Bolivia: visa and entry rules

Bolivia's borders: every crossing point

Bolivia's land border crossings, listed by neighbour:

With Peru: Desaguadero and Kasani by Lake Titicaca. The Copacabana — Puno route runs through Kasani, and it is the one most used by tourists.

With Chile: Tambo Quemado — Chungara at over four thousand metres; Ollague on the way from the Uyuni salt flat to San Pedro de Atacama.

With Argentina: Villazon — La Quiaca in the south.

With Brazil: Puerto Quijarro — Corumba in the east.

With Paraguay there is a crossing in the Chaco, on a sparsely travelled route.

Bolivia has no access to the sea — it lost it in the war with Chile, and this is still a political issue.

The crossings are high in the mountains, and some of them close because of the weather.

Driving to Bolivia

Land routes work with all of its neighbours.

Temporary import is arranged at the border.

Temporary import into Bolivia follows local rules, and every country has its own and they change: find out the permitted period and the carnet requirement in advance.

Insurance is bought locally.

High altitude affects the engine — at four thousand metres the power drops noticeably, and that has to be allowed for on the passes.

An International Driving Permit is required.

Travelling to Bolivia with a pet

An international veterinary certificate is required, endorsed by the state veterinary service of the country you are leaving.

The rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.

An import permit is arranged in advance.

Before bringing a pet into Bolivia, check with two authorities: the veterinary service of the country and your carrier. Either of the two lists can stop you.

Overstaying your visa in Bolivia

The fine is charged for every day of the overstay and is paid on departure.

The amount is calculated at the moment you leave. The published rates for Bolivia contradict one another and go out of date — count on cash and an extra hour at the border.

You have to count the calendar year, not a single trip: the 90 days are given for the whole year.

A serious overstay means an entry ban.