US passport · Updated for the e-visa era

Venezuela Visa for US Citizens (2026)

US citizens now apply for Venezuelan tourist (TR-V) and business (TR-N) visas online through the Cancillería Digital portal — the Venezuelan embassy in Washington DC has been closed since 2019, so there is no US consular appointment to book. This page walks through the US-specific application: portal, fee, timeline, and the common payment and documentation snags.

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.

  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 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?

Most international connections at SVMI airport require you to clear immigration to change terminals, which means a US passport holder needs an approved e-visa even for transit. Direct US–Venezuela commercial flights remain suspended; most travelers route via Panama City, Bogotá, or Madrid.

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