Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  While you are traveling in Bolivia, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.  Persons violating Bolivian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bolivia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  If you break local laws in Bolivia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. 

Under Bolivian law, suspects can be detained in prison for up to 18 months without formal charges while the investigation is conducted. It is not unusual for legal cases in Bolivia to drag on for years, with numerous delays and costly set-backs along the way. 

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.  You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well. 

Arrest notifications in Bolivia: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  

Medical Tourism: The U.S. Embassy is aware of several cases of people traveling to Bolivia for elective cosmetic surgery due to the relatively low cost of the procedures. Travelers should be aware that there are significant risks involved in undergoing elective cosmetic procedures in Bolivia. The regulation of doctors and medical services is not up to U.S. standards, and the quality of care varies greatly from company to company. The blood supply does not meet US standards in many areas and transfusion associated transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Chagas Disease and other infectious diseases may occur.

The U.S. Embassy has received a number of reports specifically regarding complications arising post-surgery that have proven life-threatening, and in one case, required a costly medical evacuation back to the U.S. for life-saving medical care.  Some medical service companies have demanded more money from their clients once they arrive in Bolivia than was originally advertised, and confiscated their clients’ passports as collateral.  If you are thinking about traveling to Bolivia for elective surgery, we strongly urge you to carefully research the medical tourism companies and doctors before you make a decision.

Authentication of Documents: Any U.S. documents, such as birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificates which are to be used in Bolivia must first be authenticated in the U.S. at the nearest Bolivian Embassy or consulate. For information on those procedures, please consult the Department of State Office of Authentications and the nearest Bolivian Embassy or consulate.

Marriage: Please see our information on getting married in Bolivia, available on the Embassy’s web site.

Mountain Trekking and Climbing Safety: The Embassy urges you to exercise extreme care when trekking or climbing in Bolivia. U.S. citizens have died in falls while mountain climbing in Bolivia. Three of the deaths occurred on Illimani, a 21,033-foot peak located southeast of La Paz. Many popular trekking routes in the Bolivian Andes cross passes as high as 16,000 feet. Trekkers must have adequate clothing and equipment, not always available locally, and should be experienced mountain travelers.

It is not prudent to trek alone. Solo trekking is the most significant factor contributing to injuries and robberies. The safest option is to join an organized group and/or use a reputable firm to provide an experienced guide and porter who can communicate in both Spanish and English. If you develop any of the following symptoms while climbing at altitude – severe headache, weakness, vomiting, shortness of breath at rest, cough, chest tightness, unsteadiness – descend to a lower altitude immediately. Trekkers and climbers should purchase adequate insurance to cover expenses in case of injury or death.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: The Bolivian constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For more detailed information about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights around the world, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012.  For further information on LGBT travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Bolivia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States.