Guidance

Bolivia: Knowledge Base profile

Published 13 May 2024

About: Bolivia

This document contains useful information about Bolivia which will assist HM Passport Office staff process passport applications.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 8 May 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Bolivia: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Bolivia.

A naming convention exists in Bolivia.

Names in Bolivia consist of:

• forename(s)
• first surname (one of father’s surname)
• second surname (one of mother’s maiden surname)

An unmarried mother can register her child:

• with the father’s surname, without his permission, if she can provide 2 witnesses who can confirm the father’s name
• using her surname, which will prevent the child from changing their name in the future
• with a provisional first surname which allows a change of name in the future if the:
  • biological father acknowledges parenthood
  • mother gets married and the child is legally adopted by the mother’s husband

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Bolivia, including for example:

• following an adoption
• where a biological father acknowledges paternity
• where a person’s forename causes personal or embarrassing implications
• where a transgender person follows legal procedures to change their name

Following a marriage in Bolivia, a woman can choose to add her husband’s first surname as a third surname. Where the husband’s first surname has been added as a third surname, this is usually prefixed by ‘de’. For example, if the woman was called Ana GREEN MORALES and her husband’s surname is PEREZ, her name may become Ana GREEN MORALES DE PEREZ.

Bolivia: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Bolivia.

Dual nationality is recognised in Bolivia.

Bolivia: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Bolivia.

Legitimacy

Bolivia does not recognise a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births. This means all births are considered legitimate, whether a child’s parents are married or not.

Parental responsibility

Both parents hold parental responsibility in Bolivia.

Bolivia: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Bolivia.

Adoption is legal in Bolivia.

Foreign national parents are allowed to adopt children in Bolivia. They must have lived in the country for more than 2 years.

Bolivia: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Bolivia.

Surrogacy is not recognised in Bolivia.

Bolivia: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Bolivia.

Transgender citizens are recognised in Bolivia. Documents can be updated to show the gender of choice.

Bolivia: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Bolivia.

Civil partnerships and same sex relationships are not legally recognised in Bolivia.

Opposite sex marriages must have a civil element to be considered legal in Bolivia.

Civil marriages are legally recognised in Bolivia. Religious marriages are not legally recognised in Bolivia.

Bolivia: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Bolivia.

The Bolivia Registrar’s Office centrally holds birth, death and marriage records. Older records are available and are held in the Registrar’s Office Archives.

There are different types of birth, marriage and death certificates in circulation. The type of certificate is based on when it was issued, including a:

• handwritten older style certificate
• computerised certificate
• modern version of the computerised certificate

Birth certificates

Births must be registered within 1 year. Late registrations are allowed. A certificate is issued when the birth is registered.

If an error is identified on a Bolivia birth certificate, a new certificate is issued. On some older handwritten certificates where errors were identified, these were corrected when the records were added to the Registrar Office Archives.

Hospital birth records are retained for 5 years.

Marriage certificates

Marriages should be registered at the Registrar’s Office within 1 year of the ceremony. Late registrations are accepted.

The Registrar’s Office will issue a marriage certificate and a marriage book. If a religious ceremony was conducted, a religious document will be issued by the religious institution.

Death certificates

Following the registration of a death in Bolivia, death certificates are issued to family members; third parties can obtain a death certificate or copy with a court order.

Deaths must be registered within six months. Late registrations are allowed.

Identity documents

A residence identity card issued by the national identification authority (SEGIP) in Bolivia, is:

• mandatory for Bolivian residents
• voluntary for:
  • foreign nationals resident in Bolivia
  • Bolivia nationals who are not resident in Bolivia

Bolivia Immigration Authorities issue residence permits.

Identity documents issued in Bolivia are usually laminated by the issuing authority.