Send Money from the US to Bolivia for Business (2026)

Key takeaways

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.
Under BCB Board Resolution 142/2026, the official rate is the amount-weighted median of banks' dollar purchases from clients, published each business day at 23:30.
El Deber reported in April 2026 that many Bolivian banks did not open new dollar accounts, and that movements on existing ones could be limited to $100 a week.
A supreme decree reported in October 2026 requires gold exporters to show that at least 80% of their income is deposited in national financial entities.
The Banco Central de Bolivia states that the boliviano is the only legal tender and that no one is obliged to accept a virtual asset such as USDT as payment.

Details to collect from a Bolivian recipient

Ask the supplier for its bank's inbound instructions for the dollar account, not the boliviano account. The NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) is the tax number issued by the Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales; include it so you can match the bank details to the invoicing company.

Field	What to ask for	Common mistake
Beneficiary name	Registered name exactly as on the account	Trade name
NIT	The company's tax number	Left out
Account	The dollar account number	The boliviano account
Bank and SWIFT code	Full name, address and code	Branch name only
Correspondent bank	The bank's US correspondent and its SWIFT code	Left out
Reference	Invoice number and contract or shipment reference	No reference

Field list reflects standard SWIFT practice; confirm the bank's exact inbound instructions. As published on 29 October 2026.

Pay in bolivianos or in US dollars?

Bolivia's rules changed in 2026. The country ended the fixed rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar, in place since 2011, and moved to a flexible regime starting at 9.73 on 29 June 2026. Under BCB Board Resolution 142/2026 of 24 September 2026, the official rate (tipo de cambio oficial, TCO) is calculated each business day as the amount-weighted median of the dollars that banks buy from their clients, and the Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB) publishes it at 23:30 for use the next day.

For a supplier, a dollar invoice now means the rate at which its bank buys your dollars moves from day to day. Many suppliers still prefer dollars after years of shortage, but bank practice on dollar accounts has been tight: El Deber reported in April 2026 that many banks did not open new dollar accounts and that movements on existing ones could be limited to $100 a week. Ask the supplier, in writing, whether dollars that arrive can be moved again when it needs them.

Date	Change	What it means for your payment
29 June 2026	Peg of 6.96 ended; flexible regime from 9.73	The boliviano value of a dollar invoice moves
24 September 2026	Resolution 142/2026 sets the daily official rate	The supplier can check the TCO before converting
October 2026	Gold exporters must deposit at least 80% of income in national entities	Pay gold exporters into their Bolivian bank

Sources: Los Tiempos; BCB Resolution 142/2026; El Deber; Bloomberg Línea. As published on 29 October 2026.

For values in bolivianos, see the USD to BOB currency page, and for the Bolivian side, USD business accounts in Bolivia.

Rails and arrival times

Payments from the United States reach Bolivia by SWIFT through the Bolivian bank's correspondent. Swift reports that almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours, and nearly 60% within 30 minutes. The time after that depends on the Bolivian bank's processing and any questions about the payer and purpose.

Correspondent banks screen the payer, the beneficiary and the purpose, and larger payments draw more questions. Build a day into any payment that releases a shipment, and avoid sending on the afternoon before a Bolivian or US holiday.

Stage	What controls timing
SWIFT transit	Correspondent chain; almost 100% of gpi payments within 24 hours
Correspondent checks	Payer, purpose and documents, more likely on larger payments
Credit in Bolivia	Bolivian business day and the bank's dollar account rules

Source: Swift gpi. As published on 29 October 2026.

Documents and checks

Send the invoice number and a description of the goods or service in the payment, pay from the company named as buyer, and give the supplier the SWIFT confirmation on the day you send. If you buy gold, the supplier must show SENARECOM, the mineral trade regulator, that at least 80% of its income is deposited in national financial entities, so do not agree to pay such a supplier abroad.

Some Bolivian suppliers ask to be paid in USDT. The BCB states that a virtual asset is not legal tender and that no one is obliged to accept it; a dollar wire to a company account remains the documented route.

On the US side, every payment to a Bolivian company must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.

Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR

Each Bolivian bank sets its own charge for crediting an incoming transfer, so ask the supplier what its bank deducts. On SHA wires, the correspondent and any other intermediary may deduct fees in transit. Every SWIFT wire carries a charge code. OUR means the sender pays all charges, so the full amount should arrive. SHA means charges are shared: the sender pays its own provider, and intermediary banks may deduct their fees in transit. BEN means every charge comes out of the amount sent. Paying bolivianos moves the cost into the conversion rate, which now floats daily. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.

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. See how Helm pricing works.

Why payments to Bolivia are held

Cause	Prevention
Boliviano account given for a dollar invoice	Ask for the dollar account in writing
Correspondent questions on larger payments	Include a clear purpose and invoice reference
Supplier's dollar account limits	Confirm limits with the supplier before paying
Name mismatch with the account	Use the registered name
SHA deductions	Send OUR

Sources: El Deber; BCB. As published on 29 October 2026.

Checklist before you send

Agree USD or bolivianos on the purchase order now that the boliviano floats.
Ask for the dollar account and any limits the bank applies to it.
Collect the registered name, NIT, SWIFT code and US correspondent.
Quote the invoice and contract or shipment reference.
Allow an extra day for correspondent checks on larger payments.

Open a Helm account

USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.

Open account

Questions

Should I pay a Bolivian supplier in dollars or bolivianos?

Agree it on the purchase order. Since 29 June 2026 the boliviano floats, so a dollar invoice leaves exchange risk with the supplier and a boliviano invoice leaves it with you.

How is Bolivia's official exchange rate set now?

Under BCB Resolution 142/2026, the official rate is the amount-weighted median of banks' dollar purchases from clients, published each business day at 23:30.

Can a Bolivian company receive dollars into its bank account?

Yes, into a dollar account where the bank offers one, but El Deber reported in April 2026 that some banks limited new dollar accounts and movements on existing ones.

What details do I need to wire money to Bolivia?

The registered name, NIT, the dollar account number, the bank's SWIFT code and US correspondent, and an invoice reference.

Can I pay a Bolivian supplier in USDT?

The BCB states virtual assets are not legal tender and no one is obliged to accept them. A dollar wire to the company's account is the documented route.

References

HelmHelm is a business account for companies that trade internationally: USD, EUR and GBP accounts, international payments, collections and currency exchange, with a named account manager. Questions: [email protected].

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.

Sending business payments from the US to Bolivia