HOW TO OBTAIN RESIDENCY IN BOLIVIA: TYPES AND REQUIREMENTS

WHAT IS RESIDENCY?

Residency is the official authorization issued by the General Directorate of Migration (Dirección General de Migración) that allows foreign nationals to remain in Bolivian territory for a specific period, in accordance with legal provisions. Bolivia also honors international agreements, offering residency conditions aligned with such treaties.

TYPES OF RESIDENCY IN BOLIVIA

TRANSITORY RESIDENCY

Transitory residency permits foreign nationals to reside in the country for up to 180 days and is intended for specific temporary activities.
Example: A French tourist wants to explore Bolivia for four months. They apply for a transitory residency, which allows them to legally stay within the country’s immigration framework.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCY

This category allows foreign nationals to live in Bolivia for up to three years, with subcategories based on duration and purpose:

• One (1) year, renewable for two additional periods
• Two (2) years, renewable for one (1) year
• Three (3) years
• Humanitarian Temporary Residency (1 year)
  This subcategory is for individuals facing exceptional circumstances.
  Example: A person fleeing a natural disaster in their home country may be granted humanitarian residency while regularizing their status in Bolivia.

IRREGULAR RESIDENCY IN BOLIVIA

Residency is considered irregular under the following circumstances:

• Overstaying the permitted duration: For example, a tourist who enters with a 90-day transitory residency and remains in the country beyond that period without authorization.
• Engaging in unauthorized activities: Such as someone on a tourist visa who begins working without updating their immigration status.
• Other legal violations: Including entry into the country without passing through official migration controls.

CHANGE OF IMMIGRATION STATUS

A change of immigration status is possible under current regulations, allowing individuals to move from one residency category to another if their circumstances change.
Example: A student with temporary study residency finds employment and applies to change their status to temporary work residency.

FOREIGN NATIONAL ID CARD APPLICATION

Foreign nationals with temporary or permanent residency must obtain a foreign national ID card from the appropriate authority within the established timeframes. This document is mandatory for legal residency in Bolivia. Accordingly, anyone with any type of residency must process their ID card at the General Service for Personal Identification (SEGIP) and renew it every five years.

CONCLUSION

Residency in Bolivia is a mechanism that allows foreign nationals to live and engage in lawful activities in the country through various categories tailored to their needs. If you need further information or personalized legal assistance with the residency process, feel free to contact us. We are here to help.