Contact the Embassy of Bolivia in Washington or one of Bolivia's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bolivian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bolivia are strict and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.
Incarcerated persons can expect to wait longer than two years before being sentenced.
Prison conditions are very primitive and prisoners must pay for their own room and board. It often takes years to reach a decision in Bolivian legal cases, whether involving property disputes, civil, or criminal matters. The court sometimes orders a defendant held in jail for the duration of the case. Lists of local Bolivian attorneys and their specialties are available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz and the U.S. Consular Agencies in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Civil marriage in Bolivia of U.S. citizen non-residents to Bolivians is possible if all documentary requirements are met.