U.S. citizens living in Bolivia can now renew their 10-year validity adult passports by courier service, according to information from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. This option is available only for those who meet specific requirements.
To be eligible, applicants must currently reside in Bolivia and have a local mailing address. The most recent passport must have been issued within the last 15 years and after the applicant turned 16. Additionally, the passport being renewed cannot be damaged, lost, or stolen.
Applicants are required to complete form DS-82 online and pay special attention to certain sections. In Section 5, they must provide a Social Security number or submit a signed statement if they have never been issued one. Section 8 requires listing a Bolivian mailing address and telephone number, which may include hotel contact details. For name changes since the last passport was issued, original documentation such as marriage or divorce certificates or court orders must be submitted; these documents will be returned with the new passport.
If applicants cannot document a name change as specified, they are instructed to schedule an appointment at either the Embassy in La Paz or the Consular Agency in Santa Cruz and use Form DS-11 instead.
The application process also requires printing and signing the completed DS-82 form, including a color photo that meets Department of State guidelines, and paying a $130 fee online through the U.S. government’s secure payment site. A printed confirmation of this payment should be included with the application package.
All materials—including the completed DS-82 form, most recent U.S. passport, payment confirmation page, photo, any supporting documents, and a DHL airway bill—must be sent via DHL courier service to:
U.S. Embassy La Paz
Consular Section – ACS
Avenida Arce #2780
La Paz, Bolivia
Phone: 216-8000
Incomplete applications or incorrectly filled forms may result in processing delays. The embassy emphasizes that under no circumstances should application packets be sent to addresses in the United States.
To generate a DHL airway bill for delivery of their new passport by courier service, applicants can scan a QR code or visit https://bit.ly/3xPmVrA . Delivery options include direct delivery to a Bolivian address for Bs 120 or pick-up at a DHL office for Bs 85.
All original documents submitted will be returned along with the new passport.