Venezuela (VE)

Valid passport with minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay. Must have at least 2 blank pages for entry stamps. Venezuelan immigration stamps multiple entry dates — keep your passport clean and organised.

Most Western nationalities (US, EU, Canada, UK, Australia) can enter Venezuela without a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Citizens of some countries require a visa obtained in advance from a Venezuelan consulate. Check SAIME requirements for your nationality before travel.

Completed on arrival or via the online pre-registration system at the Venezuelan border. Keep the immigration slip carefully — required for departure. Do not lose it.

Required for residency applications, school enrolment, and civil registration. Must be apostilled by the issuing country's competent authority under the Hague Convention. Venezuela is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Must be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation.

Required if accompanying spouse, for family residency applications, or for name changes. Must be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish. Venezuela recognises same-sex unions from countries that perform them for residency purposes.

University degrees and diplomas must be apostilled and translated for recognition by CNU (Consejo Nacional de Universidades) or regulated professional bodies. Recognition is required for practising licensed professions in Venezuela. Process can take 6–18 months through MPPE/CNU.

Required for residency permit applications. Must be issued by your home country's competent authority, apostilled, and translated into Spanish. Some countries issue this through their embassy. Valid for 6 months from issue date.

For work-based residency: formal employment contract with Venezuelan company, or proof of income for investor/retiree categories. Must state salary in VES or USD. Required for SAIME residence permit application.

Required for some residency categories. Issued by a recognised Venezuelan doctor or government clinic. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever risk.

International Driving Permit (IDP) is accepted alongside your home-country licence for temporary stays. For long-term residence, a Venezuelan licence (Licencia de Conducir SENAT) must be obtained. Foreign licences from many countries can be exchanged at SENAT (Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Transportes Terrestres) offices in Caracas.

The Venezuelan foreigner's ID card issued by SAIME to legal residents. Required for banking, signing contracts, employment, and accessing services. Must be carried at all times. Also used as a tax identification number prefix.

Registro Único de Información Fiscal (RIF) — tax identification number issued by SENIAT. Required for employment contracts, invoicing, opening business bank accounts, and filing ISLR (income tax returns). Register online at seniat.gob.ve or in person.

Microchip (ISO 15444), rabies vaccination (at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before entry), up-to-date vaccination record, health certificate issued by a licensed vet within 10 days of travel, INSAI (Instituto Nacional de Salud Agrícola Integral) import permit. Quarantine is not standard if documents are complete.