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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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The Department of State on Thursday updated its guidance for travelers to Venezuela, changing its designation from a Do Not Travel advisory to one that urges U.S. citizens to reconsider travel.
Why It Matters
The revised travel advisory lowered Venezuela to Level 3: Reconsider Travel, and urges travellers to reconsider visiting Venezuela because of ongoing hazards such as crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and limited health infrastructure.
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What To Know
The change announced on March 19, 2026, moves the country’s ranking from Level 4 Do Not Travel to Level 3: Reconsider Travel and drops the specific risk indicators for “Wrongful Detention,” “Unrest,” and “Other” from its listing, while adding descriptions of areas of increased risk and updating details about changes to U.S. embassy operations.
The State Department said there are still several areas of Venezuela that it considers too dangerous for U.S. travelers, and it continues to warn against travel to these regions because of persistent security threats.
Officials specifically cite the Venezuela‑Colombia border region within about 20 miles of the frontier because of risks of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism; Amazonas state and Apure state because of the threat of terrorism; and rural areas in Bolivar and Guarico states, as well as parts of Aragua outside Maracay, because of the risk of crime and kidnapping. Tachira state is also highlighted for both crime and terrorism risks.
Travelers to Venezuela are advised to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive government updates and alerts. And, U.S. emergency services are extremely limited, especially outside Caracas. A valid visa is required to enter Venezuela, and the U.S. government cannot assist with Venezuelan travel documents or entry/exit stamps, the State Department said.
The Impact of Maduro
The advisory change comes after a U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, in which special operations forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas and transported them to the United States to face federal charges, a move that dramatically altered Venezuela’s political landscape.
In the wake of Maduro’s removal from power, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who served under Maduro, was sworn in as acting president under Venezuela’s constitutional succession rules and continues to lead the government with the backing of the country’s military and judiciary. The Trump administration has said it will not support opposition leader María Corina Machado as a successor.
“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump said at a press conference in January from Mar-a-Lago following the attack. “She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.”
What People Are Saying
Brian Naranjo, a former State Department official, wrote in a post on LinkedIn: "The facts on the ground do not support this call...I hope I am wrong that this decision was politically driven. I am not confident that I am."
The State Department wrote in a travel alert: "Reconsider travel to Venezuela due to risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure."
What Happens Next
U.S. citizens are urged to monitor the department’s travel advisory page and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts as the situation evolves.
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