Bolivia Moves to Scrap Visa Rules for Some Visitors to Lift Tourism

Bolivia's administration under President Rodrigo Paz is pursuing a diplomatic shift that includes removing visa requirements for certain visitors and restoring relations with Chile. The steps are intended to increase foreign investment and tourism in 2027, adding to the currency flowing into the country beyond its traditional exports.

Key facts

• Visa requirements are to be removed for certain visitors; the source does not name the nationalities covered.
• The package also includes restoring relations with Chile.
• The stated aim is more foreign investment and tourism in 2027.
• Bolivian exports exceeded $10 billion from January to September 2026.
• Road blockades lasting 53 days occurred between May and June 2026.

What is changing?

The Paz administration's diplomatic shift includes the removal of visa requirements for certain visitors and the restoration of relations with Chile. The measures are designed to draw more foreign investment and tourists to Bolivia in 2027, so currency inflows are less dependent on traditional exports.

Which travellers are affected?

The source refers only to "certain visitors" and does not identify the nationalities that would be covered. It also gives no start date, application procedure, permitted length of stay or other conditions for the visa change.

Why is this happening?

Gary Rodriguez, Director General of the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE), said Bolivian exports passed $10 billion between January and September 2026, moving closer to the 2022 record of approximately $14 billion. IBCE figures show export volumes up 9% while their value rose 54%, which the institute attributes to a higher price per unit as exporters offset rising logistical costs.

The export earnings underpin imports of fuel, capital goods, raw materials and vehicles, helping produce a trade surplus of $2.2 billion. Rodriguez said results could have been higher without social instability, noting that blockades and land seizures limited investment and production expansion. The government's new measures are aimed at broadening currency inflows beyond exports.

What this means for travellers

Anyone planning travel to Bolivia should check whether their nationality is covered before booking, since the source does not list the countries involved or the date from which visa requirements would be lifted. Travellers should also confirm current entry rules before departure.

Attention now turns to which nationalities will be included and when the visa change takes effect; no timeline has been announced.