Bolivia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Bolivia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Bolivia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Bolivia. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Bolivia at 29 out of 100 (132nd out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on BOLIVIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN BOLIVIA WILL CONTINUE THE GRADUAL EASING OF INTERNAL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)  RESTRICTIONS OCTOBER 1-31 TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE HOURS OF THE NATIONWIDE CURFEW WILL BE REDUCED TO 0001-0500 NIGHTLY, WITH NO VARIATION ON THE WEEKENDS, AS BEFORE. ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST CONTINUE TO ENSURE PHYSICAL DISTANCING OF 1.5 METERS (5 FEET) AND MUST WEAR FACEMASK IN PUBLIC SPACES. TIGHTER MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS WILL ALSO BE ENFORCED OCTOBER 18 TO FACILITATE THE GENERAL ELECTIONS; LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR THE DAY. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL/INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS HAVE RESUMED FOR ALL TRAVELERS; HOWEVER, BOLIVIA'S LAND, RIVER AND LAKE BORDERS REMAIN CLOSED TO MOST CROSS-BORDER TRANSIT. ALL PERSONS ENTERING THE COUNTRY MUST PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST TAKEN NO MORE THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE ARRIVAL. SOME TRAVELERS MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Bolivia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

The quality of health care in Bolivia varies from good to fair depending on location. Public ambulances are unreliable; in a medical emergency, the best option for reaching medical assistance is via private transportation. Urban pharmacies carry a wide range of medications.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas, especially in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

The drinking water in most of Bolivia is treated, but system defects, power outages, and supply shortages may impair quality. Travelers should assume the drinking water in rural areas is contaminated with pathogens or chemicals. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Visitors should use well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible. Avoid uvita, an inexpensive local wine frequently contaminated with methanol, which can cause disease and blindness.

Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often have poor hygiene standards and should be avoided. Visitors should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Bolivia, including:

  • Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, transmitted primarily by reduviid bugs. In parts of the Andes, Chagas disease infects 25 percent of the population. The disease accounts for 13 percent of deaths nationwide. Cure is possible through early detection and treatment. Reduviid bugs infest buildings constructed of mud, adobe brick, or palm thatch.
  • Tuberculosis. Bolivia gets about 9,000 new cases per year, mostly in the departments of La Paz, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, and Tarija.
  • Malaria, transmitted by mosquito bites, year-round at lower elevations and during the summer (September to April) at higher elevations. There is little risk above 8,200 feet or in the city of La Paz.
  • Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquito bites, year-round. The highest risk is in urban areas below 4,000 feet.
  • Yellow fever, yet another mosquito-borne disease. Areas of highest risk include the departments of Beni, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz, and the subtropical region of the department of La Paz.
  • Leishmaniasis, transmitted by sand flies. Risk is high in the Yungas region, forested valleys east of the Andean Cordillera, and Madidi National Park.
  • Mayaro virus, or Bolivian hemorrhagic fever. This is a dengue-like illness contracted year-round, primarily in the forested woodlands east of the Andes.

Non-violent theft, including pickpocketing and purse snatching, is the most frequent cause of loss in Bolivia. Vehicle thefts and break-ins are on the rise. Petty thieves often target riders using public transportation, so taxis arranged through trusted acquaintances, hotels, or offices should be used for in-town travel. Roadblocks erected by security forces or protestors may delay trips between cities.

Violent crime remains unusual in Bolivia, especially in rural areas. That said, while in La Paz, use caution in the downtown areas of Calle Sagarnaga and Cementerio, and avoid hiking alone in the Illampu. Also avoid hailing taxis on the street, especially in La Paz and Santa Cruz, as that can lead to express kidnappings, in which criminals force victims to withdraw funds from multiple ATMs over a several-hour period.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Bolivian authorities are generally required to press official charges within 24 hours of arrest, and to release a detainee within 48 hours if no formal charges are brought. However, investigative and pre-trial periods may drag on indefinitely.

Bolivian law allows law enforcement official to detain any foreigner pending proof of legal status in country (i.e. passport, visa, or residency card). Though this is rarely enforced, anyone who cannot produce proof of legal status may be detained until legal status is confirmed.

In the case you are arrested in Bolivia, the U.S. Embassy cannot:

  • Obtain your release from custody
  • Provide legal counsel or representation
  • Provide financial assistance
  • Select an attorney
  • Request preferential treatment from Bolivian authorities.

The embassy can:

  • Provide a list of attorneys
  • Visit you in detention
  • Observe your condition
  • Assist with contacting friends and family for support.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

In Bolivia, you may find products made with wild plants and animals. Many of these products could involve protected or endangered species, whose sale and export are illegal. Any protected species that is sold or transported, either live or transformed into food, medicinal beverages, leather, handcrafts, garments, etc., could be seized by Bolivian authorities. Some products, including live animals, require special permits when leaving Bolivia. Knowingly importing into the United States wildlife or plants that were taken from the wild or sold in violation of the laws of Bolivia (or any other country) violates U.S. law.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

  • Under Bolivian law, suspects can be detained for up to 18 months without formal charges during an investigation, and the detention period could be extended beyond 18 months.
  • Legal cases often drag on for years.

LGBTI Travelers: The Bolivian constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events.