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Bolivia

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Civil law with indigenous jurisdictionUnitary presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-02
Capital
Sucre
Population
12,400,000
Languages
Spanish, Quechua
Currency
BOB

Bolivia · Immigration

Immigration in Bolivia

What the atlas records on immigration in Bolivia, checked against the primary sources cited below.

Immigration

Ley 370 de Migración with Mercosur residence

Reviewed· 2026-08-02

Ley 370 of 2013 governs migration, administered by the Dirección General de Migración. It provides temporary and permanent residence and expressly recognises migrants' rights to family unity and access to services. Mercosur nationals may obtain residence on the basis of nationality. Foreign residents hold a carnet de extranjería.

Key rules

  • Jurisdiction — National, administered by the Dirección General de Migración
  • Deadline — Temporary residence: one to three years, renewable
  • Deadline — Permanent residence: after three years of temporary residence
  • Deadline — Naturalisation: three years of residence, or two if married to a Bolivian or with Bolivian children

Governing law

  • Ley 370 - Ley de Migración2013
  • Decreto Supremo 1923regulation
  • Mercosur Residence Agreement

In practice

Ley 370 replaced a patchwork of decrees dating to the 1990s and was drafted to align with the 2009 Constitution's rights framework, including a prohibition on expulsion without due process. Registration duties are enforced through fines calculated in UFV index units, and overstaying accrues a daily penalty that must be settled before departure or regularisation.

Sources

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