How to Apply for a Bolivia Visa in Miami

The Greater Miami Area is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of 6.2 million people.  The metropolitan area is composed of Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.  Its main cities include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Hialeah, Coral Gables, Miramar, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and Boca Raton.  This is a diverse community where 40% of the population was born in another country, and it is one of America’s most important cities for international trade.  Miami is a business hub for the Latin American region and is often thought of as the “Gateway to Latin America”.  The Bolivian American Chamber of Commerce has an office located in Miami and Boliviana de Aviación (the national airline of Bolivia) offers nonstop flights from Miami International Airport to Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s commercial center and most economically prosperous city.  There are a few thousand Bolivians in South Florida and there are even a few Bolivian restaurants in the area where residents of Miami can enjoy the unique cuisine of Bolivia such as salteñas, sopa de mani, silpancho, and falso conejo, along with Paceña and Huari (Bolivian beer).  Spanish is the main language of Bolivia (and arguably the main language of Miami).

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America that is nearly 6.5 times the size of Florida by land area, but its population of 11.6 million people is slightly more than half that of the Sunshine State.  The population is composed of several indigenous ethnic groups (including the Aymara, Quechua, and Guaraní people).  One-third of the country lies in the Andes Mountains; land that was once under the control of the Incan Empire.  The Spanish would conquer the Incan Empire in the 16th century and use the riches of this territory to advance their global ambitions.  The Bolivian town of Potosí, one of the highest cities in the world, was the source of the Spanish Empire’s supply of silver and was home to the first silver mint in the Americas.  Present-day Bolivia still has huge deposits of silver and other natural resources such as lithium (used to make electric vehicles) which is found in the Salar de Uyuni.  Although Bolivia is one of the least visited countries in South America, it may be one of the most interesting for those visitors from Miami interested in nature.  Bolivia has ten national parks and eight protected areas.  Its diverse and rugged landscape includes rainforest, snowcapped mountains, wetlands, and deserts.  Bolivia also has wonderful cultural attractions such as the Carnaval de Oruro. 

Obtaining a Bolivian Visa from Miami

Visas for Bolivia are issued by the Bolivian government in the United States.  (Tourist visas can also be obtained on arrival at any land or air border, however, we recommend securing the visa several weeks before leaving the United States.)  The government of Bolivia is represented by their five consulates located Los Angeles, Houston New York City, Washington, D.C., and Miami.  To apply for a visa from Miami, you will fill out the visa application and ship your original passport and supporting documents (or appear in person) at their consulate located in the Doral Center building in Doral, Florida by US Mail or courier service (FedEx or UPS).  Here is the address:

Consulate General of Bolivia
3750 NW 87th Avenue, Suite 240
Doral, Florida 33178

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Bolivian consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information: Boliviamiami.com

** NOTE: THE BOLIVIAN CONSULATE IN MIAMI WEBSITE MENTIONED ABOVE IS NOT WORKING – PLEASE REVIEW THE BOLIVIAN EMBASSY WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST VISA REQUIREMENTS: Tourist visa (boliviawdc.org) YOU CAN ALSO REVIEW THE LATEST VISA REQUIREMENTS ON THE US DEPT OF STATE WEBSITE AS FOLLOWS: Travel Alert: Visa Requirement for U.S. Citizens Visiting Bolivia - U.S. Embassy in Bolivia (usembassy.gov) WE RECOMMEND CONTACTING OUR COMPANY BEFORE MAILING YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS SO WE CAN ADVISE THE BEST LOCATION FOR OBTAINING THE VISA**

You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office.   

The government’s visa fee is $160 for U.S. citizens and the processing time can take up to 4 weeks.  If you need the visa faster, please contact our company to inquire about expedited services.

Other things to consider:

  • U.S. citizens must obtain a visa to enter Bolivia and must have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of your date of entry into Bolivia.
  • Visitors to Bolivia are required to have a valid World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination. Please use the following link from the Center for Disease Control website to find the nearest clinic offering the yellow fever vaccine: Search for Stamaril yellow fever vaccination clinics | Travelers' Health | CDC
  • If applying for the visa on arrival in Bolivia, bring $160 cash and ensure the bills are in good condition and have no tears or marks. Visitors to Bolivia must also show return flight tickets (or proof they intend to leave the country) and proof of accommodations. 
  • All visitors to Bolivia must obtain a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) result before entry into the country (the test should be taken 72 hours prior to departure).  Visitors who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are required have another RT-PCR test taken 72 hours after arrival and must quarantine until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result. The cost of this test must be covered by the visitor.  Visitors must also have health insurance with coverage for COVID-19 upon entry to Bolivia.
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Bolivian Citizens in Miami

If you are a citizen of Bolivia living in the Miami area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, please check the latest contact information on the Miami consulate’s Facebook page: Consulado Bolivia-Miami - Home | Facebook.  If you need to renew your Bolivian passport, you should schedule an appointment using the consulate’s Facebook page and appear in person at their office.  Bolivian citizens in Miami may also want to review the embassy website in Washington, D.C. for more information:  PASSPORTS (boliviawdc.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Miami or anywhere in the state of Florida and have difficulty applying for a Bolivia visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Bolivia visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Bolivian government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Bolivia visa services for our customers:

  • Bolivia Tourist Visa
  • Bolivia Business Visa
  • Bolivia Official / Diplomatic Visa
  • Bolivia Courtesy Visa
  • Bolivia Humanitarian Visa
  • Bolivia Object Determined Visa (For marriage, paid work, education, volunteer, etc)
  • Bolivia Hotel Accommodations