Venezuela
The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens do not travel to Venezuela. If you must travel to Venezuela, we recommend you avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border. Detentions of U.S. citizens at formal or informal border crossings into Venezuela are common.
A valid passport and a Venezuela visa
are required. Tourist cards are no longer issued on flights from
the U.S. to Venezuela. Visas must now be obtained in advance of travel
from the Venezuelan Embassy or nearest Venezuelan consulate.
Venezuelan
immigration authorities require that U.S. passports have at least
six months validity remaining from the date of arrival in
Venezuela. Some U.S. citizens have been turned back to the United
States because their passports were to expire in less than six
months. Passports should also be in good condition, as some U.S.
citizens have been delayed or detained overnight for having otherwise
valid passports in poor condition.
U.S. citizens residing in Venezuela
should be careful to obtain legitimate Venezuelan documentation
appropriate to their status. There have been numerous cases of
U.S. citizens who, having employed intermediaries, received what they
believed to be valid Venezuelan resident visas and work permits.
They were subsequently arrested and charged with possessing fraudulent
Venezuelan documentation.SAIME (Servicio Administrativo de
Identificacion, Migracion y Extranjero), the Venezuelan government
agency responsible for immigration documents, has informed the Embassy
that the only valid resident visas are those for which the bearer has
personally signed at SAIME headquarters in Caracas.
Venezuelan law requires Venezuelan citizens to enter and depart
Venezuela using Venezuelan passports and Venezuelan immigration
authorities are increasingly enforcing this requirement. In order
to comply with U.S. and Venezuelan law, persons who hold dual
American-Venezuelan nationality must plan to travel between Venezuela
and the United States with valid U.S. and Venezuelan passports.
Venezuela's child protection law mandates that minors (under
18) who are citizens or non-citizen residents of Venezuela and who are
traveling alone, with only one parent, or with a third party, must
present a copy of their birth certificate and written, notarized
authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically
granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third
party. This authorization must reflect the precise date and time
of the travel, including flight and/or other pertinent
information. Without this authorization, immigration authorities
will prevent the child's departure from Venezuela. The Venezuelan
Government no longer recognizes blanket or non-specific travel
authorizations. When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of
the death certificate is required in lieu of the written
authorization. If documents are prepared in the United States,
the authorization and the birth certificate must be translated into
Spanish, notarized, and authenticated by the Venezuela Embassy or a
Venezuelan consulate in the United States. If documents are
prepared in Venezuela, only notarization by a Venezuelan notary is
required. A permission letter prepared outside Venezuela is valid
for 90 days. A permission letter prepared in Venezuela is valid
for 60 days.
Travelers entering Venezuela from certain countries are
required to have a current yellow fever vaccination certificate.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Health recommends the Yellow Fever vaccine
for those travelers departing Venezuela, whose final destination is a
country that requires that vaccine. This vaccine needs to be
given at least 10 days prior to travel. Yellow Fever vaccine is
effective for 10 years so travelers should check their shot records to
be sure they are updated as needed. In addition, per the
Venezuelan Ministry of Health, travelers should carry their
International Certificate of Vaccination (or yellow card) with them, as
they may be asked to present it upon arrival or departure.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are also
common in some areas and travelers should take precautions to prevent
infection.
An exit tax and airport fee must be paid when departing
Venezuela by airline. Most airlines now include the exit tax and
airport fee in the airline ticket price. In the event that the fee has
not been paid, authorities usually require that payment be made in
local currency. Both the departure tax and the airport fee are subject
to change with little notice. Travelers should always confirm with
their airlines the latest information prior to travel.
For current information concerning entry, tax, and customs requirements for Venezuela, travelers may contact the Venezuelan
Embassy at 1099 30th Street, NW, Washington DC 20007, tel.: (202) 342-2214, or visit the Embassy of Venezuela website. Travelers may also contact the Venezuelan consulates in Boston,Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
San Francisco, or San Juan.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Venezuela.
Venezuela
The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens do not travel to Venezuela. If you must travel to Venezuela, we recommend you avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border. Detentions of U.S. citizens at formal or informal border crossings into Venezuela are common.
A valid passport and a Venezuela visa
are required. Tourist cards are no longer issued on flights from
the U.S. to Venezuela. Visas must now be obtained in advance of travel
from the Venezuelan Embassy or nearest Venezuelan consulate.
Venezuelan
immigration authorities require that U.S. passports have at least
six months validity remaining from the date of arrival in
Venezuela. Some U.S. citizens have been turned back to the United
States because their passports were to expire in less than six
months. Passports should also be in good condition, as some U.S.
citizens have been delayed or detained overnight for having otherwise
valid passports in poor condition.
U.S. citizens residing in Venezuela
should be careful to obtain legitimate Venezuelan documentation
appropriate to their status. There have been numerous cases of
U.S. citizens who, having employed intermediaries, received what they
believed to be valid Venezuelan resident visas and work permits.
They were subsequently arrested and charged with possessing fraudulent
Venezuelan documentation.SAIME (Servicio Administrativo de
Identificacion, Migracion y Extranjero), the Venezuelan government
agency responsible for immigration documents, has informed the Embassy
that the only valid resident visas are those for which the bearer has
personally signed at SAIME headquarters in Caracas.
Venezuelan law requires Venezuelan citizens to enter and depart
Venezuela using Venezuelan passports and Venezuelan immigration
authorities are increasingly enforcing this requirement. In order
to comply with U.S. and Venezuelan law, persons who hold dual
American-Venezuelan nationality must plan to travel between Venezuela
and the United States with valid U.S. and Venezuelan passports.
Venezuela's child protection law mandates that minors (under
18) who are citizens or non-citizen residents of Venezuela and who are
traveling alone, with only one parent, or with a third party, must
present a copy of their birth certificate and written, notarized
authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically
granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third
party. This authorization must reflect the precise date and time
of the travel, including flight and/or other pertinent
information. Without this authorization, immigration authorities
will prevent the child's departure from Venezuela. The Venezuelan
Government no longer recognizes blanket or non-specific travel
authorizations. When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of
the death certificate is required in lieu of the written
authorization. If documents are prepared in the United States,
the authorization and the birth certificate must be translated into
Spanish, notarized, and authenticated by the Venezuela Embassy or a
Venezuelan consulate in the United States. If documents are
prepared in Venezuela, only notarization by a Venezuelan notary is
required. A permission letter prepared outside Venezuela is valid
for 90 days. A permission letter prepared in Venezuela is valid
for 60 days.
Travelers entering Venezuela from certain countries are
required to have a current yellow fever vaccination certificate.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Health recommends the Yellow Fever vaccine
for those travelers departing Venezuela, whose final destination is a
country that requires that vaccine. This vaccine needs to be
given at least 10 days prior to travel. Yellow Fever vaccine is
effective for 10 years so travelers should check their shot records to
be sure they are updated as needed. In addition, per the
Venezuelan Ministry of Health, travelers should carry their
International Certificate of Vaccination (or yellow card) with them, as
they may be asked to present it upon arrival or departure.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are also
common in some areas and travelers should take precautions to prevent
infection.
An exit tax and airport fee must be paid when departing
Venezuela by airline. Most airlines now include the exit tax and
airport fee in the airline ticket price. In the event that the fee has
not been paid, authorities usually require that payment be made in
local currency. Both the departure tax and the airport fee are subject
to change with little notice. Travelers should always confirm with
their airlines the latest information prior to travel.
For current information concerning entry, tax, and customs requirements for Venezuela, travelers may contact the Venezuelan
Embassy at 1099 30th Street, NW, Washington DC 20007, tel.: (202) 342-2214, or visit the Embassy of Venezuela website. Travelers may also contact the Venezuelan consulates in Boston,Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
San Francisco, or San Juan.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Venezuela.
