Two features of the Bolivian system are worth knowing before you book anything. Registering a birth at a consulate requires two witnesses who must be physically present. And if the national register shows problems with your details, there is a formal procedure to fix them: data correction.
Quick facts
The witnesses must be adults, legally capable of exercising their civil rights, and present at the moment of registration, with their identification in original and photocopy. Arranging them is part of planning the appointment.
What each procedure needs
| Procedure | Key requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of a birth abroad | Two witnesses, present | Plus both parents’ documents |
| Identity number assignment | Sworn declaration with two witnesses | For adults with no prior card |
| Data correction | Supporting documents, consulate-certified | Endorsed as true copies |
| Consular forms | Obtained at the office | One with photograph, one with fingerprints |
| Birth certificate | Original and updated | Not an old family copy |
Data correction exists because the register genuinely throws up problems: duplicate entries, multiple records, identical names, or no record at all. Consular staff detect them when they check the system, and the procedure resolves them.
How to file
- Obtain the original, updated Bolivian birth certificate where one exists.
- Arrange two witnesses who can attend with their own identification.
- Book the appointment at the consulate covering your area.
- Bring both parents’ documents, originals and photocopies.
- Complete the consular forms at the office, with photograph and fingerprints.
- Ask for copies to be certified as true copies where the file requires it.
Required documents
- Identity card, passport or original birth certificate of the Bolivian parent.
- Identification of the foreign parent where applicable.
- Identification of two witnesses, original and photocopy.
- Photographs, 3 by 3 cm on a white background.
- Written request addressed to the identification service.
- Supporting documents for any correction to the register.
Where to file
At the consulate general covering your area, which works directly with the identification service in Bolivia.
Consulate General of Bolivia
View details →HoustonConsulado General del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia en Houston
View details →Los AngelesConsulado General de Bolivia en Los Angeles
View details →New YorkConsulate General of Bolivia en Nueva York
View details →WashingtonEmbassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
View details →WashingtonConsulate General of Bolivia
View details →Additional notes
Plan the witnesses
This is the requirement that most often forces a second appointment. Confirm who is coming before you book.
Homonyms are common
Identical names in the register are one of the specific problems the correction procedure exists to solve. If yours is a common name, expect it to come up.
Minors need both parents
Both must attend in person for procedures concerning a child, with originals for verification.
Keep the certified copies
Copies endorsed by the consulate as true copies are reusable evidence. Keep them with your documents.