Visa & entry guide · Updated for the new e-visa portal

How To Apply For A Venezuelan Visa (2026)

Venezuela now issues tourist (TR-V) and business (TR-N) visas through an online e-visa portal — the Cancillería Digital. This guide walks you through the full application.

Visa validity
Up to 1 year, multiple-entry
Length of each stay
Up to 90 days per entry
No visa on arrival.Venezuela does not issue tourist or business visas at the airport. You must hold an approved e-visa in your passport (or a printed approval) before boarding your flight.
Embassy of Venezuela in Washington DC has been closed since 2019.US-based applicants cannot file in person in the US. All US applications now run through the online Cancillería Digital portal — there is no consulate appointment to book.

Do you need a Venezuelan visa?

Most Western Hemisphere passport holders enter Venezuela visa-free for tourist stays of up to 60–90 days (UK, Canada, EU, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, UAE). The big exceptions are the United States and China — both nationalities require a tourist or business visa in advance. If you're not sure, use the visa-requirements checker.

Not sure about your passport? Use the Venezuela visa-requirements checker to see whether you need a visa.

Step-by-step application

The application is done entirely online through Venezuela's Cancillería Digital portal. The interface is in Spanish only — budget about 60–90 minutes for the form itself, plus time to gather documents in advance.

  1. Watch the instructional video

    Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts a short screen recording of the Cancillería Digital request process. Watch it once before you register so you recognise the menus and upload steps. The live portal stays in Spanish — keep a translator tab open if you need it.

  2. Register on Cancillería Digital

    Create an account on Venezuela's official Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MPPRE) e-visa portal. The interface is in Spanish — use a translator if needed. Click "regístrate" on the login screen.

  3. Complete the electronic application form

    Fill in personal, passport, travel, and financial information. You will be asked which visa type you want (Tourist TR-V or Business TR-N) and your intended dates of travel.

  4. Upload supporting documents

    Digital scans of: (1) a valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, (2) a passport-sized photo, (3) hotel reservation or invitation letter, (4) round-trip flight itinerary, and (5) proof of funds. Business visas additionally require a corporate invitation letter from a Venezuelan entity.

  5. Pay the visa fee through the portal

    The fee is USD 180 (raised from USD 60 in 2025) and is paid digitally inside the portal. Confirm with your card issuer that international payments to Venezuela will not be auto-blocked.

  6. Wait for approval and download your e-visa

    Approval is delivered through the portal — typically in around 15 days, with a real-world range of 7–30 days. Print the approved visa and bring the printout with you; present it together with your passport at SVMI airport on arrival. Do not book non-refundable flights before the visa is in hand.

What you need before you start

Gather these documents before you open the application portal. Missing or low-quality scans are the most common cause of approval delays.

Printable MPPRE forms (Planilla + Declaración)

These are the two documents travelers upload most often with the e-visa file. Both tools use English on screen (labels and tips) and produce a Spanish-labelled PDF for the portal. Use your browser’s Print dialog and choose Save as PDF — the same flow as the Caracas Emergency Card.

First time seeing these names? Read our short guides: Fill In Your Planilla De Solicitud De Visa Venezuella · declaración jurada (visa venezolana).

Fees

ItemAmountNotes
E-visa fee (TR-V tourist) USD 180 Up from USD 60 in 2025; paid digitally inside the portal.
E-visa fee (TR-N business) USD 180 Same headline fee as tourist; corporate invitation letter required.

Timeline

Recommended buffer 4–6 weeks before departure
Typical approval ≈ 15 days from submission
Real-world range 7–30 days (Fragomen / US Embassy)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to travel to Venezuela in 2026?

It depends on your passport. US and Chinese citizens require a visa in advance — there is no visa on arrival. UK, Canadian, EU (most member states), Brazilian, Colombian, Russian, and UAE passport holders can enter visa-free for tourist stays of 60–90 days, with the exact limit depending on nationality.

How much does a Venezuela visa cost?

The official Cancillería Digital e-visa fee is USD 180 for both the tourist (TR-V) and business (TR-N) visa, raised from USD 60 in 2025. The fee is paid digitally inside the portal. Some US-issued cards auto-block payments to Venezuela — pre-clear the transaction with your card issuer.

How long does it take to get a Venezuelan visa?

Approvals through the Cancillería Digital portal typically arrive in around 15 days. Fragomen and the US Embassy report a real-world range of 7–30 days depending on portal queue and document re-submission. Plan to apply at least 4–6 weeks before departure and do not book non-refundable flights before the visa is approved.

Where do US citizens apply for a Venezuelan visa?

Online, through the Cancillería Digital e-visa portal at cancilleriadigital.mppre.gob.ve. The Embassy of Venezuela in Washington DC has been closed since 2019, so there is no US-based consular appointment. The US Embassy in Caracas publishes a plain-English summary of the current process.

Can I apply for a Venezuelan visa on arrival?

No. Venezuela does not issue tourist or business visas at the airport for any nationality that requires a visa. You must hold an approved e-visa (or printed approval) before boarding your flight to Caracas.

What's the difference between a TR-V and TR-N visa?

TR-V is the tourist visa, valid for general leisure travel. TR-N is the business visa, intended for meetings, market research, contract negotiation, and similar activities. The TR-N requires a corporate invitation letter from a Venezuelan entity registered with SENIAT (the Venezuelan tax authority). Both are issued for up to 1 year, multiple-entry, with stays of up to 90 days per entry.

Is the Venezuelan e-visa the same fee for everyone?

The headline fee is USD 180 for tourist and business e-visas filed through Cancillería Digital. Chinese applicants typically file at the Embassy of Venezuela in Beijing (or its Shanghai / Hong Kong consulates) and should confirm the current fee directly with the consulate accredited to their province, as in-person filings can carry different administrative costs.

Do I need a visa to travel through Venezuela in transit?

Most international transits at SVMI (Caracas) airport require you to clear immigration to change terminals, which means you need a tourist visa if your nationality requires one. Confirm your itinerary with the airline — direct connections to Caracas remain limited and most travelers route via Panama City, Bogotá, or Madrid.

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