Bolivia travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Bolivia, last updated by the FCDO on 22 September 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country
Latest FCDO update (22 September 2026): Updated information about the State of Emergency ('Warnings and insurance' page).
FCDO notice
State of Emergency
A State of Emergency has been declared in Bolivia, giving police and armed forces powers to remove roadblocks, disrupt protests and detain those not complying with the new measures for up to 8 hours without charge. Follow the advice of local authorities, be wary of unverified or unofficial information, stay alert and keep away from protests and roadblocks.
Protests and roadblocks
Do not try to cross roadblocks. The situation has the potential to deteriorate without warning. Allow extra time to reach your destination and make sure you are ready to change your plans quickly if needed.
Any British national who requires urgent consular assistance, should contact us by phone on +44 (0)20 7008 5000, selecting the option: ‘Consular services for British nationals’. If you are in Bolivia and using a phone with a local SIM, please call 2-2010020.
Travel by Road
Check road status updates from the Bolivian road authority (available inside Bolivia only) to see which roads are blocked.
If you purchase a bus ticket ‘condicionado’ it means the bus company may not be able to guarantee arrival to your destination.
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Chapare region of Cochabamba Department including Villa Tunari and highway routes 4 and 24 that pass through Chapare.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Passport validity
To enter Bolivia, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 22 September 2026: Updated information about the State of Emergency ('Warnings and insurance' page).
- 21 August 2026: Updated information on flooding, landslides and snowfall (‘Safety and security’ page).
- 3 July 2026: FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the department of La Paz, including the city of La Paz ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.