Background Checks for Employment in Bolivia

Bolivia permits employment background checks, and criminal record certificates are a routine part of the hiring paperwork for many roles. Employment law is strongly protective of workers, so the way checks are used matters as much as the checks themselves.

What employers can check

Identity through the cédula de identidad, employment history, and academic qualifications are all standard. Verifying degrees with the issuing university is worthwhile, and professional qualifications may need registration with the relevant professional body before someone can practise.

Criminal record checks

The main document is the REJAP certificate, issued by the judicial record registry operated by the Consejo de la Magistratura, which confirms whether a person has criminal proceedings recorded against them. Candidates apply themselves and provide the certificate to the employer. Some roles, particularly in security and in the public sector, also call for a police certificate. Screening is expected in banking and finance, private security, education, healthcare, and roles involving children or the handling of cash.

Consent and privacy

Bolivia does not have a single comprehensive data protection statute of the European type, though constitutional privacy protections apply and sectoral rules exist. Employers should therefore set their own standard: written consent before screening, a clear explanation of purpose, collection limited to what the role requires, secure storage, and disposal once the information is no longer needed.

Checks that need care

Health screening should be limited to fitness for the specific role. Enquiries into union membership are particularly sensitive given the strength of organised labour and the protections attached to it, and refusing to hire on that basis carries real risk.

Practical guidance

Ask candidates to obtain their own certificates, apply consistent checks across a role, and retain evidence of consent. An employer of record can handle screening and compliant onboarding if you have no Bolivian entity.