Venezuelan Visa: Entry and Temporary Visas Explained

Venezuela has long been one of the more complex South American destinations for international travelers, especially from the U.S. However, there are signs of a shift in a positive direction. 

The U.S. downgraded its national travel advisory from Level 4: Do Not Travel, which it held for seven years, to Level 3: Reconsider Travel. The country also resumed operations of its embassy in Caracas and has lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, signaling an easier pathway for American investment in the country. 

In this article, we’ll examine the different types of Venezuelan visas you can apply for if you’re interested in visiting the country, doing business there, or even relocating. You’ll learn: 

• In which cases you need a visa for Venezuela
• What types of visa should you apply for 
• How to get a visa for Venezuela

Do You Need a Visa for Venezuela?

Whether you need a visa for Venezuela depends on your purpose of visit and country of origin. 

If you are traveling to Venezuela for a purpose other than tourism, you will be required to obtain an appropriate visa. Tourist visas are also required unless you’re a citizen of one of the countries listed below, which are exempt from the requirement: 

Region	Country
Europe	Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK (including dependencies)
North America and the Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
South America	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Asia	Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Palestine, Qatar, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Oman
Africa	South Africa
Oceania	Australia, New Zealand

If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen and wish to travel to Venezuela, you will need to apply for a visa, even if you’re traveling as a tourist. 

Types of Visas in Venezuela

The main types of Venezuelan visa you can apply for if you want to visit the country, engage in business activity, or live there include:

1. Short-term visas
2. Work visa
3. Passive income visa
4. Entrepreneur/industrial visa
5. Investor visa

The country also offers visas for students, family members of Venezuelan citizens and residents, people in transit through the country, and members of the clergy. 

Short-Term Visas

If you don’t plan to stay in Venezuela for longer than 90 days in a year-long period, you can apply for one of two visas, depending on your reasons for visiting the country: 

1. Tourist visa (T) 
2. Short-stay business visa (TR-N)

For general visits without engaging in any economic activity, you should apply for the tourist visa. 

The short-stay business visa is better suited if you’re a merchant, company representative, executive, or micro-entrepreneur and you want to visit the country to conduct business-related activities. 

Both visas are valid for a year and allow multiple entries. The tourist visa is extendable from within the country, while the short-stay business visa isn’t.

Work Visa (TR-L)

The work visa grants you the right to stay and work in Venezuela for a year, with multiple entries and the ability to extend the visa if you maintain employment. This visa is commonly used by salaried workers, including directors of local subsidiaries, to regulate their legal status in the country. 

Before you apply for the work visa, your employer will have to apply for a work permit with the relevant ministry in Venezuela on your behalf. After being granted the permit, you will have six months to apply for the visa.

Bonus read: If you’re interested in exploring your options, read our guide on Panama’s work visa.

Passive Income Visa (TR-RE)

The passive income (rentista) visa is valid for a year and allows you to stay in the country for an equal period, with no limit on the number of entries. 

To be eligible for the visa, you need a foreign source of monthly income, such as a pension, rent, or dividends, that generates at least USD 1,200 each month. 

Other important features of the visa include:

• You can include dependents (spouse and children up to 18 years old) in the application, provided that you have an additional USD 500 of income for each person
• You are not under an obligation to remit your income to Venezuela
• You can extend the visa for equal terms, provided that you continue meeting the income requirements 

After holding temporary residence on the passive income visa for two years, you can become eligible for an extendable five-year residence permit. 

Entrepreneur/Industrial Visa (TR-E/I)

You can apply for an entrepreneur/industrial visa if you have a demonstrable business track record. This includes owning a company in your country of residence or having a subsidiary in Venezuela. 

The visa will allow you entry into Venezuela for business-related activities. It is valid for two years, with no restrictions on the number of entries, and allows you to stay up to four months in the country.

Investor Visa (TR-I)

Venezuela offers foreign investors a three-year visa with an equal stay and unlimited entries. The visa is extendable for another two years, after which you are eligible to apply for permanent residence status. 

To invest in Venezuela, you will have to meet the following conditions: 

• The minimum amount that can be registered as foreign investment is EUR 800,000 (USD 920,000)
• You must make the investment as an individual or through a legal entity with at least 50% foreign ownership
• Your share in the company you invested in must be at least 10%
• You have to fulfill all the conditions of the investment agreement for at least two years
• You can secure up to 15% of financing from Venezuelan sources

While you are allowed to invest in any legal business activity in Venezuela, the country prioritizes investments in certain sectors, such as oil and gas, mining, telecommunications, media, and social communication. 

Bonus read: To learn about investing for residency in other countries, read our guides on Dubai, Panama, Monaco, and Montenegro.

How To Apply for a Visa to Venezuela

Before you decide to apply for a Venezuelan visa, you should determine the type of visa that best matches your reason for visiting the country. Different visas have different submission methods and require you to gather supporting documents specific to each visa. 

To help you understand the application process and its nuances, we’ll examine: 

1. Online vs. consular process
2. Required documents
3. Application submission and processing

Online vs. Consular Process 

You can apply for short-stay tourist and business visas online by submitting the application and all of the supporting documents through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official portal. 

For other types of visa, you will have to submit your application in person at a Venezuelan consulate. Since Venezuela has a fairly limited number of consulates, you will have to locate a consulate with jurisdiction over your country of residence to apply. 

This makes the in-person application process potentially challenging, as it can involve traveling to a neighboring country. For example, if you’re a U.S. citizen and you can’t apply for your type of visa online, you will have to travel to Mexico to find the consulate that processes applications from your country. 

Required Documents

In addition to the application form, you will also have to submit the following documents, regardless of the visa you’re applying for: 

• A copy of your passport
• Two recent, passport-sized color photos of yourself
• A round-trip ticket 

You should also include a medical and police certificate if you’re applying for an investor, work, or passive income visa.

Each visa type requires you to submit specific supporting documents with your application. These include:

Type of Visa	Supporting Documents
Short-stay business visa	• A letter stating the reasons for the visit and contacts • Company registration certificate • Bank statement
Work visa	• Copies of the employment contract and work permit • An authorization from the Ministry of Interior • Copies of education or qualification certificates
Passive income visa	• A document showing your monthly income
Entrepreneur/industrial visa	• A letter stating the purpose of the visit and contacts • A letter from a Chamber of Commerce or Commercial Registry
Investor visa	• National Investor Credentials and Company Rating Certificate, issued by the Superintendence of Foreign Investments • Income Tax Solvency Certificate, issued by the National Integrated Customs and Tax Administration Service

Application Submission and Processing

The official advice for U.S. citizens submitting applications in person is to make their submission at least one month before the date of travel. 

However, the processing time for a Venezuelan visa application can vary significantly depending on your citizenship. In general, you can expect faster service if you’re from a BRICS country, Japan, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, China, Turkey, Vietnam, or Algeria.

On the other hand, citizens of some countries, including the U.S., Canada, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, should plan for longer processing times and delays.

How To Secure a Longer Stay in Venezuela as a Business Owner

In addition to the passive income and investor visas, you can stay in Venezuela long-term by establishing an economic presence as a business owner. 

To start, you can take the following steps through legal representatives in the country before becoming a resident:

1. Establish a Sociedad Anónima (S.A.) company 
2. Name yourself the director of the company 
3. Establish a physical location for your company

The condition is that the company must have some level of business activity. There are no restrictions on the types of business you can run, as long as it’s legal, with crypto businesses being considered equally as legitimate as agriculture. 

You will also be under no obligation to hire any employees, and there are no mandated minimum investments, as long as the company maintains operational legitimacy.

Once you are formally named director of the company, your legal representative can apply for a work permit in your company’s name. With an issued permit, you can apply for a work visa and secure legal grounds for a long-term stay in Venezuela. 

However, the process may involve certain practical challenges. For example, you might have difficulties opening a bank account in the country before you become a resident and obtain your ID. You might also encounter compliance issues or other situations where assistance from professionals with local experience can be crucial. 

For support with these and other challenges, contact Nomad Capitalist and receive guidance on immigration, compliance, and relocation matters.

Get Your Venezuelan Residency With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is an advisory firm that specializes in global mobility and wealth protection. We have assisted more than 1,500 clients in obtaining residence abroad, optimizing their tax burdens, and exploring investment opportunities worldwide.

Nomad Capitalist’s flagship service is the development of Action Plans, personalized blueprints for achieving our clients’ financial and lifestyle goals. When developing a Plan, we take into account your specific circumstances and desired outcomes and create a step-by-step guide that aligns with your preferred timeline.

Here’s what partnering with Nomad Capitalist looks like: 

1. We ask you to fill out a form to help us determine whether we’re a good match
2. We schedule a 45-minute onboarding call to learn more about your situation and goals
3. Our agents create an Action Plan and present it to you for approval 
4. We manage the implementation of the Plan over a 12-month period
5. You continue receiving support from us even after the Plan was implemented

Nomad Capitalist can help you assess the strategic benefits and potential impacts of investing in Venezuela. We can also assist you with navigating the legal requirements and administrative procedures for obtaining temporary residency in the country. Get your personalized Plan today!