Retiring in Bolivia: Stay, Taxation of the French Pension and Access to Care

French citizens do not need a visa for a stay of under 90 days per twelve-month period, with a passport still valid for six months from entry; a visa is requested from the consular section of the Bolivian embassy in France for any stay of more than 90 days, whatever the purpose (France Diplomatie). Every foreigner, including a resident, registers with the General Directorate of Migration within 48 hours of entering, with the sworn address declaration.

The migration law distinguishes transitional permanence (180 days at most), temporary permanence (up to three years, in categories of one, two or three years) and definitive permanence, granted on express application after a minimum permanence of three years. The standard file includes a passport valid for six months, a photo, a criminal record certificate or an Interpol certificate, a medical certificate and proof of solvency, for example bank statements for the past three months, with translated and legalised documents. The conditions specific to retirees or people of independent means, including any minimum income, could not be read on an official page: confirm them with the General Directorate of Migration or the Bolivian consulate before any step.

The guide to drawing your pension abroad details the formalities on the French side.

France and Bolivia signed in La Paz, on 15 December 1994, a convention to avoid double taxation on income and wealth taxes, which came into force on 1 November 1996. Its article 18 provides that pensions paid to a resident of a State in respect of past employment are taxable only in that State (paragraph 1), while pensions paid under social security legislation are taxable in the paying State (paragraph 2). Residence is defined by article 4: liability to tax in the State, then permanent home and centre of vital interests in the event of dual residence.

For a French retiree living in Bolivia, the classification of each pension (basic social security scheme, supplementary pension, private pension) therefore determines which State may tax it; the full text of article 18 and its protocol can be read on impots.gouv.fr (the French tax authority’s website) and in the BOFiP (the official tax bulletin). Article 23 provides, for a resident of France, a tax credit equal to the Bolivian tax paid, within the limit of the corresponding French tax. Where no treaty applies to an item of income, a non-resident is taxable in France on French-source income: the minimum rate is 20% up to an income ceiling revised each year and then 30%, with an option for the average rate (impots.gouv.fr). Bolivian scales are read from the National Tax Service.

The S1 form, which allows a retiree living in the European Union to be treated at France’s expense, does not apply to Bolivia (ameli.fr, the Assurance Maladie website). The CFE retiree offer has a contribution that depends on age and the plan chosen, with no health questionnaire and no possible exclusion, with immediate cover if you join before departure or within three months of settling, and no waiting period on returning to France. International insurance is the other option. The Unified Health System (SUS) opens free care to foreigners over 60, in public establishments of the first, second and third levels, with registration on presentation of an identity document or passport (Ministry of Health).

France Diplomatie reminds readers that care must generally be paid for in advance and that insurance covering medical costs, hospitalisation and repatriation is imperative. During a temporary stay in France, a retiree of a basic scheme who can show at least 15 years of insurance and has no activity is reimbursed for their care, by the CNAREFE attached to the CPAM (the local health insurance office) of Seine-et-Marne for the general scheme; the spouse is not covered. A health insurance contribution of 3.2% on the basic pension, 4.2% on the supplementary pension and 7.1% on a self-employed worker’s pension may apply in place of the CSG (the generalised social contribution) if tax residence is outside France (CLEISS, the French liaison centre for international social security). See the guide to retirees’ health insurance abroad, the S1 form user guide and the page on retiree insurance abroad.

The question of altitude weighs more heavily on a retiree than on a passing traveller. Acute mountain sickness can appear above 2,500 metres; La Paz lies between 3,300 and 3,800 metres and El Alto airport at 4,058 metres. France Diplomatie lists among the contraindications pregnancy and a history of heart, lung, neurological or kidney problems, and asks for specialist medical advice before any high-altitude hike. A check-up with your usual doctor before settling is therefore essential.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra (about 1.6 million inhabitants) and Cochabamba (665,000 inhabitants) are the two large cities after La Paz; Santa Cruz is affected by dengue and malaria, and Cochabamba by Chagas disease, according to the France Diplomatie sheet. The page on the healthcare system in Bolivia details the risks and vaccines.

The national minimum wage is 3,300 bolivianos a month since 1 January 2026, a benchmark for local income levels. The “Economic indicators” block of this page updates inflation and the exchange rate. A retiree’s budget is built from the actual rent, health cover and travel: the Bolivian authorities do not publish a standard budget.

France Diplomatie recommends heightened vigilance throughout the country, except the border zone with Brazil, which is advised against except for compelling reasons, reports frequent road blockades and advises using a radio taxi and avoiding travelling at night. The detailed advice appears on the page on living in Bolivia.

Registration on the register of French nationals living abroad is recommended for any stay of more than six months, with the consular section of the French embassy in La Paz. For driving, there is no licence agreement between France and Bolivia: beyond 90 days, a Bolivian licence must be requested from the local authorities. Many journeys use unpaved tracks, and France Diplomatie recommends not driving at night.

Local legislation prohibits narcotics, with up to three years in prison for simple use, and punishes possession of archaeological items with six years in prison. A cash declaration is required on entry; a 30% tax is applied if the declared sum differs from the actual sum. The passport must remain valid for at least six months.

French pension funds pay the pension into an account, in France or abroad, and may ask for proof of existence; these steps are prepared before departure. The guide to retiring abroad summarises the steps. In a country without a social security agreement, CLEISS indicates that France does not take into account periods spent under the local scheme to calculate the rate of the French pension; see also quarters worked abroad.

For a return to France, the CFE member keeps their rights for up to three months after returning, then affiliates to the CPAM; see return-to-France insurance. Expavy helps you compare the health covers suited to a retiree settled in Bolivia.