Venezuela SKETCH SCORE: 31/100Venezuela moved -2 this weekgovernments disagree by 2 advisory levels on VenezuelaNo major changes since yesterday.Venezuela SKETCH SCORE: 31/100Venezuela moved -2 this weekgovernments disagree by 2 advisory levels on VenezuelaNo major changes since yesterday.
Venezuela

Nope.

No major changes since yesterday.

Verified Sep 9, 2026Confidence high▼ -2 this week
31Sketch Score
90-day trend

Governments, one trip

What they're telling their own citizens about Venezuela

The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.

The real score

The breakdown

33advisoryConsensus
15Political Stability
6Police Trust
48Health
65Road Safety
41Natural Disaster
90LGBTQ+

See it from your perspective

31

Nope.

The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.

Don't fall for it

Scams to know

Corrupt official extortion

Police and National Guard officials may demand bribes or extort travelers. Avoid blue uniformed police and prioritize interaction with Chacao police in tan yellow uniforms.

Illegal taxi operation

Taxis with white plates are illegal and present a danger to passengers. Only use taxis displaying yellow plates.

Staying healthy

What to watch out for, health-wise

Active notices

  • • Yellow Fever in Venezuela
  • • Global Measles

Vaccines

Required: Yellow Fever

Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid

Source: CDC Travelers' Health →

Getting in

What you'll need at the border

Visitors to Venezuela must obtain an e-Visa or a visa from one of the Venezuelan diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination. Visitors not holding return / onward tickets could be refused entry. Naturalized Venezuelan citizens, must hold in addition to their passport and National Identity Card (Cedula de Identidad), the original (or certif

Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.

Source: Wikipedia →

Real, not invented

Terrorism

Terrorist attacks in Venezuela cannot be ruled out.

Source: UK FCDO →

Real, not invented

Cultural & legal notes

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are not illegal. However, showing affection in public will most likely be frowned on by locals and may receive negative attention from the police and other security forces. Venezuelan law does not recognise same-sex partnerships, so same-sex partners have no rights as next of kin. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Source: UK FCDO →

Right now

In the news the last few days

Real talk

What travelers actually say

Travelers agree that navigating Caracas requires extreme caution and local support. You must stay in a group, avoid displaying phones or valuables, and never wander off alone. The reality involves being stalked in public spaces, facing hostile police searches for drugs, and being heckled for money. Locals are welcoming, but visitors are rare enough to cause shock. Do not attempt to visit without Spanish-speaking locals; the risk of being targeted is high. While the airport is a transit point, the city itself demands constant vigilance. If you are not traveling with a large, experienced group, the consensus is to avoid it entirely to stay safe.

We were under strict instruction to stay close, not wander off and basically stick as a herd. Not once did we get our phones out, or anything valuable of that matter.

— r/travel

We were stared at, hassled for money a couple of times and heckled… locals looked almost shocked to see visitors.

— r/travel

When driving through with a local who works for the UN Embassy, we were stopped by police and searched for drugs quite thoroughly and they were very hostile.

— r/travel

Pack this, know this

The little things that trip people up

🔌

Plug & voltage

A / B · 120V

🚗

Driving side

right

🚨

Emergency

police: 911 and 171 / ambulance: 911 and 171 / fire: 911 and 171

SIM / Data

Mobiles operated by Movilnet, a division of CANTV, start with the 0416/0426 code and use the CDMA 800 MHz system and GSM/HSDPA 850 MHz. Rival Telefónica Movistar, formerly Telcel, start with 0414/0424 and use both CDMA & GSM/HSDPA (GSM/HSDPA 850 MHz). Digitel is another operator with a GSM/HSDPA (GSM/HSDPA 900 MHz) network and its numbers start with 0412. It is possible to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM

Cash vs. Card

Current banknotes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 VED. Coins are issued in denominations of 25 and 50 cents, as well as 1 VED, although these are rare to find as so do small denominations.

Source: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA) →

Zoom in

One Venezuela city on SKETCH.WORLD

Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.

Show the receipts (8 sources)
Printable pre-trip checklist for Venezuela →