Working in Bolivia: with any permanencia, never as a tourist
Anyone with a permanencia in Bolivia may work, as an employee or self-employed. As a tourist you may not do paid work. The minimum wage in 2026 is Bs 3,300 a month. If you work independently as a professional, the tax authority asks for a Bolivian professional title; having a foreign degree recognised costs Bs 1,200.
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In Bolivia you may work as soon as you have a permanencia, whichever one. Article 48 of the migration law says that foreigners with a permanencia transitoria, temporal or definitiva may do any paid work, for themselves or as an employee, with the same protection of labour law and social security. Anyone in the country as a tourist or visitor may not do paid work (article 51). The minimum wage in 2026 is Bs 3,300 a month.
| What | Rule or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Working with a permanencia | allowed, as an employee or self-employed | Ley 370, art. 48 |
| Working as a tourist | prohibited, except with DIGEMIG permission on humanitarian grounds | Ley 370, art. 51 |
| Visa de objeto determinado for work | US$ 100 at the embassy in The Hague | embassy fees |
| Minimum wage 2026 | Bs 3,300 a month, backdated to 1 January | DS 5516, art. 23 |
| Income tax (RC-IVA) | 13 % | Ley 843, art. 30 |
| Tax-free for employees | two minimum wages a month | Ley 843, art. 26 |
| Recognition of a foreign title | Bs 1,200 | Ministerio de Educación |
How do you enter to work?
With a visa de objeto determinado for work, from the Bolivian embassy in The Hague. The embassy asks for proof of the work you will do, a letter of invitation from the employer or company with supporting documents, a certificate of conduct, proof of sufficient funds and a passport valid for another six months. The visa costs US$ 100. After arrival you apply to the DIGEMIG for a permanencia temporal for work; the migration law expressly names work as a purpose. See the residence routes.
The worker must keep their visa and residence valid, and regularise their status as soon as they do paid work, for themselves or for someone else (article 50).
Do not start working as a tourist, not even online for a Bolivian client. Article 51 forbids paid work to tourists and visitors, and article 32 calls working without permission unlawful residence.
What do you earn and what does the state withhold?
Under DS 5516 of 13 January 2026 the minimum wage is Bs 3,300 a month for the public and private sector, twenty percent more than in 2025, backdated to 1 January 2026. The same decree recognises free negotiation of wages between employer and employee, with the minimum wage as a floor that may not be lowered (article 21).
On your wages you pay the RC-IVA of 13 % (article 30 of Ley 843). An employee may deduct two minimum wages each month as a tax-free amount (article 26), and social security contributions do not count (article 25). On healthcare through your work, read healthcare in Bolivia.
Can you work as a self-employed person?
Yes, with your permanencia and a NIT, the tax number. Since Ley 1448 of 2022 income from a liberal profession or trade falls under the RC-IVA (article 19, under g). For independent professionals and consultants the tax authority asks at registration for a Título en Provisión Nacional, the Bolivian professional title at technical or professional level. See registration and numbers.
If you work remotely for a Dutch employer or client, ask a tax adviser how Bolivia views that. The RC-IVA taxes income from activities on Bolivian territory (article 21), and without a tax treaty the Netherlands can tax too; see AOW, pension and tax.
How do you get your degree recognised?
You have a foreign university title recognised at the Ministerio de Educación (revalidación y homologación). The ministry asks, among other things, for:
- the diploma and the transcript of subjects;
- the syllabi per subject;
- proof of how you graduated, such as a thesis;
- an official translation by a sworn translator of every document not in Spanish;
- four 4 by 4 passport photos with a red background;
- Bs 1,200.
The ministry's list still names the old chain of legalisations, through the university, the ministries and the Bolivian consulate. Bolivia has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 2017; ask the ministry in advance whether an apostille is enough. Health professions have extra requirements from the Ministry of Health, such as a compulsory internship or rural service.
What you arrange in the Netherlands for your degree is in school in Bolivia: DUO legalises, the court adds the apostille.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 2 of 5 of the journey, step 2.1: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Bolivia or go straight to step 2.1 in the open plan.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- Ley 370 de Migración, articles 48 to 51: working with a permanencia, and the ban for tourists — diputados.gob.bo
- Bolivian embassy in The Hague — the visa de objeto determinado for work, with the employer's invitation — embajadas.cancilleria.gob.bo
- Bolivian embassy in The Hague — the consular fees, US$ 100 for a work visa — embajadas.cancilleria.gob.bo
- Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales — DS 5516 of 13 January 2026, article 23, the minimum wage of Bs 3,300 — impuestos.gob.bo
- Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales — Ley 843, the RC-IVA for employees and the self-employed (articles 19, 26 and 30), updated to 30 September 2026 — impuestos.gob.bo
- Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales — the requirements for a NIT, with the Título en Provisión Nacional for independent professionals — siatinfo.impuestos.gob.bo
- Ministerio de Educación — recognition of a foreign title, the documents and Bs 1,200 — minedu.gob.bo
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