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

Social Security in Bolivia

Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.

Bolivia's social security system covers formal-sector workers through mandatory contributions to Gestora Pública (pension), CNS (health insurance) and SRE (workplace accident insurance). Foreigners in formal employment are enrolled from day one — equal to Bolivian nationals. Self-employed and informal workers are largely outside mandatory contributions but can contribute voluntarily to Gestora Pública. SUS (Sistema Único de Salud) provides free universal health coverage for all residents without CNS. The 2023 reform replaced private AFPs (BBVA Previsión, BNB Previsión) with the state-managed Gestora Pública.

NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria)

NIT — Número de Identificación Tributaria

Register at any SIN (Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales) office with passport and Carnet de Extranjería. Also available online at impuestos.gob.bo. Processing is typically same-day. NIT is free to obtain. Your employer also registers you with Gestora Pública and CNS upon hiring — they use your NIT and Carnet de Extranjería as identifiers. For pension account access: register at gestora.gob.bo using your NIT.

Used for

Gestora Pública pension account identification and contributions
CNS (Caja Nacional de Salud) health insurance registration
SIN tax declarations (IVA, IT, RC-IVA, IUE)
FUNDEMPRESA business registration
Bank account KYC (Know Your Customer)
Employment contract registration with Ministerio de Trabajo
ASFI financial services compliance
Electronic invoice (factura electrónica / SFE) system

Benefits & Support Payments

Old-Age Pension (Contributory)

Pensión de Vejez — Gestora Pública

Calculated from individual account balance. Average estimate: Bs.2,500–4,500/month. Minimum pension (Renta Mínima) = Salario Mínimo Nacional (Bs.2,500/month in 2026) for those with 10+ years of contributions.

Monthly pension paid from your individual capitalisation account accumulated during working years. Supplements or replaced the former AFP private pension.

Eligibility

Age 58 (men) or 55 (women). Miners: 53 (men) / 50 (women). No minimum contribution years required for basic pension — but Renta Mínima requires 120 months (10 years) of contributions.

How to Apply

Apply at Gestora Pública: gestora.gob.bo | Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz 1434, La Paz | +591 2-241-4141. Documents: Carnet de Identidad, NIT, birth certificate, contribution history statement.

Individual account balance is inheritable — heirs receive unspent balance. Partial pension is available from age 53 (M)/50 (W) if account balance is sufficient. Foreigners who leave Bolivia can claim their accumulated individual account balance from abroad at Bolivian retirement age.

Universal Non-Contributory Pension

Renta Dignidad

Bs.3,000/year (Bs.250/month) for those receiving any other pension. Bs.3,600/year (Bs.300/month) for those with no other pension. Paid quarterly via Banco Unión or Tigo Money.

Non-contributory universal pension for all Bolivian citizens aged 60+ regardless of employment history. Funded from hydrocarbon tax (IDH).

Eligibility

Bolivian citizens aged 60+ only. Foreign residents are NOT eligible for Renta Dignidad.

How to Apply

Not applicable to expats. Bolivian nationals: apply at nearest Banco Unión branch with Carnet de Identidad.

Renta Dignidad is exclusively for Bolivian nationals. Expats cannot access this benefit regardless of residence duration.

Health Insurance — Employed Workers

CNS — Caja Nacional de Salud

Employer contributes 10% of gross salary to CNS. Employee pays no additional health premium separately. Coverage includes registered dependants (spouse, children under 19/25 if studying, parents).

Mandatory health insurance for formal-sector employees. Covers outpatient, specialist, hospitalisation, surgery, maternity, dental basics, prescription medicines from CNS formulary and laboratory services.

Eligibility

All formal-sector employees and their registered dependants from first day of employment. Requires employer to register employee at CNS within 5 business days of start date.

How to Apply

Your employer registers you at CNS automatically. Obtain your CNS card (carnet) at the nearest CNS office with employment contract and employer registration letter. Main office La Paz: Av. Busch 1178, Miraflores | +591 2-220-7777.

CNS covers only CNS hospitals and policlínicos — not private clinics. Register dependants at CNS office with marriage/birth certificates. If employer fails to register you within 30 days, report to Ministerio de Trabajo.

Universal Free Healthcare

SUS — Sistema Único de Salud

Free at point of use — no premium, no copayment. Funded from general government revenue and IDH hydrocarbon tax.

Universal health coverage for all residents without CNS coverage. Covers outpatient consultations, diagnostics, hospitalisation, emergency care, maternity and expanded medicine formulary. Available at any public health centre or hospital.

Eligibility

All residents in Bolivia without CNS coverage: self-employed, informal workers, unemployed, students, retirees without CNS, legally resident foreigners without employer-provided CNS.

How to Apply

Present Carnet de Extranjería (or passport for short-term residents) at any public health centre (centro de salud) or hospital público. No prior registration required — walk-in service at SEDES facilities.

Quality varies significantly — city public hospitals are better equipped than rural. Private clinics are outside SUS and charge fees. International health insurance recommended for expats to access private care quality.

Workplace Accident Insurance

SRE — Seguro de Riesgos Profesionales

Medical costs: fully covered via CNS. Temporary disability: 75% of salary for up to 26 weeks. Permanent disability pension: calculated from degree of incapacity (70% of average salary for full incapacity). Death benefit: survivor's pension for dependants.

Mandatory insurance covering work-related injuries, occupational diseases and death from workplace causes. Provides medical treatment (CNS), disability pension and survivor benefits.

Eligibility

All formal-sector employees from first day of employment. Employer is responsible for registration and contribution (1.71% of gross salary).

How to Apply

Report workplace accident to employer immediately. Employer notifies CNS/SRE within 24 hours. Medical treatment at CNS facilities. Disability assessment by MINSALUD/Gestora medical panel.

Employer bears full cost of SRE contributions — no employee deduction. Failure to report workplace accidents within 24 hours can complicate claims. Self-employed workers are not covered — need private accident insurance.

Maternity Cash Benefit

Subsidio de Maternidad — CNS

100% of salary for 90 days maternity leave. Birth grant (subsidio de natalidad): approximately Bs.1,500 per live birth. Funeral grant: approximately Bs.1,500 upon death of insured worker or registered dependant.

CNS pays 100% of salary during mandatory maternity leave (45 days before birth + 45 days after birth = 90 days total). Also includes birth grant (subsidio de natalidad) and funeral grant (subsidio de sepelio).

Eligibility

Female workers enrolled in CNS with active employment. Must be registered with CNS at time of birth. Father has 3-day paid paternity leave (employer obligation, not CNS).

How to Apply

Notify employer and CNS of pregnancy. Obtain prenatal card (carnet de gestante) from CNS clinic. At birth: submit birth certificate to CNS for subsidio de natalidad payment.

Employer makes up any difference to ensure full salary during maternity leave. Freelancers and self-employed without CNS are entitled to maternity care under SUS but receive no cash maternity benefit.

Sickness Cash Benefit

Subsidio por Incapacidad Temporal — CNS

75% of reference salary from day 4. Duration: up to 26 weeks; up to 52 weeks for serious illness (CNS medical panel assessment required for extension).

CNS pays 75% of salary from day 4 of medically certified illness (employer pays first 3 days at 100%). Covers illness-related absence from work up to 26 weeks (extendable to 52 weeks for serious illness).

Eligibility

CNS-enrolled workers with current employment and active CNS status. Requires medical certificate from CNS-approved doctor.

How to Apply

Obtain medical certificate (certificado médico) from CNS doctor or CNS policlínico on day 1 of illness. Submit to employer. Employer notifies CNS. CNS processes payment directly or via employer depending on arrangement.

Private clinic medical certificates may not be accepted by CNS — obtain from CNS network if possible. Illness during probation period: same benefits apply. Chronic illness requiring frequent absence: CNS may conduct workplace review.

Voluntary Pension Contributions

Régimen Complementario — Gestora Pública

Minimum voluntary contribution: 10% of declared income (minimum base = Salario Mínimo Nacional, Bs.2,500/month). No employer match in voluntary scheme. Contributions build individual account at the same rates as formal workers.

Self-employed workers and those without formal employment can voluntarily contribute to Gestora Pública's individual pension account system and build pension entitlements.

Eligibility

Any resident with a valid NIT and Carnet de Extranjería (or Carnet de Identidad for nationals). Self-employed, informal workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs.

How to Apply

Register at gestora.gob.bo or visit Gestora Pública office: Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz 1434, La Paz. Bring NIT, Carnet de Extranjería and bank account details for automatic monthly debit.

Highly recommended for freelancers and self-employed expats intending to stay in Bolivia long-term. Contributions are owned individually — transferable and inheritable. Voluntary contributors can also access disability and survivor benefits from the solidarity pool after minimum qualifying period.

Contribution Overview

Formal employment: employee contributes 12.21% of gross salary (10% pension + 1.71% solidarity risk + 0.5% life insurance). Employer contributes approximately 16.71% of gross salary (10% CNS + 2% Pro-Vivienda + 3% solidarity + 1.71% accident). Total employment cost: employee net ≈ 87.79% of gross; employer total ≈ 116.71% of agreed salary. Example at Bs.10,000 gross: employee nets Bs.8,779; employer total cost Bs.11,671.

International Social Security Agreements

Andean Community (CAN) Decision 583: portability of pension entitlements between Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Years contributed in any CAN country count toward qualifying years in another. No totalisation agreement with USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Spain or Australia — years in Bolivia do not count toward home-country state pension and vice versa. Expats from non-CAN countries will have separate pension entitlements in each country.

Gestora Pública replaced private AFPs (BBVA Previsión, BNB Previsión) in July 2023 — all prior AFP account balances were transferred. Access your account at gestora.gob.bo. If you leave Bolivia before retirement age, your individual account remains active and can be claimed from abroad at Bolivian retirement age (58M/55F) or a partial devolución may be available after a qualifying period — consult Gestora Pública for current rules.

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