Venezuela, most notoriously known for Angel falls (the world's highest waterfall), is located in South America. Having the longest coastline to the Caribbean sea, the country attracts many people who love to feel the beauty of nature first hand. Unfortunately, the last ten years have been tough for Venezuela. Unresting demonstrations, economic crisis, widespread crime have brought a bad reputation to the country. Therefore, governments around the world urge their citizens to visit Venezuela only for necessary issues. This article will give detailed information on visa types in Venezuela and try to answer questions like What is Venezuela visa policy? How to get a visa for Venezuela? What are Venezuela visa requirements? How much is Venezuela visa fee? And so on.
Venezuela visa policy
Based on your citizenship, the Venezuela visa policy can differ. There are two types of countries in this regard. First is visa-free countries, which are given below:
EU Member States Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, UK, Uruguay. Note that Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Uruguay citizens can enter Venezuela by presenting ID Cards only for touristic purposes.
Also, you need to note that for nationals of Iran, it is limited to 15 days. For Russia, it is 90 days.
Owners of diplomatic or service passport from the following countries can enter and stay in up to 90 days Venezuela without having a visa:
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, The Gambia, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Syria, Trinidad, and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vietnam
Nationals of China, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey with diplomatic and service passports can remain in Venezuela for 30 days.
The rest of the world's countries are visa-required countries. Venezuela visa policy dictates the nationals of visa-required countries should meet the requirements set by the Venezuelan government.
Visa types and requirements
Depending on the type of visa, requirements can change. You might be asking what the visa types in Venezuela are? To answer, we can categorize them into three main groups:
1. Venezuela tourist visa
2. Venezuela transit visa
3. Venezuela temporary resident visa
The first type of visas can be granted to those who visit the country for touristic purposes and will not stay in the country for more than 90 days. However, in some cases, it can be renewed by deciding the Ministry of the Peoples Power for Interior Relations and Justice.
The second type of visas can be granted to those who intend to transit to Venezuela for 72 hours. If the applicant indicates the return to the country of residence, 72 hours per entry can be given.
The third type is the largest one and comprises Venezuela's work visa, Venezuela businessmen visa, Venezuela entrepreneur/industrialist visa, Venezuelan family visa, Venezuela renters visa, Venezuela household employee visa, Venezuela student visa, Venezuela religious visa, Venezuela family visa.
If you do not know How to get a visa for Venezuela, you have to locate and visit the Venezuelan embassy. There is no visa arrival in Venezuela, so you should be aware that entering Venezuela without a visa will cause you to be detained and departed.
Although requirements are dependent on the types, many of them are applied to all types. Venezuela visa requirements are:
Venezuela visa application form
- Must be completed according to the requirements
Two photos
- Photos should meet typical format requirements for passport, and it should include the full face. The size of the photos must be 3x4. The Head should not take more than 70-80% of the photo. The photo should reflect the applicant's eyes. No facial expression is needed. It is advised to have different colored clothes from the background
- Original passport and duplicate of the main page
- The passport should remain valid at least for 6 months after the date of returning. It should also include two pages that are free or empty
Financial means that prove the applicant's ability to sustain himself/herself.
- Detailed information on the job and description of the position, contract, salary, contact details of supervisors
- If the applicant is a freelancer, the income for the last six months
Flight itinerary
The document indicating the applicant's accommodation for the travel
- If you are going to stay in a hotel, it should be a hotel reservation. If you rent a house, a tenancy agreement should be presented
Certificate to prove the applicant is healthy enough to travel
- Issued by health authorities
Venezuela tourist visa
Following additional requirements can be asked for Venezuela tourist visa:
Venezuela visa application form
The applicant should indicate that he/she does not intend to stay in Venezuela more than he/she is supposed to.
Documents proving the applicant resides in a foreign country
If the country the applicant reside and the citizenship of the applicant is different
- ID card alongside residency permit should be presented
A letter provided by a supporter
- In this letter Name, postal address, and contact details of the sponsor/company alongside details of the sponsor's job (Starting date, earnings) should be indicated
- Planned date of work completion (timeframe)
- If a person owns a company, documents regarding company ownership should be presented
- If the sponsor is a student, a letter from the university
- Photocopies of passport of the sponsor
If the applicant is invited by a university, a letter proving the invitation
The normal Venezuela visa fee for a tourist visa is 30 USD, but the figure can vary depending on the applicant's nationality. The processing time for this type of visa ranges from 7 to 10 days.
Note that citizens of member countries of the Andean Community, which is comprised of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru, can enter the country as a tourist thanks to the decision 603 approved by the Andean community on January 1 in 2005. They can stay in Venezuela for a maximum of 90 days.
Venezuela work visa
A person offered a job in Venezuela should apply for a Venezuela work visa to take the job. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. He or she has to go through some procedures and meet the requirements. An applicant should present the following documents:
Visa application form
- Must be completed following the requirements
- o photos
- Photos should meet typical format requirements for passport and it should include the full face. The size of the photos must be 3x4. The Head should not take more than 70-80% of the photo. The photo should reflect the applicant's eyes clearly. No facial expression is needed. It is advised to have different colored clothes from the background
Original passport and photocopy of the main page
- The passport should be valid at least for 6 months after the date of returning. It should also include two pages that are not used
Planned route of travel
The document that proves your accommodation for the travel
- If you are going to stay in a hotel, it should be a hotel reservation. If you rent a house, a tenancy agreement should be presented
Certificate to prove the applicant is healthy enough to travel
- It should be issued by health authorities
Proof of work
- The applicant must show that he or she has accepted the job offer and he/she is qualified for the position. Proof of work experience, and other documents that the Ministry can request
Copy of work permit that verified by authorities
- The applicant should request a copy of the work permit from the - Ministry of the People’s Power for the Social Process of Labor
To apply for the visa, applicant first thing to do is to get a work permit. Then to locate the nearest Venezuelan embassy and present the required documents. In some cases, they can be asked to be interviewed.
Applicants should be aware that this type of visas allows them to reside in the country but does grant them rights as official residents. They have to apply for a work permit every year to renew them. The normal Venezuela visa fee for a tourist visa is around 30, and the figure can vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. The processing time for this type of visa ranges from 7 to 10 days.