- Overview: Bolivia
- Global PEO and payroll
- Global HR Compliance
- Work permit for hiring expats via PEO
- Expand without a company set up
- Contractor vs. employee: which is better?
Immigration support for hiring expats in Bolivia via PEO
Global expansion is often linked with foreign hiring. This may require knowing the labor code of a foreign country, in-country incorporation peculiarities or immigration procedure in case of expats hiring.
If you are already hiring or planning to onboard expatriates for your international projects in Bolivia, there is a range of things that you need to consider:
- HR compliance
- How to get a work permit or visa so that foreigners are eligible to work in Bolivia
- Timelines to get a permit or visa
- How to payroll expats after the permits have been received
- Whether it makes sense to open and keep your own business entity to employ expats directly
A global PEO or Employer of Record solution with immigration support might be a viable alternative to direct hiring of expats on your own company in Bolivia. This solution gives companies freedom from the need to keep the entity in the country while employing expats in full compliance with Bolivian labor legislation. Immigration support is part of a PEO service that precedes the employment. As a PEO service provider, Acumen International can sponsor a work permit and then employ an expat in Bolivia on the client’s behalf.
Note: having one provider that sponsors a work permit or visa on your behalf and then employs expats in Bolivia, minimizes risks of visa rejection and takes the hassle associated with immigration procedure off your head.
Attention: we are not an immigration service! We do not provide a work permit and immigration support as a standalone solution to individuals willing to work overseas.
Our ‘work permit and hiring expats through a Global PEO’ solution is designed for employer companies that want to transfer selected expats to Bolivia or individuals whose employers are ready to finance their immigration and foreign employment in the country. The service is mainly used by companies hiring highly skilled personnel and willing to retain them by offering employee status and providing employee benefits.
Unlike other global Professional Employer Organizations, Acumen International can provide extra benefits in addition to work permit and employment of expats in Bolivia. This includes medical insurance, housing, office rent, mobile phone and car provision to meet-and-greet, dependents relocation, etc.
Focus on your primary business goals and let us take care of the work permit and immigration in Bolivia for you. Use our all-in-one solution:
- For long-term assignments in Bolivia, allowing to payroll and manage expats with full legal compliance without a legal entity
- As an interim solution before incorporating in the country
Solution for global mobility of expats in Bolivia
Acumen International will guide you through a grueling immigration procedure and will help you immediately onboard and payroll expats after they have received a work permit or visa. Use our global mobility and PEO solution to staff any international assignments in Bolivia without the pitfalls and financial risks associated with hiring expatriate personnel there.
With our expertise in expats immigration and employment, we offer a comprehensive solution to ensure that your international employees get their work permits within the standard duration of the immigration service in Bolivia. Learn more about the timelines requirements for getting a work permit in Bolivia below.
Estimated time for work permit issuance
Typically, the procedure of work permit issuance in Bolivia takes from 2 weeks to 1 month until entry to Bolivia, and a further 1 to 5 months before the whole process is completed.
Major steps to get a work permit in Bolivia
- Short Term Visa Application
- Entry to Bolivia
- Change of Status Application (Timing assumes Santa Cruz)
- ID Card Application at SEGIP
Documents for work permit in Bolivia, main applicant
| Name | Notes | Copies |
| Passport valid for six months minimum | With at least 2 blank, adjoining visa pages | One original |
| Return or onward flight booking, itinerary or airline ticket | One clear copy | |
| Evidence of Accommodation | May be covered in supporting letter or letter of invitation, or in the form of a hotel booking. | One clear copy |
| Sworn Statement for Visa Application | This is the visa application form. It should be completed with personal details and signed by the applicant. | One original |
| 4 Passport Photographs (Bolivia) | Recent, identical, 4cm x 4cm, facing forwards, eyes open and mouth closed with a neutral expression. Must have a white background. | Four originals |
| Notarised Financial Statement | Notarized statement about the activities to carry out in Bolivia and stating financial stability. In the case of local hires for up to 180 days, this document can be replaced by the employment contract previously authorized by the labor ministry or job offer letter accepted by the applicant. | One notarized original |
| Police Clearance Certificates (Short Term Visa) | Police clearances for all applicants over 16 years old are only required if applying for the visa from the country of origin (not required if applying in country of residence or closest Bolivian Consulate to place of residence). | One legalized and translated original |
| Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate | No older than 6 months prior to date of entry to host country. | One original |
| Entry Receipt | A receipt issued at the port of entry. Must be kept safely by the applicant as it is required for the application. | One original |
| Temporary Residence Fees | UFV 950 if the temporary residence is issued for one year and UFV 1250 if issued for two years. | One original |
| Copy of passport information page, visa and entry stamp | One clear copy | |
| Power of Attorney | From the applicant to the immigration specialist/lawyer so that they can follow up with the Immigration Department on the residence visa while in process and collect the original passport from the Immigration Department and the ID card from SEGIP on the applicant’s behalf. | One original |
| Change of Status Application Letter | Signed by the applicant, requesting the change of status from tourist to resident and the approval for the temporary residence to the Bolivian Immigration Authorities. | One original |
| Sworn Statement for Temporary Residence Application. | This is the temporary residence application form. It should be completed with personal details and signed by the applicant. | One original |
| Police Clearance Certificate | Police clearance certificates may need to be obtained from current country of residence of the applicant and any accompanying dependent over 16. If this document is not available, a Bolivian Interpol Certification may be submitted instead in support of the temporary residence application. | One legalized and translated original |
| Bolivian Police Clearance Certificates (REJAP e INTERPOL) | If the applicant has stayed in Bolivia for more than six months with another immigration status (visa objeto determinado/permanencia transitoria) before temporary residence submission, an INTERPOL Certification and an additional Bolivian Police clearance certificate called “REJAP” will be required. | One original |
| Bolivian INTERPOL Certification | This will be required if the police clearance certificate from country of residence is not available. Valid for 30 days since issued date. | One original |
| Yellow Folder | Applicants are required to submit the documents for the visa application in a yellow folder. | One original |
| Online Registration with SEGIP | This is required to obtain an appointment for the residence card application. | One clear copy |
| ID Card Payment Receipt | One original |
If you need to have your expat personnel legally work for you in Bolivia without having to set up your own business entity for that, trust us to assist you with work permit and immigration support, and then employ your expats locally on your behalf.
Contact our team to let us take up your foreign employees’ immigration matters and relieve you of the responsibility of getting work permit by working with our local partners to organize and obtain all the necessary permits, as well as provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process.
Contact us for more details about how you can get a work permit for your expatriate staff and employ them through Acumen International in Bolivia.
