President Maduro has introduced a state of emergency and the authorities have implemented strong measures against the covid-19 virus. Air traffic has been suspended, but some flights are still being reported. All foreigners who came to the country in March are quarantined. All of the country’s residents are quarantined, which will initially last until April 13, with opportunities for expansion. It is recommended to familiarize yourself well with measures and local regulations. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health.
Safety
Venezuela is one of the countries in the world with the highest crime, and travelers must exercise the utmost care. There may be demonstrations and violent confrontations in the streets of the capital Caracas and other cities. One can meet roadblocks and tear gas can be used. Travelers should be especially cautious and stay away from demonstrations. It is recommended that you stay informed about the situation on an ongoing basis.
The general crime rate in Venezuela has long been high. Caracas is close to the top of the crime statistics worldwide. In particular, homicide rates are alarmingly high, especially in the Caracas area. At the Maiquetia International Airport, kidnappings and robberies committed by fictitious taxi drivers are reported. Robbery, murder and assault are commonplace in the largest cities in Venezuela. Kidnapping for ransom is also very widespread. If you are traveling in Venezuela, you should contact a relative who knows the travel details and who you can contact if you are assaulted or kidnapped.
Most of the killings take place in the poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas. These areas should be avoided. Crime affecting tourists is usually money-motivated, in the form of theft and armed robbery. Events happen both daytime and evening. It is therefore recommended to be especially careful when choosing a place of residence and in general when traveling. One should avoid traveling alone. Luggage and personal belongings should be kept under close supervision at airports, bus stations etc.
Travelers should avoid entering the border areas between Colombia and Venezuela as there are various armed groups as well as a significant element of illegal activities of various kinds.
You should not take a taxi on the street but book a taxi per day. telephone through hotels and restaurants, etc. from a reputable company, or organize their own transport service. Cases of sea hijacking have also occurred in Venezuelan waters.
When using domestic aircraft one should consider the airline. There are rogue players and there have been a number of accidents involving small aircraft.
Floods occur during the rainy season across the country. During the rainy season, larger landslides may occur.
Venezuela is regularly hit by small and large earthquakes.
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
All travelers are advised to register at reiseregistrering.no.
Venezuela is visa-free for stays of up to three months. You should ensure that the passport is valid for at least six months after the date of entry.
If you are going to stay for a longer period or work in Venezuela, you can apply for a visa before entering the Venezuelan Embassy in Oslo or after entering a consular office. Journalists must apply for a visa at the Ministry of Communications in Caracas to enter Venezuela, and this should in theory be done through the Venezuelan Embassy. The Norwegian Embassy in Bogota recommends doing this well in advance of travel. For more information on visa rules, contact the Venezuelan Embassy in Oslo.
Upon departure, airport charges are payable if not included in the ticket.
When arriving at Maiquetia, the international airport of Caracas, one should be vigilant in every way, and not least when choosing a taxi. It is recommended to be picked up by friends, business contacts, hotel or tour operators. One should also be careful when exchanging money at the airport.
Contact the Venezuelan Embassy in Oslo for more information:
Embassy of Venezuela
Drammensveien 82
PO Box 2820 Solli, 0204 Olso
Office Hours: 09.00 – 15.00
Consular Section: 09.00 – 12.30 (Mon-Fri)
Tel: 22 43 06 60, 22 43 01 65
Fax: 22 43 14 70
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged all Norwegian citizens traveling abroad to consider returning home as soon as possible, in a safe and quiet manner, in consultation with their travel or airline. Norwegian citizens who live abroad should heed the advice and guidance of local authorities.
Norwegian travelers should generally stay abreast of the development of the corona virus. Follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation. Information from Venezuelan health authorities can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.
You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
For official health professional travel advice see the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Other important information:
- President Maduro has introduced “Estado de Alarma” (state of emergency)
- Quarantine throughout the country as of March 17. This means that anyone who does not work in the health or safety sector, or who provides food distribution, must stay home at all times without the need for food and other essential goods.
- All air traffic from Europe and selected Latin American countries (Colombia, Panama and the Dominican Republic) is suspended. Nevertheless, some departures are reported and it is important to keep up to date through contact with travel/airline companies.
- All foreigners who came to the country in March are quarantined.
- National air traffic also suspended.
- Schools, universities, parks, bars and restaurants are closed. Takeaway allowed. Religious gatherings and cultural events canceled. Grocery stores are open between 8am and 6pm.
- As the situation has been rapidly changing, reservations about conditions and restrictions other than those described above are made.
- National borders to Colombia and Brazil are closed.
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The Venezuelan health system maintains a consistently poorer standard than in Norway. Remember to always take out travel insurance before departure.
Lack of many vital household products, medicines and other equipment in hospitals can make it difficult to get an ideal medical treatment when needed. Therefore, you should bring necessary medicines yourself.
The Venezuelan authorities recommend all travelers to be vaccinated against yellow fever. It is recommended to check with the Venezuelan Embassy in Oslo if it is required to show vaccination cards upon entry.
The sanitary conditions of hotels and restaurants are consistently satisfactory. Bottled water is recommended. Visitors may have slightly easier stomach upset due to. the unfamiliar bacterial flora. Cholera, dengue, hepatitis, malaria, yellow fever and zika occur. Malaria and yellow fever in particular are a problem in rural areas inland. Contact the Norwegian health authorities before leaving.
Practical information
For foreign visitors in Venezuela, the currency system is a particular challenge. It operates with several different exchange rates. The official exchange rate is fixed at ten bolivares per share. dollars (USD), while another official course, Dicom, is much higher and is often used by hotels and tourist sites. There is a parallel black market with much higher rates, but exchanges with local people at the airport or on the street are not recommended. The exchange office at the airport exchanges dollars for bolivares, as well as larger hotels. It is not possible to exchange from Bolivares to foreign currency.
Credit cards can be used in major cities, but due to the economic crisis, it can be difficult to withdraw cash from an ATM. It is recommended to bring US dollars One should exercise caution when withdrawing at ATMs and never give up the card when paying in restaurants and bars.
Banks are open from 9am to 3pm. Public offices usually have opening hours between 09:00 and 17:00, but this should be checked online. The opening hours of the shops vary, but are usually 09.00-19.00. Some offices and shops are closed between 13:00 and 15:00.
Venezuela has 110 volts of power. The landline is developed largely throughout the country, but old lines can degrade the quality in some areas. The mobile network is well developed in cities and urban areas. According to allcitycodes, Venezuela area code is +58.
Time differences in relation to Norway are: – 5 hours (- 6 hours when there is summer time in Norway).
Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance. The public can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on tel. +47 23 95 00 00 and by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no.
Travelers are always encouraged to bring a passport. A copy of the passport is not a valid ID.
English is not widely used and it will be a great advantage to be able to speak some Spanish. Venezuelans are informal and pleasant people, and one comes a long way with ordinary courtesy and customs. In some business contexts, a certain dress code is expected.
Drug smuggling is punishable by long prison terms (typically ten years) under very harrowing conditions. The conditions in the prisons are very difficult, and foreigners are not given any special treatment.