Bolivia situation guide
Clarifying a requirements list
When the official reads out the requisitos, your job is to slow down and confirm each point, not to memorize a fixed law. For every item, separate four things: is it original or fotocopia, is it still vigente, do you already have it, and does anything still faltar. It is fine to ask the agent to repeat the lista or to anotar it in writing. The list can differ from person to person, so treat what you are told as the answer for your case, and always ask the official to confirm rather than guessing.
Essential vocabulary
- lista: list The requirements come as a spoken or written list.
- original: original Some documents must be the original, not a copy.
- fotocopia: photocopy Others are accepted as a copy, worth checking.
- vigente: valid / current Ask whether a document is still valid.
- presentar: to submit / present The verb for handing in each document.
- documento: document Each item on the list is one document.
- faltar: to be missing Lets you ask if anything is still missing.
Bolivian Spanish terms
- ventanilla: counter / window The service window where you ask and submit.
- folder: application folder Documents are gathered into one folder.
Useful phrases
- ¿Me puede repetir la lista, por favor?: Can you repeat the list, please? Slow things down so you catch every item.
- ¿Original o fotocopia?: Original or photocopy? Clarify the format of each document.
- ¿Este documento está vigente?: Is this document still valid? Check validity instead of assuming it.
- ¿Falta algún documento?: Is any document missing? Confirm nothing is left out.
- ¿Me lo puede anotar, por favor?: Could you write it down for me, please? Ask for the list in writing to be sure.
Learn this in the app
Migration to Bolivia, Spanish for Paperwork