk of potentially life-threatening complications.

All adults visiting La Paz or any other high altitude Bolivian city should consider taking Diamox (Acetazolamide) 125 milligrams (or 1/2 tablet of 250 mg) by mouth twice a day, beginning on the day of the flight and continuing for two (2) days after arrival until improved.  Children over the age of five should take 5mg/Kg of body weight every 12 hours.  Diamox significantly reduces, and in most cases prevents, the symptoms of high altitude sickness.  The medication inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, has a slight diuretic effect, and stimulates respiration.  In the United States, it is available only by prescription.  In Bolivia, visitors can purchase Diamox at a local pharmacy under the name "Acetazolamida."  Common side effects include numbness and tingling of hands and feet and frequent urination.  These symptoms are minor, short-lived, and will disappear once you stop taking the medication.  Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those with severe allergies to sulfa drugs cannot take Diamox.  Please discuss the use of Diamox with your health care provider PRIOR to arrival in Bolivia.

Avoid drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages during transit and within the first week of arrival at high altitude.  Instead, drink plenty of water, juices and other non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages.

The sensations experienced on arrival, such as increased respiration, a pounding heart, and some lightheadedness are all normal adaptive processes to high altitude.  Many of the symptoms can be attributed to dehydration.  Considerably more fluids are needed (in the form of water, juices, broths, Gatorade, herbal teas, and similar drinks).  Should you consume alcohol, avoid alcoholic drinks for the first week, and then proceed with caution to moderate intake.  Limiting carbonated drinks helps with the bloating associated with altitude.

Limit your activities for the first few days.  Children and young athletic adults are more likely to develop serious complications, so guard them against over-activity until they are well adapted, especially for the first 72 hours after arrival.  On the other hand, the advice that is often given to lie down during the initial hours in altitude can actually increase the severity of headaches.

Sanitary conditions are such that travelers and residents generally consume only bottled water, refuse ice, and wash fresh fruits and vegetables with special disinfectants or bleaches.  Even the best restaurants may inadvertently serve tainted food.  Americans have been victims of e-coli, typhoid, salmonella, and other diseases.  Hepatitis and rabies are common, but with proper vaccinations, both can usually be avoided.  Malaria, Dengue fever, leishmaniasis, chikungunya, and yellow fever are present in the jungles in Bolivia’s northern and eastern regions, and leprosy and yellow fever are sometimes found in the Yungas region of La Paz.  Tuberculosis is endemic throughout Bolivia.

More information about medical care is detailed in the Embassy's following link.
 

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Office hours vary somewhat from city to city.  In La Paz and Cochabamba, office hours are generally 09:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:30.  In Santa Cruz, office hours are generally 08:30 to 18:30 with a two-hour lunch break.  Almost all banks in Bolivian operate from 9:00 to 16:00, but a few of them extend their services until 18:00.  Some government offices also work from 8:30 to 16:30 without stopping.  It is important to verify the opening hours of each institution before preparing a schedule.

2018-2019 Holidays
                                                                                                2018                                     2019
La Paz Day (Only in La Paz)                                               July 16                                   July 16                  
Bolivia Independence Day                                                  August 6                                August 6              
Cochabamba Day (Only in Cbba)                                       September 14                      September 14                     
Santa Cruz Day (Only in Santa Cruz)                                 September 24                      September 24                     
All Saints Day                                                                      November 2                         November 2                        
Christmas Day                                                                      December 25                       December 25                      
New Year’s Day                                                                    January 1                              January 1             
Plurinacional State Day                                                        January 22                            January 22           
Carnival                                                                                February 12                         March 4
Carnival/Shrove Tuesday                                                      February 13                         March 5
Good Friday                                                                          March 30                              April 19
Labor Day/May Day                                                             May 1                                     May 1    
Corpus Christi Day                                                               May 31                                   June 20 
Winter Solstice/Aymara New Year                                      June 21                                  June 21    
   

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
Personal effects not exceeding $1,000 are exempt from duties.
 

Travel Related Web Resources

U.S. Department of State’s Consular Information
Bolivian Embassy – Washington, D.C.
State Department Visa Website
U.S. Embassy consular section

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.