Bolivia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2018, replacing the old consular legalisation chain. A U.S. public document used in Bolivia now needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state, and a great deal of published guidance still describes the superseded route.
Quick facts
Consulates still perform a related and useful service: certifying copies with the endorsement “true copy of the original”, signed and sealed, which the identification service accepts as supporting evidence.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille on a U.S. state document | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of that state |
| Apostille on a U.S. federal document | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Apostille on a Bolivian document | Charged in Bolivia | Foreign ministry |
| Certified copy at the consulate | Consular tariff | With the true-copy endorsement |
| Translation into Spanish | Per page | Where required |
Apostille the original first and translate afterwards, so the translation covers the apostille as well as the document itself.
How to prepare a document for Bolivia
- Order a certified copy from the issuing office rather than using a photocopy.
- Notarise private documents first, since the apostille certifies the notary.
- File with the Secretary of State of the issuing state, or Washington for federal records.
- Arrange the Spanish translation where the receiving office asks for one.
- Ask the consulate to certify copies where the identification service needs them.
Required documents
- Original certified copy with signature and seal.
- Completed authentication request and payment.
- Photo identification for consular services.
- Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.
What the consulates do
They issue passports and safe-conducts, handle identity numbers and register corrections, register births and other civil events, certify copies, execute powers of attorney and issue tourist vehicle forms.
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
Old guidance persists
Agencies still sell the pre-2018 legalisation chain. Confirming what the receiving office needs is the cheapest step in the process.
Updated certificates
Bolivian offices ask for certificates that are current, not merely original. Order them close to when you will use them.
Order two copies
Bolivian offices keep what they receive, and repeating the chain from abroad is slow.
Never apostille a photocopy
The certificate attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.