The full 6-step e-visa playbook, fees, and timeline for all nationalities.
US passport · Updated for the e-visa era
Venezuela Visa for US Citizens (2026)
US citizens need a visa to enter Venezuela — there is no visa on arrival for any US passport holder. Applications are submitted online through Venezuela's Cancillería Digital portal; the government fee is USD 180 and approvals typically take 7–30 days. The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC has been closed since 2019, so the online portal is the only route.
Visa class
TR-V (tourism) or TR-N (business), per your case
Entry pattern
Up to 1 year, multiple-entry visa — 90 days per visit
Embassy of Venezuela in Washington DC is closed.Do not search for a US-based consulate. Since 2019 the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in DC has been shut. All US applications now flow through the online Cancillería Digital portal.
Travel advisory: US Department of State currently rates Venezuela Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).Level 4 (Do Not Travel) still applies to the Colombia border region (Amazonas, Apure, Aragua outside Maracay, rural Bolívar, Guárico, Táchira). Read the State Department's full advisory before booking.
Card payments to Venezuela are routinely auto-blocked.Several US issuers (Chase, AmEx, Capital One) automatically decline international transactions to Venezuela. Call your card issuer before paying the e-visa fee and ask for a temporary one-time exception.
Do you need a Venezuelan visa?
Yes — every US passport holder needs a Venezuelan visa in advance, regardless of length of stay. Visas are not issued at the airport, and there is no separate ESTA-style waiver. The two relevant categories for most US travelers are the tourist (TR-V) and business (TR-N) visa.
Not sure about your passport? Use the
Venezuela visa-requirements checker
to see whether you need a visa.
Step-by-step application
Filing is done entirely online through Cancillería Digital. The Venezuelan embassy in Washington DC is closed, so there is no US-based appointment to book. Budget 60–90 minutes for the form, plus several days to gather documents in advance.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Same-Day Visa Application Service - Apply Online. We prepare your document package, submit the application for you, and monitor the case after filing. Same-Day Visa Application Service - Apply Online →
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Want help filing the application?
Same-Day Visa Application Service - Apply Online. We prepare the document package, file the application for you, and monitor the case after submission. Government fees are separate.
Same-Day Visa Application Service - Apply Online →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.
- Valid passport Issued by your home country, with at least 6 months validity beyond your planned date of entry and 2 blank pages.
- Passport-style digital photo Recent (within the last 6 months), white background, 600×600 pixels minimum, no glasses or headwear.
- Round-trip flight itinerary Confirmed reservation showing entry and exit dates. Most direct services into Caracas (SVMI) route through Panama City, Bogotá, or Madrid.
- Proof of accommodation Hotel reservation covering your full stay, or — for business travel — an invitation letter from a Venezuelan entity registered with SENIAT.
- Planilla de Solicitud de Visa Venezuela (MPPRE application form) The ministry’s structured visa request form, usually attached as a PDF in the portal. Fill all sections in our type-in sheet, then use your browser’s Print → Save as PDF, and upload the file where the system asks. Complete now →
- Declaración jurada (sworn statement) A short no–criminal-record declaration in Spanish, often required with the file. Standard text is pre-filled; add your name, country, and passport, type your signature (renders in cursive for print), or print and sign by hand on paper. Complete now →
- US Embassy guide (read it first) The US Embassy in Caracas maintains an English-language summary of the current process. Read it before you open the Spanish-only portal.
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.
Generate the Planilla PDF
English labels while you type; print saves Spanish section titles and field labels. Cursive-style signature from your typed name.
Generate the Declaración Jurada PDF
English how-to box and placeholders; official declaration body stays Spanish on your PDF. Typed signature renders in cursive.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-visa fee (TR-V tourist) | USD 180 | Raised from USD 60 in 2025. Paid digitally inside the portal. |
| E-visa fee (TR-N business) | USD 180 | Same headline fee. Requires a Venezuelan corporate invitation letter. |
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
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 an English-language summary of the current e-visa process at ve.usembassy.gov.
How much does the Venezuelan e-visa cost for US citizens?
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. Some US-issued cards (Chase, AmEx, Capital One) auto-block payments to Venezuela — pre-clear the transaction with your card issuer before submitting.
How long does it take US citizens to get a Venezuelan visa?
Approvals through Cancillería Digital typically arrive in around 15 days, with a real-world range of 7–30 days reported by Fragomen and the US Embassy in Caracas. Apply at least 4–6 weeks before departure and do not book non-refundable flights before the visa is in hand.
Is the Embassy of Venezuela in Washington DC open?
No — the Embassy of Venezuela in Washington DC has been closed since 2019, when the US recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president and the Maduro-aligned diplomats were expelled. The full diplomatic mission has not reopened. US-citizen visa applications are processed online through Cancillería Digital, not in person.
Can US citizens travel to Venezuela right now?
Yes, with caveats — as of March 19, 2026 the US State Department downgraded Venezuela from Level 4 (Do Not Travel) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), with Level 4 still applying to specific border states. The US Embassy in Caracas formally reopened on March 30, 2026. Travel is legal but requires careful planning, an approved e-visa, and comprehensive medical-evacuation insurance.
What's the difference between TR-V and TR-N for US passport holders?
TR-V is the tourist visa — for leisure, family visits, and general travel. TR-N is the business visa — for meetings, market research, contract negotiation, and similar activities. Both are issued for up to 1 year multiple-entry with stays of up to 90 days per entry. The TR-N additionally requires a corporate invitation letter from a Venezuelan entity registered with SENIAT.
Do US citizens need a visa to transit through Caracas?
Yes — a US passport holder needs an approved e-visa even for transit, because most international connections at SVMI airport require clearing immigration to change terminals. Direct US–Venezuela commercial flights remain suspended; most travelers route via Panama City, Bogotá, or Madrid.
Keep going
Corporate invitation letter, SENIAT registration, executive travel guidance.
Compare US visa rules with other nationalities side-by-side.