Community · Londres
Bolivians in London
The Andean community that dances in fraternidad and lives in the south-east — from Old Kent Road to Elephant & Castle, where even Bolivia's ballot boxes arrived in 2025.
7,403
born in Bolivia (2021 census) — the real community is rather larger
200 years
Bolivia turned in 2025 — the Bicentenary was celebrated in London too
SE17
the 2025 polling station was in Elephant & Castle — where the community lives
Your country's paperwork, from London
What your community searches for most — answered plainly, with the official source.
Consulate
Embajada del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (consular section)
106 Eaton Square, SW1W 9AD
+44 20 7235 4248 / 4255[email protected]
💡 Procedures start by EMAIL, with a scan of your passport and cédula. The embassy handles powers of attorney, legalisations, the proof-of-life certificate, travel documents — and since 2022, the SEGIP ID card without travelling to Bolivia. Its website posts very current notices.
Can I renew my ID card without travelling to Bolivia?
Yes — since 2022 SEGIP allows the cédula to be processed and renewed at embassies. In London: birth certificate, the expired document (or a police report if you lost it) and 2 photos 3x4, in person at Eaton Square.
How do I grant a power of attorney for Bolivia from here?
Your lawyer in Bolivia prepares the draft in Word, you send it to the embassy with a copy of your passport or cédula, and pay by transfer. It's all coordinated by email — no travel.
I receive a Bolivian pension — how do I prove I'm alive?
The certificado de vivencia is processed at the embassy — the key requirement for pensioners to keep receiving payments from the UK without them being suspended.
Where did the community vote in the 2025 elections?
At Newington Tenant's Hall (77 Canterbury Place, SE17) — in the heart of Elephant & Castle, Bolivian London's core. Registration was at the embassy, voting is voluntary, and cédula or passport were accepted, even up to a year expired. For the next one: watch the embassy's notices.
Your life in the UK
The British paperwork coming your way, explained properly.
Visitor visa: Bolivia DOES need one
Unlike other countries in the region, Bolivians need the Standard Visitor Visa even for tourism: online application + biometrics in La Paz or Santa Cruz, taking 3-6 weeks. If your family plans to visit, they should start early.
Your first weeks: NIN, bank, GP
The newcomer's step-by-step.
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Your people
Where your community gathers: food, faith, sport and meeting places.
Old Kent Road — the 11 o'clock salteña
Salteñas Martin (since 2023: chicken, beef or cheese on weekdays) and Jenecheru — 'the fire that never goes out' — with salteñas and peanut soup. The Bolivian axis of the south-east.
The caporales fraternities
Caporales San Simón Londres (they've danced in the New Year's Day Parade itself) and Centralistas San Miguel keep the dance alive. Do you dance in a fraternidad? Write to us and we'll build London's first Bolivian folklore map together.
The faith of the south-east
Mass in Spanish at St Matthew's parish (Elephant & Castle, Sundays 13:00), at St George's Cathedral in Southwark and at the Latin American Chaplaincy in Vauxhall.
Dates that matter
Independence Day
2025 was the Bicentenary — 200 years, with an international launch at Eaton Square and community activities
Alasitas
The Ekeko miniatures fair (UNESCO Heritage) — the embassy celebrates it yearly, and in January 2026 a Feria de la Alasita and Oruro Carnival in London were announced
Send money home 🇧🇴
Compare how much actually arrives with each service — fee and exchange rate included.
Compare now →Community, media and support
Anglo-Bolivian Society
The historic organisation: talks, music, art and fundraising for Bolivia.
Friends of Bolivia and Bolivian Community in the UK
Community events and parties, and the diaspora's active page on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok (@boliviancommuk).
Facebook groups
"Bolivianos en Londres" in several versions and "Bolivianos En Londres Anuncios" — the community's digital plaza (unverified: beware of scams).
IRMO and the pan-Latin organisations
Free immigration, employment and housing advice in Spanish — serving the whole community.
Facts checked against official sources (July 2026). Spotted something out of date? Write to [email protected].