LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Visiting Bolivia became a little easier for certain travelers on Monday, when the South American nation’s first conservative government in nearly 20 years eliminated visa requirements for citizens from the United States and Israel, among several other countries, as part of a broader geopolitical and economic overhaul.
Americans and Israelis, as well as citizens of South Korea, South Africa and several eastern European nations that had been obliged to apply and pay for Bolivian tourist visas can now enter the country with only a valid passport for stays up to 90 days.
From the snowy slopes of its 20,000-foot peaks to the dense forests of its Amazon basin and the world's largest salt flats, Bolivia is home to an array of tourist experiences often overlooked by international travelers vacationing in neighboring Brazil and Peru.
Monday's measure is a bid by Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz — who took over the government last month from the long-ruling Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party — to build a strategic alliance with the U.S. and to fuel economic progress by attracting more visitors.
Bolivia is currently facing a severe shortage of U.S. dollars that has hampered imports and paralyzed the economy.
Anti-American hostility in Bolivia peaked under former left-wing President Evo Morales (2006-2019), a charismatic coca-growing union leader who gained popularity in the early 2000s among Bolivians tired of a half-century of dependence on Washington and angry about the violent U.S.-backed war on drugs in the tropics.
Morales led the country's decoupling from the U.S. — throwing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency out of the country, expelling the U.S. ambassador and imposing visa restrictions on U.S. citizens.
He cited the principle of reciprocity, meaning that Bolivians — who are still charged $185 and required to undergo a cumbersome application process to obtain visas — should be afforded the same benefits when traveling to the U.S.
During the 2014 Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Morales also severed diplomatic ties with Israel and began requiring tourist visas for Israeli travelers to Bolivia.
Meanwhile, Bolivia drew closer to Russia,China and Venezuela.
After mass protests against alleged electoral fraud forced Morales to resign under pressure from the military in 2019, right-wing former interim President Jeanine Áñez briefly scrapped the entry restrictions for citizens from the U.S. and Israel.
But then former President Luis Arce, Morales’ political heir from the MAS party, reinstated the visa rules when he entered office in 2020.
Paz's officials on Monday estimated that Bolivia had lost around $900 million from the decline in visa recipients since 2007 and promised $80 million in new tourism revenue over the next four years.
“We must restore the world’s confidence in Bolivia being a suitable and safe country to visit,” Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo told reporters in announcing the new measures.
The State Department keeps Bolivia at a level 2 travel advisory that urges visitors to “exercise increased caution" because of the risk of civil unrest. It also issues a level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest grade of warning, for the country’s coca-growing region of Chapare where ex-President Morales is currently holed up, evading arrest for alleged statutory rape.
Seeking to replenish depleted dollar reserves and liberalize Bolivia’s economy as it undergoes its worst crisis in four decades, Paz last week scrapped some corporate and wealth taxes and laid out plans for taking on more debt.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz holds a press conference at the presidential palace in La Paz, Bolivia, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
FILE - Clouds hang over the mountains surrounding La Paz, Bolivia, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File)
The Texans are back in the playoffs, Philip Rivers and the Colts are out and the Broncos are AFC West champions.
Houston (11-5) secured its third straight playoff berth under coach DeMeco Ryans with a 20-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. The Texans eliminated Indianapolis (8-7) in the process and stayed in the race for a third consecutive AFC South title.
The loss by the Chargers (11-5) allowed Denver (13-4) to clinch a division that was owned by the Kansas City Chiefs for the past nine seasons.
The Broncos became the second team to earn a division title, joining the NFC East champion Eagles. Twelve of the NFL's 14 playoff spots are now locked up.
The Eagles (10-5), Bears (11-5), Seahawks (12-3), 49ers (11-4), Rams (11-4) and Packers (9-5-1) are in the NFC playoffs. The Panthers (8-7) and Buccaneers (7-8) are battling for the final playoff spot.
The Broncos, Patriots (12-3), Bills (11-4), Jaguars (11-4), Chargers and Texans have clinched AFC playoff spots. The Steelers (9-6) and Ravens (7-8) are fighting for the remaining berth.
Here’s an updated playoff picture:
New England clinches with a win over the Jets and a loss or tie by Buffalo, or a tie against New York and loss by the Bills.
Buffalo would clinch with victories over Philadelphia and the Jets if the Patriots lose to either the Jets or Dolphins.
The Steelers clinch with a win or tie against the Browns, or if the Ravens lose or tie the Packers on Saturday night.
The Ravens would clinch if Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland and they beat Green Bay and the Steelers in the final two games.
Jacksonville clinches with wins over Indianapolis and Tennessee, or one win and a loss or tie by Houston next week.
The Texans can win the division with a victory over the Colts next week and one loss by the Jaguars against Indianapolis or the Titans.
The Broncos clinched the division and can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed this weekend if the Patriots lose and the Bills lose or tie and the Jaguars lose or tie.
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They’ll be the NFC’s No. 2, 3 or 4 seed.
Chicago clinches with a win over San Francisco, a loss by Green Bay or if both teams tie.
The Packers have to win their final two games against the Ravens and Vikings and the Bears would have to go 0-2 or 0-1-1 for Green Bay to win the division.
Carolina clinches with a win over Seattle and a loss or tie by Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers clinch with victories over Miami and the Panthers in the final two games.
The Seahawks clinch the division with a victory over Carolina and a loss or tie by the Rams and a loss or tie by the 49ers, or a tie against the Panthers and losses by the Rams and 49ers.
The 49ers would clinch the division and the No. 1 seed if they beat the Bears and Seahawks in their final two games at home.
The Rams still have a path to a division crown, but must finish with a better record than both Seattle and San Francisco.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun, left, talks with Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix following an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) stands on the field after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) acknowledges the fans as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff walks off the field after the team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
