US Citizen Travel to Venezuela – August 2024
The US Department of State has a Level 4 Do not travel recommendation in place for Venezuela. Level 4 advisories are the most serios, alerting Americans to avoid travel to those designated countries and areas due to a greater threat of potentially life-threatening risks along with limited resources to help Americans.
In Venezuela, the travel recommendation is due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
The Department has determined there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela.
If you decide to travel to Venezuela:
In March of 2019, the US Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the US Embassy, leaving Americans in Venezula with no routine or emergency consular services. As such, the U.S. government has no ability to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.
Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Colombian terrorist groups operate in Venezuela?s border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.
The Department has determined there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela.
If you decide to travel to Venezuela:
- Avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border.
- Ensure you have a valid Venezuelan visa.?Visas are not available upon arrival.
- Be prepared for the high risk of indefinite detention without consular access.
- Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.