In order to enter Bolivia, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of Bolivia government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the Bolivia, and which items need special documentation before exporting to Bolivia.
Import restrictions
Senders should determine import restrictions from Bolivian authorities before posting:
- Alcoholic spirits
- Animal products
- Books
- Catalogues
- Coffee
- Dangerous goods, haz or comb materials
- Drugs: non-prescription
- Films, 8mm,16mm and 35mm
- Films, promotional, training
- Firearms and firearm parts
- Food stuffs
- Grain samples
- Labels
- Medicines
- Plants and seeds
- Pornography
- Textile articles
- Weapons of war
All articles containing photographs or unexposed film are liable to customs duty.
Bolivia does not pay compensation for damage to articles containing:
- Fragile items
- Liquids or substances that liquefy easily
- Perishable items.
EDN’s and export permits are required for:
- Kangaroo skins
- Crocodile skins
- Emu oil
- Fish oil
- Bunker oil
- Coal
- Petroleum bases products
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Any other alcohol including beer and spirits all volumes.
Special documentation
The sender and receiver details must be addressed with a valid street address in English. A Post Office Box address is not acceptable.
The sender is responsible for finding if the destination country may impose duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees that may be applied on the item that is being sent. Please contact the consulate office of the country you are sending to or contact the ECI customer contact centre on 1800 007 678.
Invoice and import permit
Goods exceeding a value of $US100 must include an invoice.
Goods exceeding a value of $US500 require an import permit.
- Used clothing and personal belongings
Used clothing and personal belongings must include a Certificate of Disinfection issued by a competent Australian authority and endorsed by the Bolivian consular service.
Prohibitions
In addition to items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations, Bolivia prohibits:
- Animals and animal products
- Absinth and its oils etc
- Alcohol and other products distilled from sugar cane, except rum
- Asbestos
- Brandy
- Bullion and currency
- Bank notes, credit cards
- Cigarettes or cigarette papers
- Coins
- Currency resemblances
- Dangerous goods, haz or comb materials
- Daggers
- Drugs, non-prescription
- Foodstuffs, prepared
- Feeding bottles with rubber or glass tubes
- Firearms
- Fish
- Gaming devices
- Ivory
- Inorganic chemicals
- Jewellery and valuable items
- Knuckle-dusters of any metal
- Lottery tickets and advertising
- Publications or other items of an immoral nature
- Printed articles, books and brochures- offensive by nature
- Pearls, precious metals and stones
- Resin and other vegetable saps
- Razors
- Roulette wheels
- Securities payable to the bearer
- Travellers cheques
- Tobacco in any form
- Trademarks on goods, unless imported by authorised agents
- Weapons of war.