Everything You Need To Know About Venezuela Visa

Visa exemption

According to the immigration laws of Venezuela, if you are travelling to the country for tourism purposes and entering by air, you can avail a visa-free entry, where you are issued a tourist card at arrival -- that is valid for 90 days.

In order to use this option, you must have a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page, proof of sufficient funds, onward/return airline tickets, documents that define your trip’s purpose, and required documentation for the next destination.

However, before you plan to avail the visa-exemption option, it is strongly recommended to confirm that the airline allows boarding without a visa.

Most of the times, immigration rules change. Moreover, if you are travelling for purposes other than tourism, you need to apply for a visa prior to your travel plans. Again, you need a visa if you enter the country overland or by sea. Hence, we would advise you to obtain a visa from the embassy before you travel.

Types of Venezuela visas

• Tourist visa
• Business visa
• Transit visa
•  Work visa
•  Religious visa
•  Student visa
•  Retirement visa
•  Investment visa
•  Family visa

Tourist visa

A tourist visa allows you to enter Venezuela for recreation or sight-seeing activities.

In order to apply for a tourist visa, you need:

•  A signed printout of the online visa application form.
•  An original passport with a minimum validity of six months and at least two blank pages
•  A recent passport-size photograph
•  A letter addressed to the Consulate General of Venezuela
•  An invitation letter from your host in Venezuela
•  Hotel reservation copies
•  A business cover letter on the company letterhead or a Chamber of Commerce Copy (if you own the company)
•  A residence permit, translated into Spanish
•  A bank letter and 3-months bank statement as proof of sufficient funds and
•  For minors, a copy of the passport of both parents along with a signed authorization letter
•  A copy of the onward/return air tickets
•  A medical certificate specifying that you do not have any infectious disease
•  Yellow fever certificate
•  Cancel Consular Rights for Consular Management

Once you submit the completed application package, the Consular Mission shall approve it if everything is in order. You can then collect the stamped passport from the Embassy.

Business visa

A business visa issued by the Venezuela Embassy is available as a multiple entry visa. It comes with a validity of 6 months, allowing a maximum of 90 days stay per visit.

For this, you will need the visa application form, a valid passport, a photograph, itinerary details, residence permit, proof of funds, and a business cover letter (employment letter)/ Chamber of Commerce Copy -- as detailed under the tourist visa section.

Additionally, you also need:

•  A letter of invitation from the host company in Venezuela
•  A Criminal Record certificate
•  A copy of your ID

As for the application process, you can follow the same steps as outlined under the tourist visa section.

Transit visa

A transit visa allows you to air-transit via Venezuelan airports and it arrives in single entry with a validity of 3 days.

Of course, even for this visa, you need a filled visa application form, a valid passport, and a recent passport-size.

Apart from these, you should attach:

• Proof of Status: This can be either an original ILR card or other evidence of resident status in the UK. The document should come with a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry to Venezuela.
•  Onward air tickets that specify your next destination and proves that your one-off stop does not exceed 72 hours
•  A copy of your ID proof

You need to apply for a Venezuelan transit visa at the Embassy before you enter the country. The application process is similar to the one described for a tourist visa.

Work visa

A work visa allows you to engage in employment in Venezuela that offers you a remuneration. It is valid for one year and allows a maximum stay of 365 days. Venezuelan work visas are available only in multiple entry types.

For this visa type, you need a valid passport, a passport photo, and a completed application form.

Couple these with:

•  Proof of Status (check the transit visa section)
•  A Criminal Record certificate
•  An employment contract copy
•  Evidence that you possess the required trading professional expertise as mentioned in the purpose of your visa
•  A medical report
•  Your academic accreditations
•  An authorization letter from the Ministry of the Interior, Justice and Peace, approved by the Ministry of Work in Venezuela
•  A Foreign Workers Work Permit that is certified by the Ministry of the People's Power for Labor and Social Security
•  A copy of your ID proof

Like all the above visa types, even this visa needs to be applied via the Embassy of Venezuela in London.

Religious visa

A religious visa, available in multiple entries, and allowing validity plus stay of up to 365 days, allows you to enter the country for carrying out religious activities.

You need to submit your application, accompanied by an authorized letter, issued by a representative of the religious congregation. It should explain that you hold a membership with the organization and are permitted to carry out activities related to your said mission.

As with the other visa types, even here, you need a valid passport, a completed application form, and a passport photo. The specifications are already mentioned under the tourist visa section.

Student visa

A multiple entry student visa (validity and maximum allowable stay limit of 365 days) is required when you seek to enter Venezuela for studying in an educational institute.

In order to apply for one, you will need a completed and signed visa application form, an

Original and signed United Kingdom passport, a passport photo, status proof, onward/round trip tickets, Criminal Record certificate, yellow fever certificate, proof of funds, and medical report.

Additionally, you need to provide:

•  A letter of request from your guarantor (which can be an institution, family or tutor), specifying that the student has the funds to sustain in Venezuela
•  Proof that the student has been accepted in the stated institute or company where he/she is supposed to intern
•  Anotarized declaration stating that the student will not take up any employment options during his/her stay in Venezuela
•  A copy of academic accreditations

Retirement visa

A retirement visa comes in multiple entries and is valid for up to 1 year. The documentation requirements for this visa type are almost similar to other regular visas -- i.e you need a passport, a completed visa application form, copy of round trip tickets or itinerary, a Medical Certificate, and a criminal record certificate.

Furthermore, you will also require:

•  A Confirmation Letter from the corresponding state authority and original documents which specify that the applicant has a monthly retirement income of 1200 US$, generated from sources outside Venezuela. He/she should also produce evidence of additional 500 US$ for each accompanying traveller.
•  An Explanation Letter that is addressed to the Consul General, which explains the trip’s purpose, accompanying members, and accommodation details.
•  A purchase record if the applicant owns a company in Venezuela
•  A copy of the residence permit or passport.

Investment visa

A multiple entry investment visa comes with a validity of three years. What you would need to apply for this visa is a visa application form, an official British passport, a recent photograph of size 4X4 cm, itinerary details, copy of a recent bank statement (individual and from the company), health certificate, Criminal Record certificate, residence permit, and business cover letter.

We have already specified the details in the preceding sections for all of the above documents.

Additionally, you shall need:

•  A notarized and certified copy of a document that certifies the investment.
•  An investment approval document from the Superintendence of Foreign Investments of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, notarized in Venezuela.

Family visa

A multiple entry family visa is valid for 365 days and allows a maximum stay of 1 year. Its requirements are similar to that of a tourist visa, in terms of a visa application form, a passport, and a passport photo: You also need a residence permit and a recent bank statement.

Apart from these, you have to submit:

•  A support letter which indicates that the applicant is a Venezuelan citizen by birth or by naturalization and that he/she has sufficient funds to cover his/her expenses in the country during the stay period.
•  Authentic evidence of employment, which states the applicant’s salary and years of service. If he/she is self-employed, he/she must attach a document issued by a public accountant, detailing his/her work and personal balance.
•  Two authenticated and stamped original commercial references
•  Copy of ID proof

Dual nationality

If you hold dual citizenship, you need to present your Venezuelan identity documents in order to be allowed entry or exit from the nation. Otherwise, you may be barred from leaving the country.

Travel with children

Minors who are travelling to Venezuela without parents or guardians must have a letter from the non-travelling parent(s), who certify that they have authorized their child to travel without them. This document must contain all the required details and needs to be notarized by a local notary agent. If the child is an overseas resident overseas, the letter must be notarized by the Venezuelan consulate or embassy. The child should always carry this letter -- whether he is entering or leaving the country. Failure to do so may bar them from travelling.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

The Venezuelan government accepts UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) at the points of entry, during airside transit and at ports of exit from Venezuela. It must hold the validity of a minimum of six months from your planned stay in Venezuela.