PassportSouth Africa

Bolivia: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans don't need a visa for Bolivia. You can stay up to 90 days per year.

Visa-free since 1 December 2025. Bolivia's foreign ministry announced that South Africa (with South Korea, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania, the UAE, Israel and the US) was removed from the mandatory visa regime. Implementation was described as 'gradual'.14

Bolivia no longer needs a visa from South AfricansSince 1 December 2025, South Africans can visit Bolivia without a visa. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival. Bolivia asks for a yellow fever certificate, and so does South Africa when you come home. Source: cancilleria.gob.bo, en.wikipedia.org

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Tourism.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

FCDO: at least 6 months from arrival and 2 blank pages.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

How to apply

No visa needed since 1 Dec 2025. Make sure your passport is stamped on entry; a missing stamp leads to a fine on departure.13

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

Not published by official sources

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

FCDO: you may be asked to show proof of accommodation at the border.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Bolivia REQUIRES a yellow fever certificate for travellers over 1 year arriving from risk countries (WHO; FCDO). Older embassy guidance says all tourists. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel. WHO recommends vaccination for areas east of the Andes below 2,300 m. South Africa's own rule on return: South Africa requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all travellers over 1 year of age, South African citizens included, arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one; Bolivia is on South Africa's risk list. Without it you can be refused entry or quarantined for up to 6 days. The certificate is valid for life and only counts 10 days after vaccination.23567

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Not published by official sources

Extending your stay and overstaying

Extend the 30-day stamp at Migración offices, up to 90 days a year. Missing entry stamps or overstays are fined on departure.23

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Transit

Not published by official sources

Travelling with children

FCDO: a single parent cannot stay longer than 90 days with a child; longer stays need a judicial permit for the child to leave with one parent.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

What changed

1 December 2025South Africa removed from Bolivia's visa-required list (was visa-required, Group 2, under the previous administration). Now visa-free.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bolivia: visa exemption for 8 countries (1 Dec 2025) cancilleria.gob.bo
  2. 2Embassy of Bolivia to the EU/Belgium: tourist visa (2017-2018, partly outdated) embajadadebolivia.eu

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3UK FCDO gov.uk
  2. 5DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) dirco.gov.za
  3. 6South African National Department of Health health.gov.za
  4. 7World Health Organization, International Travel and Health country list cdn.who.int

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 4Wikipedia: Visa policy of Bolivia en.wikipedia.org

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.