Venezuela

The UK Foreign Office travel advice, updated 14 October 2026 and confirmed current on 3 November 2026, advises against all travel to Amazonas state, several border areas and parts of the Orinoco Mining Arc, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Venezuela. This is UK government travel-risk advice, not Venezuelan entry regulation. Yacht operators should also check current navigational warnings and local security notices and directly confirm that ports are open.

Ports of entry / departure

Noonsite’s La Guaira and Caraballeda clearance page, last updated in 2010, says yachts should clear in at La Guaira and still follow port requirements when proceeding to Caraballeda. This information is old and is not a current designated-port list. Confirm the receiving port and current security conditions with the harbour master, Customs and Immigration before departure.

Third-party historical reference (not an official rule): Noonsite: La Guaira & Caraballeda clearance

No official advance-notice deadline or uniform reporting channel for all foreign private yachts has been verified. UK Foreign Office entry guidance is specific to British citizens: arrival by sea may require a visa in advance, and travellers are advised to check with a Venezuelan embassy or consulate. This concerns personal visa arrangements, not vessel pre-arrival reporting. Other nationalities and yacht-notification procedures must be confirmed with Venezuelan authorities separately.

Visa requirements depend on crew nationality. The UK Foreign Office guide for British citizens says a visa may be needed in advance for arrival by sea. The U.S. State Department says U.S. citizens need a valid Venezuelan visa and cannot obtain one on arrival. These are official travel advisories for specific nationalities, not rules covering all crew. Each person should confirm sea-entry visa, passport validity and permitted stay with a Venezuelan consulate based on their passport.

The following is historical third-party information, not current rules. Noonsite’s La Guaira/Caraballeda clearance page (published in 2014 and marked last updated in 2010) described yachts clearing in at La Guaira, displaying the Q flag and having the master contact the harbour master. Old details such as agent fees and office hours should not be treated as current. Noonsite has also published more recent Venezuela security alerts. Before sailing, verify directly with Venezuelan Customs, the harbour master and your national travel authority; do not plan a call based only on this old account.

The U.S. State Department guide for American travellers says people entering from Brazil, or transiting Brazil for more than 12 hours, must be vaccinated against yellow fever and carry an International Certificate of Vaccination. This is health guidance for people, not a Venezuelan yacht quarantine rule for food, pets, plants or animals. Yacht-specific declaration and treatment requirements for quarantine items aboard remain unverified.

The U.S. State Department travel guide for U.S. citizens warns against carrying narcotics, controlled medicines, firearms or ammunition in Venezuela and notes that severe penalties may apply. This is a general legal-safety warning for American travellers, not a complete Venezuelan Customs restricted-goods list, and it does not explain how sealed items aboard yachts are handled. Crew of other nationalities and anyone carrying weapons, medicines or controlled items should confirm requirements with Venezuelan Customs.

No current official list of ports where foreign private yachts can clear in or out has been verified, and it is unknown whether the old ports listed by Noonsite are currently open for clearance. Noonsite’s country page has a recent 2026 update and security alert, but its old port page is not current port-entry authorization. The U.S. State Department currently advises reconsidering travel to Venezuela and advises against travel to several areas; this is not a notice about port opening status. Before departure, check each port with port and border/Customs authorities and consult the latest travel advisories from your country.

Fees and departure

Noonsite’s historical La Guaira/Caraballeda report mentions an agent charge of up to about US$100 for handling officials’ procedures and possible overtime fees. The page was last updated in 2010; the fee components, payees and current validity are unknown. Do not treat this as a uniform government departure-clearance fee. Before departure, obtain a written quote and official receipts from local Customs, the harbour master and any agent.

Third-party historical reference (not an official tariff): Noonsite: La Guaira & Caraballeda clearance