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.
Leaving Bolivia
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
3 months before: give rental notice, notify employer, initiate SIN tax clearance, request Gestora account statement. 2 months: cancel utilities, close business registrations, settle outstanding invoices. 1 month: bank preparations, arrange international transfers, deregister from Cancillería if fully departing. Final week: surrender Carnet de Extranjería, obtain SENASAG pet export certificate if applicable, final bank operations, collect utility disconnection certificates.
Deregistration
Notify Cancillería/Dirección General de Migración of your departure and surrender your residency permit (radicatoria) if you are abandoning your Bolivian residence permanently. This prevents continued obligations under your permit. Cancel your Carnet de Extranjería with SEGIP. If you are a temporary departee planning to return, simply leave — your permit remains valid within its expiry date.
Tax clearance
If you operated a business or are registered with SIN: obtain an official tax clearance certificate (Certificado de No Adeudo Tributario) from SIN (impuestos.gob.bo). This requires all pending IVA, IT, RC-IVA and IUE declarations to be filed and taxes paid. Allow 4–6 weeks. If self-employed or freelance, deregister your NIT with SIN after obtaining clearance — required to close any outstanding tax obligations.
Pension portability
The Gestora Pública (pension fund) individual account belongs to you. Request your Gestora account statement before leaving — keep it permanently. If you worked formally in Bolivia for fewer than the required years for a pension, you can either: (1) keep the account open and claim it at Bolivian retirement age from abroad; (2) request a refund (devolución de aportes) after leaving Bolivia and reaching retirement age — check current Gestora rules on gestora.gob.bo. Bolivia has no totalization agreements with USA, UK, Canada, or Australia — pension rights are not portable to these countries.
Health insurance
CNS (Caja Nacional de Salud) coverage ends when your employment ends or residency lapses. Ensure you have international travel/health insurance for the period of your departure journey. If holding private health insurance in Bolivia, cancel with appropriate notice period (typically 30 days written notice to insurer).
Bank account
Bolivian bank accounts can be maintained from abroad but require annual in-person verification (actualización de datos) in many banks. If closing: withdraw all funds, cancel standing orders, and close account in person. BNB, BCP and Banco Unión all require in-person closure — cannot be done remotely. USD-denominated savings accounts can be transferred internationally via SWIFT — allow 3–5 business days. Retain bank statements for tax purposes.
Utilities
Cancel DELAPAZ/CRE electricity, EMGAS/YPFB gas, SEMAPA/SAGUAPAC water and ENTEL/Tigo internet at least 30 days before departure. Pay final bills and obtain disconnection certificates (certificados de no deuda) to ensure deposit return from landlord. Return electricity meter key and gas meter seal to utility company.
Rental contract
Standard notice period in Bolivia is 90 days for tenants (some contracts specify 30–60 days). Give written notice (carta notariada or written carta de desalojo) to landlord. Conduct final property inspection (finiquito) with landlord in person. Photograph condition. Recover deposit (garantía) — typically paid within 30–60 days after final meter readings are reconciled.
Leaving the Country
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