Bolivia (BO)
Bolivia is South America's highest and most landlocked country — a plurinational state of dramatic contrasts, from the world's highest navigable lake (Titicaca at 3,812m) and the vast salt flats of Uyuni to the tropical Amazon basin.
Capital: Sucre
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: BOB (Bs.)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 24)
Emergency: 110
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Bolivia.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 1. Obtain residency permit (Carnet de Extranjería) from Cancillería/SEGIP — required before registering with SIN as a foreign national.
- 2 2. Register at SIN (Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales — impuestos.gob.bo): choose Régimen Tributario Simplificado (RTS) for small businesses with quarterly turnover below Bs.37,000, or Régimen General for larger operations.
- 3 3. Obtain NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) from SIN — free; register online at impuestos.gob.bo then complete an in-person visit to a SIN office.
- 4 4. Register with FUNDEMPRESA (Registro de Comercio) if operating as Empresa Unipersonal — Bs.500–1,000 fee.
- 5 5. Obtain a Municipal Business Licence (Licencia de Funcionamiento) from your city municipality — Bs.200–800/year.
- 6 6. Set up NIT-linked electronic invoicing system — Bolivia requires electronic facturas (e-factura) for all commercial transactions in Régimen General.
- 7 7. Open a business bank account at BNB (Banco Nacional de Bolivia), BCP, or Banco Unión.
Tax registration
Register at SIN (impuestos.gob.bo). Bring Carnet de Extranjería, original passport, proof of address (utility bill or rental contract). NIT issued immediately in most departments. Choose between Régimen Tributario Simplificado (RTS — flat quarterly tax Bs.215–1,580 for small businesses) or Régimen General (IVA 13% + IT 3% monthly).
VAT threshold
Bolivia uses IVA (13%) embedded in all prices under the Régimen General. Businesses in Régimen General must charge IVA, issue facturas, and remit the difference between IVA collected and IVA on inputs monthly. Régimen Tributario Simplificado (RTS) businesses pay a flat quarterly tax instead of IVA/IT and do not issue standard facturas. RC-IVA (13%) applies to employed workers' income above 4× the minimum wage and can be offset by collecting facturas on personal expenses.
Invoicing
Bolivia requires electronic facturas (e-factura) for all commercial transactions in Régimen General. Invoices must include: NIT, date, client name, description, amount (with IVA included at 13%). Issue through SIN-authorised software. Failure to issue facturas is a common cause of SIN audits and penalties — customers are legally entitled to demand a factura.
Social security
Freelancers/self-employed are not automatically covered by CNS (health) or Gestora (pension). Options: (1) register as an independent contributor to Gestora/CNS directly; (2) purchase private health insurance (recommended for expats); (3) access the SUS (Sistema Único de Salud) free public health system if without CNS coverage.
💡 Foreign freelancers earning only from overseas clients (remote work) are generally not required to register with SIN or pay Bolivian tax — Bolivia applies source-based taxation for non-residents. However, if providing services to Bolivian clients or companies, IT (3%) applies on all transactions. Maintaining a Bolivian NIT facilitates banking and lease transactions even if not legally required for fully remote work.
🏢 Business Structures
Empresa Unipersonal · Empresa Unipersonal (Sole Proprietorship)
Sole proprietorship / Individual business
None required
Min. capital
2–4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Setup cost: Bs.500–2,000 in fees (FUNDEMPRESA registration, NIT, municipal licence)
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, small service businesses with Bolivian NIT. Simplest structure for expat consultants earning from Bolivian sources.
S.R.L. · Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Bs.10,000 (approximately USD 1,440) minimum statutory capital
Min. capital
4–8 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Limited to company assets
Setup cost: Bs.3,000–8,000 including notary, FUNDEMPRESA, SIN, municipality fees
Best for: Most small and medium businesses. Most popular structure for foreign investors. 2–25 partners/shareholders allowed.
S.A. · Sociedad Anónima
Joint-stock company (Corporation)
Bs.1,000,000 (approximately USD 144,000)
Min. capital
3–6 months
Setup time
Liability: Limited to share capital
Setup cost: High — legal, notary, ASFI/AEMP regulation fees
Best for: Large companies, companies seeking external investment, regulated industries (banking, insurance, mining concessions).
Sucursal de Empresa Extranjera · Sucursal de Sociedad Comercial Extranjera
Branch of a foreign company
USD 50,000 (typical requirement)
Min. capital
6–10 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Parent company bears full liability
Setup cost: Bs.5,000–15,000 plus apostilled foreign company documents
Best for: Foreign companies already operating elsewhere wanting to expand into Bolivia without a separate local entity. Complex — requires FUNDEMPRESA and Cancillería approval.
Asociación Civil / ONG · Asociación Civil sin Fines de Lucro / ONG
Non-profit organisation / NGO
None required
Min. capital
6–12 weeks (Ministry of Foreign Affairs registration for foreign NGOs)
Setup time
Liability: Association bears entity-level liability
Setup cost: Bs.1,000–5,000 plus legal fees
Best for: NGOs, development organisations, civil society groups. Foreign NGOs must register with Cancillería and obtain an annual operating permit (Convenio Marco).
Business Setup
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