Bolivia visa requirements for Somali citizens
Entry to Bolivia is restricted for somali citizens: a visa plus special approval.
SOM
Somalia
BOL
Bolivia
Entry is restricted
Group III tourists need immigration approval before the consulate can give a visa.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for Somali citizens in Bolivia
Somali passport holders need special authorization for Bolivia
- Contact a Bolivian embassy or consulate to get special authorization.
- eVisa and visa-on-arrival options may still require special authorization.
What to do
Read the extra conditions for your passport below: Bolivia limits where and how you can enter.
Apply for the visa at the embassy well ahead, and expect extra checks.
Enter only through the allowed border points and register with the police if required.
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Ways into Bolivia
Your nationality decides whether you need a tourist visa.
Visa required For your passportGroup III tourist visaGroup III tourists need immigration approval before the consulate can give a visa.
- Stay
- 30–90 days
How to apply
- Fill in the visa form.
- Submit your documents to a Bolivian consulate.
- Wait for immigration approval.
- Follow the consulate's payment and visa collection instructions.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Visa application form
- Travel plan or return tickets
- Hotel booking or approved invitation
- Bank statement or credit card
- Recent photo
- Yellow fever certificate where required
- Immigration approval
- Request extensions before your stay ends; the yearly limit is 90 days.
- Paid work is not allowed.
Visa on arrivalBorder tourist visaSome tourists unable to reach a consulate may get a visa at the border.
- Stay
- 30–90 days
How to apply
- Check that being unable to reach a consulate qualifies.
- Get immigration approval first if you are in Group III.
- Bring tourist visa documents to an approved border or airport.
- Pay the fee immigration asks for.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Visa application form
- Recent photo
- Travel plan or return tickets
- Hotel booking or approved invitation
- Proof of enough money
- Yellow fever certificate where required
- Group III immigration approval
- Check eligibility and the current fee before travelling; a border visa is not guaranteed.
- You may request 2 more stays of 30 days each. Paid work is not allowed.
Sources (19)Last updated 11 November 2026
- General Directorate of Migration — Official border and immigration agency; homepage returned no readable text
- Immigration — Supreme Decree 1923 regulating the Migration Law
- Foreign Ministry — Visa types and requirements
- Foreign Ministry consular services — Visa descriptions and checklists
- Official online visa application portal; no readable portal text returned
- Official visa portal — General and purpose-specific visa requirements
- Bolivian Embassy in London — Nationality groups and tourist requirements
- Bolivian Embassy in London — Specific-purpose application instructions
- Bolivian Embassy in Canada — Visa descriptions and requirements in English
- Bolivian Embassy in Ecuador — Tourist stay, local processing estimates and exceptional border route
- Bolivian Embassy in France — Tourist nationality lists, including Russia
- Bolivian Consulate in Rio de Janeiro — Published visa tariffs
- Bolivian Consulate in Washington, DC — Published visa tariffs; retains legacy United States tourist entries
- Bolivian Embassy in New Delhi — Official embassy and visa-page directory; linked visa page could not be retrieved
- Foreign Ministry — December 2025 announcement moving eight countries to Group I
- Foreign Ministry — Dominican Republic tourist exemption from September 2024
- Foreign Ministry — El Salvador visa exemption
- Foreign Ministry — 2024 report confirming Honduras and El Salvador exemptions
- Foreign Ministry — Saint Vincent and the Grenadines tourist exemption
Coming from Somalia
- Plugs A B CAdapter for some
- MoneyBOB Bs.
- Time−7h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageAymara
- Emergency911 police
Planning your Bolivia trip
Best time to go: April to October is generally colder and drier. November to March is generally warmer and wetter; high cities such as La Paz can still be cool.
- Salar de UyuniSee the world's largest salt flat.
- Lake Titicaca and Isla del SolExplore Bolivia's part of the world's highest navigable lake and its island scenery.
- TiwanakuVisit an archaeological site with the remains of a city built before the Inca period.
- Sucre and PotosíExplore two historic cities founded by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Scams to watch for in Bolivia
- Taxi fare overchargingSome drivers ask tourists for more than the usual fare. This is especially noted in Cochabamba. La Paz taxis have no meters, so an unclear agreement can lead to a higher bill. In Potosí, some drivers charge per person, which can cause a dispute if you expected one price for the car.
- Pickpocketing in crowdsThieves take wallets, phones or other belongings while people are distracted or pressed together. Pickpockets are fairly common at La Cancha. Carrying several bags near Cochabamba's bus terminal makes it harder to watch your belongings.
- Fake taxis and taxi robberyFake cabs are common. Some drivers take tourists to places where accomplices rob them. Violent taxi muggings are reported in La Paz, especially after leaving Fin Del Mundo or Route 36.
About Bolivia
Bolivia is a landlocked republic in central South America, spanning the Andes and the Amazon.
- Capital
- Sucre
- Money
- Bolivian boliviano (Bs.)
- Languages
- Aymara, Guarani, Quechua
- Time zone
- UTC-04:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +591
Other Africa passports
Going to Bolivia
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Bolivia with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Is entry to Bolivia restricted for Somali citizens?
Somali passport holders need special authorization from a Bolivian embassy or consulate. Somali citizens must obtain further authorization from a Bolivian embassy or consulate.
Do somali citizens need a visa for Bolivia?
Somali citizens get a visa on arrival in Bolivia, for up to 90 days.
How long can somali citizens stay in Bolivia?
Up to 90 days each visit with the visa on arrival rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Can I get the Bolivia visa at the airport?
Yes. Somali citizens get the visa when they land in Bolivia. Carry cash for the fee, a passport photo, your return ticket and hotel details.
Do bolivian citizens need a visa for Somalia?
Bolivian citizens need an eVisa for Somalia. Apply on the official website.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Bolivia?
South Africa, Algeria, Angola, Benin Burkina Faso, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Bolivia are easier for somali citizens?
Dominica, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Benin Cook Islands, and 3 more let somali citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Bolivia?
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo. Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
What money is used in Bolivia?
Bolivian boliviano (Bs.). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Bolivia?
Aymara, Guarani, Quechua and Spanish.
How strong is the Somalia passport?
It ranks #99 and reaches 29 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck