Can Bolivians pay abroad with their cards in 2026?

Yes, again. After almost three years of restrictions due to the dollar shortage, banks reactivated international card payments in April 2026, with up to US$500 a month on debit cards. The country also moved to a flexible exchange rate on June 29, 2026.

Payment by card in Bolivia

The dollar shortage hit cards hard. For almost three years, banks limited card spending abroad, and cross-border card payments fell to about US$20 million a month against US$50 to US$60 million in normal times. Since April 2026, debit cards again allow up to US$500 a month abroad and credit cards follow each client's credit line. Visa and Mastercard are the brands carried by bank debit and credit cards.

The exchange rate context

A dollar shortage that began in early 2023 led banks to restrict card spending abroad, until they reactivated international card payments in April 2026. The government of Rodrigo Paz then ended the fixed rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar and moved to a flexible exchange rate on June 29, 2026, with a first official quote of 9.73. At home, cards are a minor channel: 36.7 million card transactions in the first half of 2026, only 3% of low-value electronic payments.

More detail in our #PayWorldTour guide Payment methods in Bolivia.