Is Venezuela Safe to Travel? What Canada's Avoid All Travel Warning Means

If family or work means you're still weighing a trip, plan how you'll stay in touch before you book. HelloRoam sells travel eSIMs for 185+ destinations, but Venezuela isn't one of them. The phone section below sets out what GAC says to expect from local networks instead.

Canada's advice for Venezuela is to avoid all travel

GAC bases the warning on five problems:

• the heightened security situation;
• unstable political and economic conditions;
• a significant level of violent crime;
• the risk of arbitrary detention;
• a decline in basic living conditions, including shortages of medication, gasoline and water.

Avoid all travel sits one step above avoid non-essential travel. In GAC's own definition, it means you should not travel to the country, and your personal safety and security are at great risk.

The level also affects your insurance. GAC warns that many travel insurance policies won't cover you in a place under an avoid all travel advisory. If you still go, get the insurer's answer in writing, and our guide to choosing travel insurance as a Canadian covers the rest of what to check.

Upbeat trip reports on forums and social media don't change the official picture. GAC says violence can happen in cities and rural areas alike, including places popular with tourists. Police response times are poor or non-existent in most of the country.

Canada's rating is stricter than the US and UK ratings

The US has lowered its rating: the State Department now rates Venezuela Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and keeps some areas at Level 4, Do Not Travel. The UK's Foreign Office advice splits the country into zones, while New Zealand's SafeTravel says do not travel.

Each government writes its advice for its own citizens. For a Canadian, GAC's level is the one tied to your consular help and, often, to your travel insurance.

Strikes in January and earthquakes in June shape the situation now

On January 3, 2026, military strikes hit several sites in Venezuela, including military facilities, in Caracas and in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. Venezuelan authorities have declared a State of External Commotion, which gives them exceptional political, economic and social powers. GAC calls the situation tense and says it could escalate quickly.

On June 24, 2026, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck near the coast west of Caracas. GAC reports a large number of casualties, significant damage to infrastructure and a declared state of emergency. Aftershocks could cause more damage, and transport, power, water and food supply, telecom networks, emergency services and medical care may be disrupted.

Getting around and getting out can be difficult. GAC says international and domestic flights are limited, and some airlines have cut or suspended their Venezuela service. Some flights at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, which serves Caracas, run from temporary terminals. International departures also leave from Barcelona, Barquisimeto, Maracaibo and Valencia.

Daily life is strained too. Power cuts and electricity rationing are common, including in Caracas, and outages can last several days. When they hit, medical care, water, mobile and internet service, banking and transport are often disrupted. Water rationing is common, and fuel may be scarce outside cities.

Large and violent demonstrations happen often in Caracas and many other areas. GAC says to avoid them and to stay out of political discussions in public. Since 2024, Venezuelan authorities have arbitrarily detained dozens of foreign citizens, and GAC may not be told if you're detained.

The warning covers every region, and some areas add specific risks

GAC makes no exception for beaches, islands or other tourist areas. These are the places where its advice names extra dangers:

Scams in Venezuela target your cash, cards and trust

GAC says kidnappers and armed robbers target foreigners, who are assumed to carry large amounts of foreign currency. These are the scams and traps its advice describes, with the steps it recommends:

Canada has no office in Venezuela, so help comes from Bogotá and Ottawa

The Embassy of Canada to Venezuela has not been open since 2019, and there is no Government of Canada office in the country. GAC says its ability to help Canadians in Venezuela is severely limited and done remotely. The Embassy of Canada in Bogotá, Colombia, covers Venezuela, along with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Save these before you fly. GAC's emergency assistance page also has an online contact form. Sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad, the free service GAC uses to reach you in an emergency at your destination.

Canadians need a visa before arriving, and dual citizens face extra rules

Canadians need a visa for Venezuela for tourism, business, work or study, and you must get it before you travel. Visas are not available on arrival. GAC warns that entering without a valid visa can lead to lengthy detention or imprisonment.

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Venezuela.
• Customs officials may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of enough money for your stay.
• Make sure Venezuela's immigration office stamps your passport when you arrive.
• Carry your passport at all times. Declare imports worth more than US$1,000, and declare cash over US$10,000 when you enter or leave.

Canadian-Venezuelan dual citizens must enter and leave Venezuela on a Venezuelan passport. Children born outside Venezuela to Venezuelan parents are treated as Venezuelan citizens and need one too. Immigration has let some dual citizens in without a Venezuelan passport, then stopped them from leaving. New or renewed Venezuelan passports are very hard to get inside the country. GAC says to make sure yours stays valid beyond your trip. Arrange any renewal, or a passport for a Canadian-born child, through the nearest Venezuelan embassy or consulate.

Entry rules can change at any time, and Canada can't step in if you don't meet them. Confirm the current rules with a Venezuelan embassy or consulate before you book.

Cash in US dollars works better than cards in Venezuela

Venezuela's currency is the bolívar, but GAC says US dollars are widely accepted. You'll need US cash for basic food and personal care products, which are available but very costly. Carry small bills.

• You can't withdraw cash from a foreign bank account at Venezuelan ATMs, and many ATMs don't accept international credit cards.
• You must change money at the official government rate, and only US dollars can be exchanged.
• Wire transfers aren't a reliable source of emergency money.
• Expect to show ID when you pay by credit card.

Phone and internet service in Venezuela is unreliable

GAC describes Venezuela's telecom infrastructure as being in a state of disrepair, with frequent interruptions. International calls are very difficult to make, and some areas have no mobile coverage, so GAC suggests checking local providers' coverage for where you're going.

A HelloRoam eSIM won't help here, because we don't offer plans for Venezuela. These steps make you easier to reach:

• Print the contacts table above and keep the copy with your passport.
• When you take a taxi, GAC suggests telling a friend your movements, the taxi company's name and the taxi number.
• If you plan to roam on your Canadian plan, ask your provider before you leave whether Venezuela is included and what it costs.

Health care is limited and medicine is scarce

GAC says good health care is limited, and private facilities are low on supplies and extremely costly. You must pay before treatment, and ambulance service is very limited, especially in rural areas. Make sure your insurance covers hospital stays and medical evacuation.

There's a severe shortage of medicine across the country, so bring every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you need, plus extra in case you're delayed. GAC suggests seeing a travel health clinic, ideally 6 weeks before you leave. It notes malaria risk in certain areas or at certain times of year. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you arrive from Brazil, including after more than 12 hours in transit at a Brazilian airport.

Rainy season, hurricanes and earthquakes add natural risks

Venezuela's rainy season runs from May to December and can bring flooding and landslides. Coastal roads and highways may not be fully operational after heavy rain. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from early June to the end of November. Caracas and the coastal range sit in an active seismic zone prone to earthquakes and landslides.

GAC reviews its advisories as conditions change, so check its Venezuela page again before you book and before you fly. If this advisory changes your plans, our vacation guides for other destinations cover weather, visas and costs.