U.S. Embassy in Bolivia

The U.S. Embassy in La Paz has resumed all routine U.S. citizen services.  

If you are planning to renew your passport, please go over the information below to determine if you qualify to renew your passport by mail (FedEx). U.S. citizens who do not qualify to renew their passport by FedEx should schedule an appointment through the American Citizen Services appointment system. 

U.S. citizens who require emergency passport services but do not find available appointment slots in the American Citizens Services appointment system, should contact the Consular Section via email: ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov. Please include the details of your emergency and your contact telephone number in Bolivia.

Renew an Adult Passport by FedEx

You are only eligible to renew your U.S. passport by mail if:

• You are currently in Bolivia and have a mailing address in Bolivia
• Your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years, and after you turned age 16
• The passport you are submitting is not damaged

Passport Application Checklist:

Complete the following four (4) steps in order, to successfully renew your passport by mail:

1. Complete online and print Form DS-82 using the online passport wizard.  Be sure to complete ALL fields accurately, as any mistakes may result in a delay in processing your application.  Make sure that you sign and date the form. Print application on one-sided pages only. If you have questions regarding the form, please contact the Consular Section for assistance at ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov. Pay particular attention to the following fields:

• Section 5, Social Security Number:  You must provide a Social Security number, if you have been issued one. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must submit a statement, signed and dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.” See more information here.
• Section 8, Mailing Address: Please be certain to provide a LOCAL address.
• Photo:  Review passport photo requirements here. You must submit a 2×2 inch (5×5 cm) color photograph of your face, neck, and shoulders with a white background, taken within the past six months. Photo booth photographs are NOT acceptable for U.S. passport issuance. Images that appear to be retouched or altered will not be accepted. The photograph must be taken in normal street attire, without a hat, head covering, military uniform, or glasses, unless a signed statement is submitted by the applicant verifying the item is worn daily for religious purposes or a signed doctor’s statement is submitted verifying the item is used daily for medical purposes. Do NOT staple or paperclip the photo to your application.
• Section 11, Name Change Information: If the name you are currently using differs from the name on your most recent U.S. passport, you must submit an original copy of your marriage/divorce certificate or court order showing the change of name. All documents will be returned to you by mail together with the new passport. If you are unable to document your name change in this manner, you must schedule an appointment to apply personally at the Embassy in La Paz or the Consular Agency in Santa Cruz using Form DS-11 application form.
• Signature: Please sign the form using your legal signature. If your signature has changed since your last passport renewal, please provide legal proof of new signature (examples include: residence card, driver’s license, federal or state-issued ID, or other passport).

2. Payment
   Pay the $130 passport application fee via the U.S. government’s secure payment site .  You must print the electronic payment confirmation you receive via email after successfully paying the fee and include it in the package you send to the Consular Section.
3. Send Your Passport Application via FedEx to:
   U.S. Embassy La Paz
   Consular Section – ACS
   Avenida Arce #2780
   La Paz, Bolivia
   Phone: 216-8000 

4. Include:

• Your completed passport application DS-82 
• Your current passport (upon issuance of your new passport, we will cancel your old passport in accordance with State Department regulations and return it to you together with the new passport) 
• Payment confirmation page 
• Your photo 
• Any supporting documents 

Additional Notes:

Do not send your application to the United States. Please note that incomplete or incorrectly completed applications will be returned unprocessed. 

Return of Passport: 

The Consular Section will send your newly issued and previous passports through FedEx to the address specified in Section 8 of the passport application. If you do not want to receive your passport at this address, please include a completed FedEx waybill form with an alternative return address. You will be required to pay Bs.70.00 (Seventy Bolivianos) to FedEx upon delivery of your documents. The turnaround time to receive a full validity passport by FedEx is approximately two to four weeks.