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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS
Travel.State.Gov > Legal Resources > Judicial Assistance Country Information  > Venezuela Judicial Assistance Information

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Judicial Assistance Country Information

Travel.State.Gov > Legal Resources > Judicial Assistance Country Information  > Venezuela Judicial Assistance Information

Venezuela

Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. All U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately. Read entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued May 12, 2025, to emphasize the extreme danger to U.S. citizens living in or traveling to Venezuela.

Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.  All U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately.

Country Summary:  In March 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations.  All consular services, routine and emergency, remain suspended until further notice.  The U.S. government has no ability to provide emergency services or consular assistance to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.  Anyone with U.S. citizenship or any other U.S. residency status in Venezuela should leave the country immediately, including those traveling on Venezuelan or other foreign passports.  Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason.   

The Department has determined there is a very high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela.  Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect for due process.  The U.S. government is not generally informed of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela nor is it permitted to visit U.S. national detainees in Venezuela.  The U.S. government has no way to contact U.S. nationals detained in Venezuela, and those detained are not allowed to contact family members or independent legal counsel.  According to former detainees, as well as independent human rights organizations, detainees have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, including severe beatings, prolonged restraint in stress positions, and waterboarding.

Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela.  Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice.  Police and security forces have instituted a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy or anti-regime demonstrations, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, which occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism.

Colombian terrorist groups operate in Venezuela’s border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.

Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies continue throughout much of Venezuela. 

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Venezuela.

If you decide to travel to Venezuela:

  • Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
  • Develop a communication plan with family and/or an employer or host organization.  A plan should include a “proof of life” protocol with loved ones so that if you are taken hostage, detained, and/or tortured, your loved ones will know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to confirm you are still alive.  This will help expose scam artists who attempt to falsely extort your family members by claiming the ability to have you released.
  • Consider hiring a professional security organization.
  • Any contingency plans for travel to or from Venezuela should not rely on U.S. government assistance.
  • The U.S. government cannot assist U.S. citizens in Venezuela in replacing lost or expired travel documents or obtaining Venezuelan entry or exit stamps.
  • The U.S. government will not be able to assist should the need for a medical emergency or evacuation arise.  U.S. citizens in Venezuela should consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance.
  • There is no safe way to travel to Venezuela.  Avoid travel to Venezuela via any means, including via land border crossings where even crossing over into Venezuela by a few feet can result in detention.  Nighttime travel between cities or between Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas is especially risky.  Entering or attempting to enter Venezuela without a valid Venezuelan visa will likely lead to indefinite detention without consular access.  Visas are not available upon entry.  U.S. citizens in Venezuela face a high risk of indefinite detention without consular access.  Visas and residence permits may be canceled at any time without warning, and U.S. citizens holding a valid visa may be arbitrarily detained at any time.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) due to risks to civil aviation safety in Venezuelan airspace. For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.   
  • Travelers face increased risk using unregulated taxis from the Maiquetia “Simón Bolívar” International Airport and using ATMs in the area.
  • Over the counter and prescription medicines are unlikely to be available to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.  Bring enough supplies of over the counter and prescription medicines to last your entire stay in Venezuela. 
  • Access to medical care in Venezuela is limited.  Facilities may not have adequate supplies of basic medications. 
  • Update vaccinations to include all up-to-date standard vaccinations, plus Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and a Polio booster.  All visitors should take Malaria prophylaxis. Venezuela is high risk for Malaria. 
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Venezuela.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
... [READ MORE]

Hague/Inter-American

Party to Hague Service Convention?
Yes
Party to Hague Evidence Convention?
Yes
Party to Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes
Party to Inter-American Convention?
Yes
Service of Process by Mail?
No

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.

 

ALL / ALL /

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Colombia 
Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50 
Bogotá, D.C. Colombia 
Telephone: +(57)(1) 275-2000 
Emergency: +(57)(1) 275-2000 
Fax: No fax 
Online: https://co.usembassy.gov/services/contact-acs-form/ 
Website

The U.S. Department of State urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela, and recommends that U.S. citizens in Venezuela leave immediately. More information is in our Venezuela Travel Advisory.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas suspended operations on March 11, 2019. It cannot provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. The U.S. Embassy in Colombia assists U.S. citizens in Venezuela when possible.

If you are a U.S. citizen in Venezuela in need of assistance, or are concerned about a U.S. citizen in Venezuela, please contact us in one of the following ways:

  • Call us at +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. & Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas).

List of Attorneys

List of Attorneys - U.S. Embassy Caracas

 

Is Venezuela a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters?

Yes.

Complete information on the operation of the Convention, including an interactive online request form are available on the Hague Conference website. 

How should requests be completed?

Requests should be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of the documents to be served, and translations, directly to Venezuela’s Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention.  The person in the United States executing the request form should be either an attorney or clerk of court.  The applicant should include the titles attorney at law or clerk of court on the identity and address of applicant and signature/stamp fields.  

Does Venezuela permit service via postal channels?

Venezuela formally objected to service under Article 10, and does not permit service via postal channels.  For additional information and guidance see the Hague Conference Service Convention web page and the Hague Conference Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Service Convention.

Additional information 

The United States and Venezuela are also parties to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol. The United States only has a treaty relationship with countries party to both the Convention and the Additional Protocol, which relate to service of process. No formal letters rogatory in the traditional sense are required.  Requests are prepared on a Convention form and transmitted to the U.S. Central Authority’s contractor, ABC Legal, for transmittal to the Venezuelan Central Authority.

Service on a Foreign State:  

See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Service of Documents from Venezuela in the United States: 

See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.    

Prosecution Requests:   

U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  

Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

Is Venezuela a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters?

Yes.

The Venezuelan Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention designated to receive letters of request for the taking of evidence is the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs.

How should letters of request be completed? Do they require transmittal via diplomatic channels?

See the Hague Evidence Convention Model Letters of Request for guidance on preparation of the letter of request. Letters of Request and accompanying documents should be prepared in duplicate and translated into Spanish. Such requests must be transmitted by the requesting court or person in the United States to the Venezuelan Central Authority and do not require transmittal via diplomatic channels. 

Further information:

See Venezuela’s Declarations and Reservations regarding the Hague Evidence Convention.

Requests from Venezuela to Obtain Evidence in the United States: 

The U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention is the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L Street N.W., Room 8102, Washington, D.C. 20530

Are foreign attorneys permitted to take depositions of willing witnesses without the involvement of the host government or courts?

Venezuela objected to the provisions of Chapter II of the Hague Evidence Convention regarding the taking of voluntary depositions of willing witnesses by commissioners, including private attorneys and consular officers.  Consequently, depositions of willing witnesses in Venezuela must be undertaken pursuant to a request to the Venezuelan Central Authority and in the context of the Venezuelan court system.

May consular officers conduct depositions of willing witnesses?

Depositions of willing witnesses, regardless of nationality, by U.S. consular officers in Venezuela are not permitted.

May local attorneys directly petition a court to conduct the deposition of an unwilling witness or must this be requested via letters rogatory?

Private attorneys from the United States attempting to conduct voluntary depositions of willing witnesses in Venezuela are subject to the penalties of local Venezuelan law.

Is Venezuela a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents?

Yes

Venezuela’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention will authenticate Venezuelan public documents with Apostilles.

How can I U.S. public documents for use in Venezuela?

For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Venezuela, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.

To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.

Last Updated: November 15, 2013

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Caracas

OPERATIONS SUSPENDED - MARCH 11, 2019

U.S. Embassy Bogota
Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50 Bogotá, D.C. Colombia
Telephone
+(57)(1) 275-2000
Emergency
+(57)(1) 275-2000
Fax
No Fax
Email
ACSBogota@state.gov
Website
https://ve.usembassy.gov/

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