Venezuela
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border
FCDO advises against all travel to within 80km (50 miles) of the border with Colombia. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active along the border area with Colombia and there is a risk of criminal kidnapping.
Zulia State
FCDO advises against all travel to Zulia State, which has prolonged power cuts, water shortages, violence and local conflict.
Within 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil border
FCDO advises against all travel to within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Brazil. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active along the border area with Brazil and there is a risk of criminal kidnapping.
All other areas of Venezuela
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the remaining areas of Venezuela, due to ongoing crime and instability.
Presidential election period
National presidential elections were held on 28 July 2024. The situation in Venezuela is currently tense and you should stay at home if possible.
There is currently an increased risk of electoral demonstrations and protests. You should avoid political rallies, demonstrations and crowds, which may become violent and could be dispersed by the use of force. You should not cross security-force lines or barricades. Monitor developments closely and keep up to date with this travel advice.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Update history
2025-01-21 16:20
Removal of outdated information on presidential inauguration period, land border reopening and resumption of flights with Colombia (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2025-01-13 17:32
Reopening of the land border with Colombia on 13 January 2025 (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-01-12 16:14
Latest update: Resumption of flights with Colombia (‘Safety and security’ pages).
2025-01-11 18:52
Removal of outdated language on presidential elections and inauguration dates (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2025-01-10 16:24
Additional information about some British nationals having been held in detention facilities at Maiquetia airport in Caracas and at land border crossings for a period of hours or days whilst the authorities perform checks and addition of information on the land border closure with Colombia and suspension of flights between Venezuela and Colombia until 13 January 2025 (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-12-12 12:57
Addition of information on the presidential inauguration date, and of immigration officers taking photos of passports and identity documents of foreign nationals as part of their checks (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-11-04 16:30
Updated advice on visa requirements for non-tourism visits and on detailed questioning for arriving foreign nationals on the purpose and details of their visit, including recent detentions of foreign nationals (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-08-02 09:42
Updated advice on the Presidential election period (‘Warnings and insurance’ page), political and economic situation situation and suspension of flights between Venezuela and Panama, the Dominican Republic and Peru (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-01 09:57
Updated information on the suspension of flights between Venezuela and Peru from 1 August (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-07-30 18:37
Update to “Political and economic situation” – information on use of rubber bullets and tear gas (“Safety and security” page)
2024-07-30 06:59
Latest update: Information following the presidential election in Venezuela and suspension of flights between Venezuela and Panama / Dominican Republic from 20:00 on 31 July (See ‘Political and economic situation’ and ‘Air travel’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-07-29 07:44
Information following the presidential election in Venezuela (See ‘Political and economic situation’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-07-24 13:14
Information about the presidential election period in Venezuela (See ‘Political and economic situation’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-07-03 16:19
Updated information about the presidential election period in Venezuela (‘Warning and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-03-25 15:19
Updated assessment that terrorists attacks in Venezuela cannot be ruled out (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-12 16:36
Updated information on dual nationality (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-11-27 12:40
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-08-23 11:13
Updated information on Visas (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:55
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-05-17 14:50
Updated information on the re-opening of the Trinidad and Tobago borders (air) on 13 May 2023 (‘Safety and Security’ page).
2023-05-10 15:05
Updated information on the suspension of COVID-19 specific entry requirements from May 2023 (’Entry requirements’ page) and information on the risk of altitude sickness (‘Health’ page).
2023-04-03 14:49
Updated information on the re-opening of borders with Bonaire (sea) and Cuaraçao (sea and air) on 3 April 2023, and re-opening of borders for Aruba (sea) scheduled for 1 May 2023 (‘Safety and Security’ page).
2022-12-31 15:29
Updated information on COVID-19 entry rules for travellers entering Venezuela from 01 January 2023 (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-08-31 23:57
Updated information on COVID-19 entry rules for travellers entering Venezuela from 01 September 2022 (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-08-02 11:52
Updated information on COVID-19 entry rules for travellers entering Venezuela (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-07-18 17:18
Updated information on COVID-19 entry rules for travellers entering Venezuela from 01 August 2022 (‘Wntry requirements’ page)
2022-06-30 14:17
Updated information on the threat of terrorism in Venezuela (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-06-16 16:20
Updated information on COVID-19 rules for entry to Venezuela (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-26 11:24
Updated information on commercial flights, domestic COVID-19 measures and local laws (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Local laws and customs’ pages)
2022-04-14 15:23
The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Venezuela based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks