Is It Safe to Travel to Venezuela in 2026?
Venezuela - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Venezuela due to elevated risks. Key factors: crime, kidnapping, terrorism, health, natural_disaster.
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and various islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises an area of 912,050 km2 (352,140 sq mi), with a population estimated at 31.8 million in 2025.
Is It Safe to Travel to Venezuela in 2026?
Venezuela is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Travelers should reconsider travel to Venezuela due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure. Conditions in some parts of Venezuela remain dangerous, with violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping occurring frequently.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- kidnapping
- terrorism
- health
- natural_disaster
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Conditions in some parts of Venezuela remain dangerous, with violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping occurring frequently., The advisory recommends reconsidering travel due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks of violent crime and kidnapping, particularly in urban areas like Caracas where armed robbery is prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter significant operational risks due to unreliable infrastructure and the potential for violent crime, especially when moving between locations.
Families with children face severe health risks and a lack of pediatric care, compounded by the high likelihood of violent crime and kidnapping.
Remote workers may find some urban areas with decent connectivity, but the overall security situation and health risks make it a dangerous environment for extended stays.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Venezuela.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Venezuela-Colombia border region
- Amazonas state
- Apure state
- Aragua state
- Bolivar state
- Guarico state
- Tachira state
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel7 regions
▶Amazonas state
Do Not Travel due to the risk of terrorism.
▶Apure state
Do Not Travel due to risk of terrorism.
▶Aragua state
Do Not Travel outside of Maracay due to the risk of crime and kidnapping.
▶Bolivar state
Do Not Travel to rural areas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping.
▶Guarico state
Do Not Travel due to the risk of crime and kidnapping.
▶Tachira state
Do Not Travel due to the risk of crime and terrorism.
▶Venezuela-Colombia border region
Do Not Travel due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism.
Venezuela has 7 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Venezuela has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 9.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 7.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 15/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Required
Currency
Bolívar Digital (VES)
Language
Spanish
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Venezuela
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Venezuela?
▶Is it safe to travel to Venezuela right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Venezuela?
▶What vaccines do I need for Venezuela?
▶Is Venezuela safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Venezuela?
More Venezuela Data
Not Free — 15/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.