Reconsider travel

to Venezuela due to risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

U.S. embassy operations
In January 2026, the U.S. Department of State began a phased approach to resuming embassy operations in Venezuela. The Venezuela Affairs Unit located in Embassy Bogotá will continue to serve as the remote mission to Venezuela until the resumption of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. 

• Given the embassy’s suspended operations, U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel to Venezuela. They need authorization to travel outside of Caracas due to the safety risks.
• Routine consular services remain suspended in Venezuela.
• The Venezuela Affairs Unit cannot provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Caracas.
• Most consular services are still provided through the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.  

Crime and kidnapping

• While the situation is improving, conditions in some parts of Venezuela remain dangerous. Violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping occur.  
• Travelers face increased risk using unregulated taxis from Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport serving Caracas. Security risks are also present when using ATMs near the airport.
• Nighttime travel between cities or between the Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas is risky.
• Irregular armed groups can carry out acts of violence against citizens without warning. Reliable crime statistics are unavailable.

Terrorism
There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Venezuela. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

• The Foreign Terrorist Organizations Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles started in Venezuela and continue to operate.
• Terrorist groups operate in Venezuela’s border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.

Health Infrastructure
Venezuela’s healthcare system is recovering from a state of severe crisis.

• There are critical shortages of medicines, broken equipment, and crumbling infrastructure in rural areas and in some neighborhoods.
• Public hospitals in isolated areas frequently lack running water and electricity.
• There are shortages of medical staff.
• These issues have led to high mortality rates.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends medicine to prevent malaria. Other mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, zika, dengue, oropouche, and yellow fever, are common.
• Contaminated water is a source of significant gastrointestinal infection in Venezuela.

If going outside urban centers, travelers should consider a health check before going to Venezuela to minimize the need for medical care while traveling.

Do Not Travel to:

• Venezuela-Colombia border region (20 miles from the border) due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism
• Amazonas state due to the risk of terrorism
• Apure state due to risk of terrorism
• Aragua state outside of Maracay due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Bolivar state rural areas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Guarico state due to the risk crime and kidnapping
• Tachira state due to the risk of crime and terrorism