How to receive USD in Bolivia
To receive US dollars in Bolivia, give the payer the details of a dollar account in your company's own name: a dollar account at a Bolivian bank, paid by SWIFT wire, or US account details held abroad, paid by ACH or Fedwire. Since 29 June 2026 Bolivia has a daily official exchange rate instead of the 6.96 peg, and the tax on financial transactions has been repealed, but banks rationed dollar accounts during the shortage. This guide covers the routes, the 2026 rules, what to send the payer, arrival times, published costs and platform options.
- A Bolivian business can receive US dollars into a dollar account at a Bolivian bank by SWIFT wire, or into US account details held abroad in its own name, which a US payer funds by ACH or Fedwire.
- Bolivia ended the fixed rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar and moved to a flexible regime starting at 9.73 on 29 June 2026, as reported by Los Tiempos.
- Under BCB Board Resolution 142/2026, the official rate is the amount-weighted median of banks' dollar purchases from clients and the BCB, published each business day at 23:30 for the next day.
- Law 1717 eliminated the Financial Transactions Tax (ITF), which had applied to deposits, withdrawals and transfers in foreign currency, as reported in April 2026.
- As reported by El Deber in April 2026, many Bolivian banks did not open new dollar accounts and some limited movements on existing ones to $100 a week.
- BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 allows electronic payment channels to be used to buy and sell virtual assets such as USDT, but the boliviano remains the only legal tender.
How to receive USD in Bolivia: the short answer
A Bolivian business paid from abroad has four main ways to receive US dollars. The first is a dollar account at a Bolivian bank, which the payer funds by an international wire. The second is a set of US account details, a routing number and account number, held abroad in the company's own name, which a US payer funds as a domestic US payment. The third is a payment platform, which usually pays out in bolivianos. The fourth is USDT or USDC, digital tokens designed to hold a steady value of one US dollar, which many Bolivians have used during the dollar shortage.
The choice changed in 2026. From 2023, a shortage of dollars meant Bolivian banks rationed dollar withdrawals and transfers, and a parallel market traded above the official rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar. On 29 June 2026 Bolivia moved to a flexible exchange rate set from banks' daily dollar purchases. In April 2026 Law 1717 repealed the tax on financial transactions that had applied to foreign currency operations. Both changes are meant to bring dollars back into the banking system, but bank practice is still adjusting.
This guide is written for the businesses that are paid in dollars from outside Bolivia: exporters of minerals, soy, quinoa, Brazil nuts and other agricultural products; software, design and outsourcing firms with clients in the United States; tour operators and consultancies; and freelancers who invoice foreign clients. The sections below cover each route, the 2026 rules, the exact details to give a payer, arrival times, published costs, platforms, stablecoins and where a Helm account fits. For the account side of the same question, see our guide to a USD business account in Bolivia.
The ways to receive US dollars in Bolivia
The table compares the routes. It is not a ranking. Many Bolivian companies combine a Bolivian bank account for bolivianos and local payments with one dollar account outside the domestic system.
| Route | How the payer pays | What arrives | Suits | Main point to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar account at a Bolivian bank | International wire by SWIFT, through the bank's correspondent | US dollars in Bolivia | Exporters of goods and companies with local dollar costs | Whether the bank opens the account and limits withdrawals or transfers |
| US account details held abroad in the company's name | ACH or Fedwire, as a US domestic payment | US dollars, held abroad | Exporters and service firms with US buyers | Provider's eligibility; bolivianos for local costs still come through a Bolivian bank |
| Payment platform or app | Through the platform, a marketplace or a US virtual account | Dollars in the platform, then bolivianos on withdrawal | Freelancers and small online sellers | Whether it serves companies or only individuals; fees and rate |
| USDT or USDC | Token transfer on a blockchain | Digital tokens, not dollars in a bank | Firms whose clients pay in stablecoins | Not legal tender; users bear the risks |
Sources: BCB press release CP 35/2024; El Deber, April 2026 (republished by Bolivian Thoughts); providers' own pages. As published on 29 October 2026.
SWIFT is the international network banks use to send cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. ACH is the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system that US companies use for routine supplier payments. Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's real-time system for US dollar payments, used for large or urgent amounts. A correspondent bank is a bank that holds an account for another bank and settles payments in its currency.
How to choose
A company paid by US buyers gains most from US account details in its own name, because the buyer pays the way it pays any US vendor and the dollars do not depend on a Bolivian bank's dollar liquidity. An exporter paid by letter of credit or documentary collection needs a Bolivian bank, because those instruments run bank to bank. A company that sells inside Bolivia needs a Bolivian bank for bolivianos, because the boliviano is the only legal tender. A company already paid in USDT needs a documented way to turn tokens into dollars in an account in its own name.
Bolivia's 2026 rules for money received from abroad
Five changes shape how a Bolivian business receives dollars in 2026. The Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB) is the central bank, and the Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero (ASFI) is the regulator that supervises banks.
| Date | Measure | What it means when you are paid in USD |
|---|---|---|
| 25 June 2024 | BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 | Electronic payment channels may be used to buy and sell virtual assets; they are not legal tender |
| April 2026 | Law 1717 | Eliminated the Financial Transactions Tax (ITF), which had applied to deposits, withdrawals and transfers in foreign currency |
| 29 June 2026 | Flexible regime under Ministerial Resolution 245 | The peg of 6.96 ended; the reference rate started at 9.73 bolivianos per dollar |
| 24 September 2026 | BCB Board Resolution 142/2026 | The official rate is set daily from banks' dollar purchases from clients and the BCB |
| October 2026 | Supreme decree on gold exports | Gold exporters must show that at least 80% of their income is deposited in national financial entities |
Sources: BCB press release CP 35/2024; Red Uno via Bolivian Thoughts, 12 April 2026; Los Tiempos, 29 June 2026; BCB Board Resolution 142/2026; Bloomberg Línea, 15 October 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
How the official rate is set
Under Resolution 142/2026, the official rate (tipo de cambio oficial, TCO) is calculated each business day as the amount-weighted median of the dollars that multiple banks, SME banks and the public bank buy from their clients and the BCB, excluding trades between banks. The BCB publishes it on its website at 23:30, and it applies the next day. The rate published on Friday applies on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and on a holiday the rate published the previous business day applies. The regulation covers private individuals and companies that carry out exchange operations, and makes the TCO their reference.
For a business receiving dollars, this means the rate at which a bank buys your dollars now tracks the market rather than a fixed 6.96, and it can move from day to day. Check the TCO published the evening before you convert, and ask your bank for its buying rate in writing.
Gold exporters
As reported by Bloomberg Línea on 15 October 2026, a new decree requires gold exporters to show SENARECOM, the mineral and metal trade regulator, that at least 80% of their income is deposited in national financial entities. Exporters no longer need BCB certificates to ship gold, and the Ministry may adjust the percentage by resolution. The report describes no general rule of this kind for other exporters.
Anti-money laundering checks
Bolivia was placed on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2025, as reported by Los Tiempos. FATF is the intergovernmental body that sets anti-money laundering standards, and grey listing means increased monitoring. Expect correspondent banks and foreign providers to ask about the payer, the contract and the goods or services behind larger payments.
Dollar accounts at Bolivian banks
Bolivian banks offer accounts in US dollars, but during the shortage they rationed them. As reported by El Deber in April 2026, many institutions did not allow new dollar accounts; where they did, the required initial deposit was $5,000 to $10,000; and movements on existing dollar accounts could be limited to $100 a week, or every two weeks.
| Point to confirm with your Bolivian bank | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whether it opens new dollar accounts for companies, and the opening deposit | Practice differed between banks during the shortage |
| Weekly or monthly limits on dollar withdrawals and outgoing transfers | Limits applied to existing accounts in 2026 |
| Its correspondent bank and SWIFT code for incoming USD | A payer abroad needs both |
| Its charge for crediting an incoming transfer | Each bank sets its own tariff |
| Its buying rate against the TCO | Since 29 June 2026 the official rate is set daily |
| Its commission for sending dollars abroad | ASFI set commission bands for transfers abroad in April 2026 |
Sources: El Deber, April 2026 (republished by Bolivian Thoughts); BCB Board Resolution 142/2026; eju.tv report of Resolución ASFI/299/2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
The new regime is meant to bring dollars back into the banking system, and bank practice may change quickly as that happens. Ask your bank for its current terms in writing before you give its details to payers, so you know whether dollars that arrive can be moved again when you need them.
What to give the payer
Most delays and short payments come from incomplete details on the invoice. Send the payer one set of details, in writing, and ask the payer's accounts team to save it as a vendor record.
| Field | For a wire to a Bolivian bank (SWIFT) | For US account details (ACH or Fedwire) |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Company's registered name, exactly as on the account | Company's registered name, exactly as on the account |
| Account identifier | The dollar account number, not the boliviano account | US account number |
| Bank identifier | Bank's full name, address and SWIFT code | Nine-digit routing number |
| Correspondent bank | The bank's US correspondent and its SWIFT code, as your bank instructs | Not needed |
| Charges | OUR, so the full amount arrives | Not applicable to ACH |
| Reference | Invoice number, and for exports the contract or shipment reference | Invoice number |
Field list reflects standard SWIFT and US payment practice; confirm your bank's exact inbound instructions. As published on 29 October 2026.
OUR, SHA and BEN are SWIFT charge codes. OUR means the sender pays all fees so the full amount arrives. SHA means fees are shared, so intermediary banks may deduct theirs in transit. BEN means the receiver pays them all. Agree OUR in the contract for large invoices, so the amount credited matches the invoice.
For a US client, US account details remove most of these fields: the client pays a routing number and account number the way it pays a domestic supplier. Our guide on how to receive USD from overseas buyers shows how to set these details out on an invoice.
Arrival times and published costs
Arrival time depends on the rail the payer uses, not only on the receiving account.
| Rail | Published timing | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| ACH (US account details) | About 80% of ACH volume settles in one banking day or less; Same Day ACH accepts payments up to $1 million each | Payer's bank cut-off and whether it uses Same Day ACH |
| Fedwire (US account details) | Real-time gross settlement; business day runs 9:00 p.m. ET the previous day to 7:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday | Payer's bank hours and US public holidays |
| SWIFT wire to a Bolivian bank | Depends on the number of correspondent banks in the chain | Correspondent checks, missing details, Bolivian and US holidays |
Sources: Nacha, ACH settlement (28 August 2023) and Same Day ACH limit; Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire Funds Service operating hours. As published on 29 October 2026.
Real-time gross settlement means each payment is settled individually as it is processed, rather than in batches. Ask every payer for the SWIFT confirmation on a wire, so your bank can trace a payment that does not arrive.
Published costs
Receiving dollars has three cost layers: the payer's bank fee, any correspondent deduction on the way, and your own bank's or provider's charges. Converting to bolivianos adds the rate margin. The table shows charges that providers serving Bolivia publish.
| Provider and item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Financial Transactions Tax (ITF) on foreign currency operations | Eliminated by Law 1717 in April 2026 |
| Bolivian banks: sending USD abroad, USD 1,000 or less | Only the international correspondent's cost (ASFI band) |
| Bolivian banks: sending USD abroad, above USD 1,000 | 5% to 10% (ASFI band) |
| Payoneer: receiving into a receiving account not in your local currency | 1%, minimum $1 |
| Payoneer: withdrawal with currency conversion | 1.2% to 4% |
| Payoneer: annual account fee | $29.95, only if the account receives less than $6,000 in 12 consecutive months |
| Airtm: receiving into its US virtual account in Bolivia | 0.5% per received transaction |
| Wallbit: moving funds from its US account to Bolivia | Flat fee, usually 1% |
Sources: Red Uno via Bolivian Thoughts, 12 April 2026; eju.tv report of Resolución ASFI/299/2026 (9 April 2026); Payoneer fees page (last updated 1 January 2026); Airtm, flat rate for Bolivians (17 March 2025); Wallbit in Bolivia (3 November 2025). As published on 29 October 2026. Each Bolivian bank sets its own charge for crediting incoming transfers; ask yours for its tariff.
The ASFI bands matter on the way out, not on the way in. A company that receives dollars into a Bolivian bank and later sends them abroad to pay a supplier may pay 5% to 10% on that outgoing transfer, as set out in our guide on paying Chinese suppliers from Bolivia. A company that both earns and spends dollars abroad should compare that with keeping the dollars in an account abroad and paying suppliers from there.
Payoneer, Wise, Airtm and other platforms in Bolivia
Platforms and fintechs, financial technology companies that are not banks, are common among Bolivian freelancers and online sellers. Each one sets its own country list and rules. The table records what each provider's own page states, as published on 29 October 2026.
| Provider | What its own page states for Bolivia | Point to check |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | Bolivia is not on its list of countries where customers can hold money | Not available for holding balances |
| Airwallex | Bolivia is not on its list of supported business registration locations | Not available to Bolivian companies |
| Airtm | US virtual account for customers in Bolivia; receives from PayPal, Upwork, Payoneer and others; withdrawals in local currency | Written for freelancers and digital professionals |
| Wallbit | US account in the individual's name; receives USD, EUR, USDT and USDC; withdrawals in bolivianos | No business account described on its Bolivia page |
| Payoneer | Fees published globally; they depend on locations, payment method and currencies | Fees shown at registration and in the account |
| Mercury | Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory | Needs a US company |
Sources: Wise country list; Airwallex eligible countries; Airtm and Wallbit Bolivia pages; Payoneer fees page; Mercury eligibility. As published on 29 October 2026.
Before choosing a platform, ask four questions. Are the account details in your company's own name, or in an individual's or the platform's name? Which rails do they accept: ACH, Fedwire, SWIFT or only platform payments? Can you hold dollars, or are they converted to bolivianos on withdrawal? And will the platform give you a statement for each receipt that your accountant and the tax authority will accept?
Freelancers
Individuals can open dollar accounts at Bolivian banks where the bank offers them, and many Bolivian freelancers use apps such as Airtm or Wallbit that give a US virtual account and pay out in bolivianos. Keep each client contract and invoice, because a bank may ask for them when a large payment arrives. A freelancer who forms a company should move client payments into an account in the company's name.
Stablecoins
BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 of 25 June 2024 lifted the 2020 ban and allowed electronic payment channels and instruments to be used to buy and sell virtual assets. The BCB states that a virtual asset is not legal tender, that no one is obliged to accept it as payment, and that users assume the risks. In July 2026 the economy minister said the government was evaluating whether to accept these assets as a means of payment, and some banks were offering USDT to clients, as reported by Los Tiempos. A company paid in USDT should keep the invoice, the wallet record and the conversion record together for each payment, because its bank and the tax authority will ask how dollars entered the business.
Where a Helm account fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm provides USD account details in your company's own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments, alongside EUR details (IBAN, SEPA and SWIFT) and GBP details (sort code, Faster Payments and SWIFT). For a Bolivian business it fits beside a Bolivian bank account, not instead of it.
- Exporters and service firms can give US buyers domestic payment details and hold the dollars in USD until they need them.
- Businesses that also import can pay suppliers by SWIFT or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending.
- Businesses paid in stablecoins can receive USDC and USDT and convert them to USD inside the account, and keep the conversion record with the invoice.
- Local payments in bolivianos still run through a Bolivian bank, because the boliviano is the only legal tender in Bolivia.
Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Trade finance, including receivables finance, is arranged case by case. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
Checklist for receiving USD in Bolivia
- Ask your Bolivian bank in writing whether it opens dollar accounts for companies and what limits apply to withdrawals and transfers.
- Put the full payment details on every invoice, with the dollar account number, not the boliviano account.
- Agree OUR charges with payers for large invoices.
- For US buyers, consider US account details in the company's own name so they can pay by ACH.
- Check the BCB's official rate, published at 23:30, before converting dollars.
- Gold exporters: deposit at least 80% of income in national financial entities, as SENARECOM requires.
- Keep contracts, invoices and SWIFT confirmations for each receipt.
- Record every stablecoin receipt with its invoice, wallet record and conversion record.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How can a business in Bolivia receive US dollars?
A Bolivian business can receive US dollars into a dollar account at a Bolivian bank, which payers fund by SWIFT wire, or into US account details held abroad in its own name, which US payers fund by ACH or Fedwire. Many companies use both, with the Bolivian bank for bolivianos and local payments.
Can Bolivian companies still open dollar accounts?
Bolivian banks offer dollar accounts, but during the shortage many did not open new ones, and some limited movements on existing accounts to $100 a week, as reported by El Deber in April 2026. Ask your bank in writing for its current terms before giving its details to payers.
What exchange rate applies when I convert dollars in Bolivia?
Since 29 June 2026 Bolivia has a flexible rate. Under BCB Board Resolution 142/2026, the official rate is the amount-weighted median of banks' dollar purchases from clients and the BCB, published at 23:30 each business day for the next day. Your bank quotes its own buying rate against it.
Is there still a tax on dollar transfers in Bolivia?
Law 1717 eliminated the Financial Transactions Tax (ITF), as reported in April 2026. The ITF had applied to deposits and withdrawals in foreign currency accounts and to domestic and international transfers.
Do Bolivian exporters have to bring dollars into Bolivia?
Gold exporters must show SENARECOM that at least 80% of their income is deposited in national financial entities under a decree reported on 15 October 2026. The report describes no equivalent general rule for other exporters, so check with your bank and adviser for your product.
What details does a foreign client need to pay my Bolivian bank account in USD?
The client needs your registered business name, the dollar account number, your bank's full name, address and SWIFT code, and your bank's US correspondent as your bank instructs. Ask the client to quote your invoice number and to use the OUR charge code so the full amount arrives.
Can I use Wise to receive USD in Bolivia?
Wise does not list Bolivia among the countries where customers can hold money, as published on 29 October 2026. Apps that state they serve Bolivia include Airtm, which charges 0.5% per received transaction into its US virtual account, and Wallbit, which offers a US account in the individual's name.
Is it legal to receive USDT in Bolivia?
Since BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 of 25 June 2024, electronic payment channels may be used to buy and sell virtual assets in Bolivia. The BCB states that virtual assets are not legal tender, that no one is obliged to accept them, and that users bear the risks.
How fast does a USD payment reach Bolivia?
A US client paying US account details by ACH usually settles in one banking day or less, as Nacha reports for about 80% of ACH volume, and Fedwire settles in real time during its operating hours. A SWIFT wire to a Bolivian bank depends on the correspondent chain and on complete details.
References
- Banco Central de Bolivia: Board Resolution 142/2026, Regulation on Exchange Operations (24 September 2026)
- Banco Central de Bolivia: Press release CP 35/2024, regulation on virtual assets (26 June 2024)
- Los Tiempos: New flexible exchange rate regime takes effect at Bs 9.73 (29 June 2026)
- Red Uno via Bolivian Thoughts: What changes for your pocket, the Financial Transactions Tax is eliminated (12 April 2026)
- El Deber via Bolivian Thoughts: Rigidity persists for dollar accounts and USDT is an alternative (14 April 2026)
- Bloomberg Línea: Bolivia changes rules for exporting gold and seeks to attract more dollars to the financial system (15 October 2026)
- Los Tiempos: Short of dollars, banks move to cryptocurrencies under the BCB rule (26 July 2026)
- Payoneer: Fees
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.