Departure Fee Clarification Request
Replies: 17 - Last Post: Nov 26, 2012 2:19 PM Last Post By: ban_janti_return
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Departure Fee Clarification Request
Hey, folks, hope this question isn't too dumb. I'm preparing to leave Bolivia after being here as a volunteer on a tourist visa for almost 6 months, and I know I'll pay a departure tax at the airport and a fee of 20 BOB for each day I've stayed over 90 days. That's cool, but I'm also seeing references to another fee for visitors who've been in the country more than 90 days. Looks to be 190 BOB.Will I pay this in addition to my 20 BOB per day overstay fee? Your help is most appreciated.
Thanks.
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You may end up paying more than that, as foreign residents used to pay 3 departure taxes if leaving Bolivia via an international flight. Airport departure tax (paid by everyone including tourists) + Bolivian resident departure tax + extra departure tax for foreign residents. Remember years ago all 3 came to around $70 but that has probably gone up now, would be a good idea to check with the airline or airport info for latest figures. According to the SABSA airport authority website (link at bottom in Informacion al Pasajero) the Bolivian resident tax is now Bs231, and the airport tax US$256
I met a bloke who had overstayed 5 months and was threatened with jail time, so he brought a few hundred bucks to some obscure border and bribed his way out of the country. They put a note in his passport never to return to Bolivia. Of course he just got another passport.Still, this example is pretty extreme. I doubt OP would have such troubles with 3 months overstay. She'll be right, as they say.
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#6 Sounds like Bolivia, sometimes they don't care if you overstay a year, other time they get bitchy about 5 months.Maybe they just wanted some poco propina and he didn't gave it?
Hard to tell, still I woudn't worry in OP position, for 90% everything will be just fine.
They put a note in his passport never to return to Bolivia. Of course he just got another passport.
Hahaha, this is the best part. No electronic system whatsoever until today :-)
BTW It's worth mentioning that this tax is only applicable on air departure from the county, 20 bs multa is payable regardless
So going trough land border saves you about $50 in taxes
I'm not sure what "tax for foreign residents" is, is not mention on above website. Can you explain James?
Edited by: ban_janti_return
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Just an extra departure tax on foreigners with temporary / indefinite residency every time you leave the country by air (have to screw us for as much as possible!). If you leave via a land border tourists pay nothing, Bolivians pay Bs15, foreigners with residency (or who have overstayed) Bs100. If you leave on a flight you pay it as an extra on top of the airport tax and the departure tax for Bolivian nationals (unless things have changed now - looking in an old passport there are definitely 2 stickers for the 2 residency taxes, which were Bs165 and Bs90 back in 2006). Not sure what the current amount is as since I've got Bol nationality through marriage I don't have to pay it any more and pay the Bolivian rate at land borders, a useful saving!Not sure why its not on the website - unless it changes so often that its not worth putting a figure, or they just like to surprise you at the airport with it......! I also have no idea why you pay it as just one departure tax at land borders and as an extra tax on top of the others at airports. Presumably its part of the Latin obsession with making bureaucracy as complicated as possible, or land border officials are generally not as intelligent as airport ones and can only cope with one tax ;-)
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#7 Yeah I think it often comes down to the mood of whoever is working at the immigration desk. I'd say they are more likely to discriminate against certain nationalities ie Americans or Spanish. Worth noting that if the OP is from a South American country you can easily apply for extensions past 90 tourist visa.I love their lack of electronic systems. Makes coming and going with different passports a breeze :-)
#8 Wow that does sound unnecessarily complicated.
Edited by: hazzdawg
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Thanks, one and all.I paid my 20 BOB per day multa today at inmigracion in Cochabamba. I was in the office maybe 40 minutes total and the official was friendly and efficient. Other than that, I expect to pay a departure tax of $25 and an additional fee of 190-230 BOB for being in the country over 90 days. I am an American, BTW.
Does that seem all correct?
I'm sorry to be leaving Bolivia, but happy to be going home for a while. Best of luck to you all.
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I was in the office maybe 40 minutes total and the official was friendly and efficientThat's 40 minutes to handle payment of your multa and put another stamp in your passport. If you think that's "efficient" than you've adapted very well to the Bolivian way of life in those 3 months you were here! :)
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Thx James for that info, but I'm not sure if it makes things clear or rather more obscure ;-) It means it's totally legit, sounds like Bolivia ;-)#10 Sounds correct to me, but you will find out while departing, make sure to report back for everyone benefit! It will be highly appreciated!
#11 LOL, that's what I though ;-)
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OP here. I´m in El Alto airport right now and it does indeed look like I´ll have to pay a fee in addition to my departure tax and overstay multa, the ISAE, currently 254 BOB. Can´t do it until I check in this afternoon, though. The office to pay the ISAE, right next to the desk where you pay the $25 departure tax, is closed at present...maybe the hut lady is out today?Even if it´s open later, my good looks and charm may impress the staff sufficiently to give me a pass. I have a good feeling about this.
More later!
