Steps in Obtaining a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit
If you are a foreigner looking forward to an extended stay in Bolivia, you must apply for a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit before leaving your home country. With a valid temporary residence permit, you can stay for up to one year without restrictions in carrying out your purpose of travel to the Republic of Bolivia.
As a country located in central South America, Bolivia offers vast benefits to its legal residents. Therefore, you will surely need this type of permit, supposing that your intended period of stay in Bolivia is beyond three months.
Undoubtedly, obtaining a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit as a newbie can be difficult. The reason is that its application process may appear very strange to you. There are also high chances of submitting an incomplete application, especially if you are clueless about what the permit entails and requires.
This blog post will teach you how to get a Bolivian temporary residence permit, including its requirements, cost, processing time, duration, and more.
What is a Bolivian Temporary Residence Permit?
A Bolivian temporary residence visa is an official document that allows foreign nationals to stay up to one year in the Republic of Bolivia. The permit is ideal for foreigners who need to enter Bolivia for study, employment, or to accomplish sports, cultural and economic activities.
Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit Fee
During the application process for a Bolivian temporary residence visa, each applicant needs to pay a fee for the consular officials to start assessing their application and supporting documents. The fee is about US $190.
Processing time of Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit
It usually takes a Bolivian diplomatic mission ten days to one month to process an application for a temporary residence permit.
However, there are a few factors to consider in preventing possible delays when applying for your residency permit. These include ensuring that you submit complete supporting documents and fill out accurate information on the application form.
Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit Requirements
You must hold several valid and authentic documents before you can be eligible to apply for a Bolivian Temporary Residence Permit.
These include:-
- A valid passport featuring a Bolivian visa that suits your purpose of visit to the country
- An employment contract or a relevant written agreement for a sporting or cultural activity
- A notarized letter that proves your economic solvency, as well as your motive for traveling to Bolivia
- A copy of your employer’s company bye-laws registered with Fundempresa, as well a photocopy of your Taxpayer Identification Number (both documents are required if a Bolivian establishment employs you)
Supposing that you’re traveling to Bolivia because a Bolivian one-person business has offered you employment, an alternative to fulfilling the requirement as mentioned earlier is by providing a duplicate copy of your Tax Identification Number.
- A copy of you and your children’s birth certificates, your marriage certificate (applicable to married individuals), or divorce certificate (required to prove that you’re divorced)
- Proof of funds, like your recent bank statement
- Police clearance certificate issued by the International Police (INTERPOL)
- Criminal record certificate issued by Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Crimen (FELCC)
- Residence record obtained from FELCC. The processing of this document is time-consuming. Hence, submitting your request a few months before you need it is best.
- An official medical certificate, including a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) test report
How to Get Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit
The following are five (5) simplified steps to take in getting a Bolivian temporary residence permit.
- Obtain a Bolivian visa that suits your purpose of travel
- Travel to Bolivia once approved by the embassy
- Visit the nearest Bolivian immigration office to begin the application
- Procure all other required documents from relevant Bolivian authorities
- Wait for your residence permit application processing
Step 1: Obtain a Bolivian visa that suits your purpose of travel
The first step in getting a Bolivian temporary residence permit is applying for a visa to the Republic of Bolivia. Next, you must ensure that the visa you applied for conforms to your purpose of travel.
Step 2: Travel to Bolivia once approved by the embassy
After obtaining your visa, you can now travel to Bolivia. However, it is equally important that you apply for your temporary residence permit within one month of your arrival in Bolivia.
Step 3: Visit the nearest Bolivian immigration office to begin the application
Upon arrival to the country, the next step to take is to visit a Bolivian immigration office in a nearby location. This is where you’ll fill out and submit your residence permit application.
It would be best to locate the “Extranjeria window” at the immigration office. The officials there will inform you of all requirements to qualify for the residence permit. However, you must satisfy the criteria before applying for the permit.
Moreover, you must pay an application fee of $190 before completing the application process.
Step 4: Procure all other required documents from relevant Bolivian authorities
As the fourth step in getting a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit, you must prepare all other documents required for your application.
Since some of these documents are only obtainable in Bolivia, you must apply for them from relevant Bolivian authorities. These documents include your residence record and criminal record certificate.
Step 5: Wait for your residence permit application processing
The application processing for Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit takes ten to thirty days. This requires you to wait for a decision made by the Bolivian immigration office.
Duration of Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit
A Bolivian temporary residence permit is valid for one year. On the contrary, the permit can become invalid before its expiry date. This happens when you are absent from the Republic of Bolivia for longer than 90 days.
READ ALSO: Bolivian Embassy in Canada
Tips to Consider when Applying for Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit
The following are several tips to consider during the application process for a temporary residence permit for the Republic of Bolivia.
- Bolivian embassies and consulates do not open their offices on statutory and public holidays. Hence, you have to take all holidays into account as they can cause a slight delay in your residence permit processing.
- Be sure to have original and duplicate copies of all the required documents before applying for Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit. This will prepare you ahead for the whole application process.
- You may be able to get back your passport from a Bolivian diplomatic mission in case you need to travel elsewhere while still applying for a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit. Bear in mind that this will cancel your application regardless of its progress.
- You should be very cautious when using a processor (tramitadores) to assist you with your residence permit application at the Bolivian Immigration Office. The reason is that they can use false documents to facilitate your application, which can be very dangerous.
- Above all, you can always contact Bolivian Immigration Service for direct assistance and inquiries. Contacting the office includes visiting its physical location in La Paz, Bolivia; Avenida Camacho entre Loayza y Bueno. You can also log on to its official website or initiate a telephone call to (+591-2) 211-0960.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who needs to get Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit?
Every foreigner who intends to stay in the country for more than three months requires a Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit. The permit is obtainable through a Bolivian immigration office.
How long does it take to get Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit?
It can take up to three months to get a temporary residence permit in Bolivia. You will need to provide documentation such as your passport, visa, and proof of income.
Is it easy to obtain a Bolivian temporary residence permit?
Yes, obtaining a Bolivian temporary residence permit is quite easy as long as you provide all necessary documents and act on the right application procedures.
How long can I stay on a Bolivian temporary residence permit?
You can use a valid temporary residence permit to stay in the Republic of Bolivia for a maximum of one (1) year. However, it is possible to renew your permit before its expiry date.
How much does Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit cost?
The cost of getting a Bolivian temporary residence permit is about $190. You have to contact the Bolivian immigration office for information on the fee payment method.
Can my application for Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit be rejected?
Yes, Bolivian immigration offices have the right to reject incomplete and unacceptable applications for residence permits. Contrarily, it is very uncommon for Bolivian immigration officials to reject applications for residence permits.
Who accepts Bolivia Temporary Residence Permit applications?
Bolivia has several immigration offices within the country that accepts temporary residence permit applications from foreign nationals.
Conclusion
To sum up, a Bolivian temporary residence permit allows foreign nationals to stay in the Republic of Bolivia for a long time. With this permit, you will be opportune to enjoy everything that Bolivia has in stock for its legal residents.
Feel free to let us know your further concerns about visiting, living, working, and studying in Bolivia from any part of the world.
Thanks for reading!
