Venezuela Travel Risk

Reconsider travel to Venezuela due to risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure and natural disaster. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Natural disaster

On June 24, 2026, Venezuela experienced a powerful foreshock and earthquake in rapid succession. These caused extensive damage and disruption to transportation, infrastructure, and emergency services.

The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas is currently providing emergency services only to U.S. citizens.

• Review the U.S. embassy website for the latest updates.
• Review information about staying safe during and after an earthquake.
• Stay in touch with transportation companies and advice from local authorities.

U.S. embassy operations

In March 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas resumed operations, including the provision of limited consular services for U.S. citizens in Venezuela.

• The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas is currently providing emergency American Citizens Services only.
• The U.S. Embassy in Caracas can only provide limited emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Caracas.
• Visa services in Venezuela remain suspended. Visa services are provided through the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia.

Health infrastructure

Venezuela’s healthcare system is in a state of severe crisis.

• There are critical shortages of medicines, broken equipment, and crumbling infrastructure in rural areas and in some neighborhoods.
• Public hospitals in remote areas frequently lack running water and electricity.
• There are shortages of medical staff. These issues have led to high mortality rates.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends medicine to prevent malaria. Other mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, zika, dengue, oropouche, and yellow fever, are common.
• Contaminated water is a source of significant gastrointestinal infection in Venezuela.
• If going outside cities, travelers should consider a health check before traveling to Venezuela to minimize the need for medical care.
• If going outside cities, travelers should consider a health check before traveling to Venezuela to minimize the need for medical care.

Do Not Travel to:

• Venezuela-Colombia border region (20 miles from the border) due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism
• Amazonas state due to the risk of terrorism
• Apure state due to risk of terrorism
• Aragua state outside of Maracay due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Bolivar state rural areas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Guarico state due to the risk crime and kidnapping
• Tachira state due to the risk of crime and terrorism

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against all travel

Border areas

FCDO advises against all travel to:

• within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Colombia
• within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Brazil
• within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Guyana

Amazonas

FCDO advises against all travel to Amazonas state.

Bolívar

FCDO advises against all travel to the Orinoco Mining Arc (‘Arco Minero’) region to the south of the Orinoco river. This includes:

• all of Cedeño Municipality
• the northern part of Sucre Municipality, from the Orinoco river to 80km south of the Troncal 19 road
• the northern part of Raul Leoni Municipality, north of the Rio Paragua
• all of Piar Municipality
• all of Roscio Municipality
• all of El Callo Municipality
• all of Sifontes Municipality

Delta Amacuro

FCDO advises against all travel to the area to the south of the Orinoco river.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the remaining areas of Venezuela including Zulia state, Maracaibo and the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo.

If you are a British national already living or travelling in Venezuela, you should be prepared to change your plans quickly if necessary. You should have a ‘personal emergency plan’, including practical steps for leaving the country or staying safe during a crisis, that does not depend on support from the UK government.

Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Venezuela’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor local media and stay in contact with your travel provider.

This guide also has safety advice for regions of Venezuela.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Venezuela

Terrorist attacks in Venezuela cannot be ruled out.

Political and Economic situation

On 15 September, the UK upgraded diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Although the security situation has improved in recent years and many visits take place without incident, political, economic and operational conditions remain uncertain and can change rapidly. Consular access and support to British nationals in Venezuela may be severely limited. If you choose to travel to Venezuela, monitor developments closely through local and international media and keep up to date with this travel advice.

Flights can be delayed or cancelled at short notice. Keep in close contact with your airline or travel agent to see if your flight is affected. Some foreign nationals have reported extensive questioning by the authorities on arrival or departure. This can result in delays and, in some cases, may affect onward travel arrangements.

Following the earthquakes of 24 June, La Guaira was declared a disaster zone and remains subject to enhanced security and access controls. There is also a visible security presence in major cities, including Caracas, and security checkpoints are common throughout the country. Foreign nationals may be asked to provide identification or explain the purpose of their visit. British nationals should always carry identification and ensure that travel documentation is in order. Members of the security services are unlikely to speak English.

Public services including healthcare and security, and the supply of electricity, water and fuel can be severely limited, particularly outside of Caracas. Prolonged power cuts can affect living conditions and cut mobile networks and internet.

This section has safety advice for regions of Venezuela. It only covers regions where Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.

Venezuela’s borders

Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active along the border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.

Avoid crossing between Venezuela and Colombia by land.

Crossing the border from Brazil can be a lengthy process.

There is no official land border crossing between Venezuela and Guyana, which is covered by dense jungle. Avoid crossing between Venezuela and Guyana by land.

Bolívar

FCDO advises against all travel to the Orinoco Mining Arc (‘Arco Minero’) region to the south of the Orinoco river. This includes:

• all of Cedeño Municipality
• the northern part of Sucre Municipality, from the Orinoco river to 80km south of the Troncal 19 road
• all of Heres Municpality
• the northern part of Raul Leoni Municipality, north of the Rio Paragua
• all of Piar Municipality
• all of Roscio Municipality
• all of El Callo Municipality
• all of Sifontes Municipality

Illegal armed groups are active in the ‘Arco Minero’ and involved in criminal activities, particularly in remote areas.

Delta Amacuro

FCDO advises against all travel to the area to the south of the Orinoco river, where drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active.

Zulia

FCDO advises against all travel to Zulia state due to the presence of illegal armed groups and ongoing crime and violence.

All other areas of Venezuela

Almost all states outside Caracas are experiencing issues, including criminality, prolonged power cuts, water and fuel shortages and a general lack of essential services.

Risk level

VENEZUELA - AVOID ALL TRAVEL

Avoid all travel to Venezuela due to the heightened security situation, unstable political and economic situations, significant level of violent crime, the risk of arbitrary detention, and the decline in basic living conditions, including shortages of medication, gasoline and water.

Heightened security situation

On January 3, 2026, military strikes took place on several sites in Venezuela, including military facilities, in the city of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. Venezuelan authorities have declared a State of External Commotion, granting them exceptional political, economic and social powers.

The current situation in Venezuela is tense and could escalate quickly.

The Embassy of Canada to Venezuela has not been open since 2019. Our ability to provide consular assistance to Canadians in Venezuela is severely limited and done remotely.

If you choose to travel to Venezuela despite this advisory :

• prepare to shelter in place and make sure you have a sufficient supply of essential items such as food, water, cash and medication
• monitor developments closely through local and international media
• register or update your contact information with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive the latest information from the Government of Canada

Border areas

Guyana

The security environment is volatile at the border between Venezuela and Guyana due to the ongoing dispute over the Guayana Esequiba region.

Smuggling and drug trafficking occur along the border with Guyana.

If you travel to the border between Venezuela and Guyana:

• avoid discussing the dispute of the Guayana Esequiba region
• exercise caution at all times
• monitor local media for the latest information
• follow instructions from local authorities and security forces

Colombia

Armed criminal groups frequently operate at the border between Venezuela and Colombia, conducting illegal activities such as:

• smuggling
• drug trafficking
• black market sales

There is a large military presence along the border. There is a risk of extortion and kidnapping, particularly in the area within 20 km of the border with Colombia.

Brazil

Smuggling and drug trafficking occur along the border with Brazil.

委内瑞拉风险等级为黄色（中风险）。

外交部提醒在委内瑞拉中国公民，密切关注当地安全形势，提高警惕，加强防范，注意安全。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻当地使领馆取得联系。

外交部和驻外使领馆将继续密切关注海外安全形势变化，动态调整有关风险评估，并实时在中国领事服务网等平台发布、更新相应安全提醒，请持续关注。