View source for Venezuelan passport

{{short description|Passport issued to Venezuelan citizens}}
{{Infobox Identity document
| document_name       = {{ubl|Venezuelan passport|{{lang|es|Pasaporte venezolano}}}}
| image               = Pasaporte Venezolano Mercosur.jpeg
| image_caption       = The current front cover of the Venezuelan [[biometric passport]].
| date_first_issued   = 1 July 2007 <small>([[biometric passport|first biometric version]])</small><br>17 April 2015 <small>(second biometric version)</small>
| using_jurisdiction  = {{flag|Venezuela}}
| valid_jurisdictions = 
| document_type       = [[Passport]]
| purpose             = Identification
| eligibility         = [[Venezuelan nationality law|Venezuelan citizenship]]
| expiration          = 10 years for over 18. 5 years between ages 17 and 4. 3 years between ages 3 to 0.
}}
{{Politics of Venezuela}}
'''Venezuelan passport''' ({{langx|es|Pasaporte venezolano}}) are issued to citizens of [[Venezuela]] to travel outside the country. [[Biometric passport]]s have been issued since July 2007, with a RFID chip containing a picture and fingerprints; passports issued earlier remained valid until they expired.

{{As of|2015}}, passports were 34 pages long and displayed a biometric symbol on the bottom of the cover. The cover is deep blue and shows the name [[Mercosur]] followed by "República Bolivariana de Venezuela" on the top.

The holder's personal information is written in a digital format on a plastic card which also bears a machine-readable zone on the bottom, and a picture of the holder on the left.

Starting from 19 April 2021, all new passports for adults will cost US$200 or [[Petro (cryptocurrency)|PTR]] 3.6 valid for 10 years. For Children aged 4 and 17 150 USD [[Petro (cryptocurrency)|PTR]] 2.7. And for babies aged 0 and 3 [[Petro (cryptocurrency)|PTR]] 1.8  <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-19|title=Saime estableció los precios para nuevos pasaportes|url=https://eldiario.com/2021/04/19/precios-nuevos-pasaportes-saime/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=El Diario|language=es}}</ref>

Due to the difficulty to obtain a new passport in Venezuela, the United States,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-supports-extension-of-validity-for-venezuelan-passports/|title=The United States Supports Extension of Validity for Venezuelan Passports|date=7 June 2019|website=United States Department of State|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/venezuela-passport-canada-maduro-1.5252088|title=Canada to grant passport waiver to Venezuelans caught in border limbo|last=Dyer|first=Evan|date=19 August 2019|work=CBC|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> Spain<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnacional.com/mundo/europa/espana-facilitara-tramites-venezolanos-con-pasaporte-vencido_276314/|title=España facilitará trámites a venezolanos con pasaporte vencido|last=EFE|date=26 March 2019|website=El Nacional|language=es|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> and several Latin American countries<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45419665|title=Venezuela neighbours relax passport rules|date=5 September 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> accept the use expired Venezuelan passports up to five years.

==History==
===Fraud investigation===
[[File:21 list Venezuela Iraq.jpg|thumb|A portion of a document showing the twenty-one individuals from the Middle East who were issued Venezuelan passports after making a payment at the Venezuelan embassy in Iraq.]]
[[File:Misael López Soto Passport document.jpg|thumb|Part of a document sent by Misael López Soto to his superiors regarding irregularities at the [[Venezuelan embassy]] in [[Iraq]].]]
On 8 February 2017, a joint [[CNN]] and [[CNN en Español]] investigation called "Passports in the Shadows" ({{langx|es|Pasaportes en la sombra}}) - based on the information provided by a [[whistleblower]] and subsequent investigations, reported that employees of the Venezuelan embassy in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]] has been selling passports and visas to persons from Middle Eastern countries (specifically Syria, Palestine, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan) with dubious backgrounds for profits, including to members of the Lebanese group [[Hezbollah]].

The Venezuelan immigration department, [[SAIME]], confirmed the sold passports' genuineness as each passport came with an assigned [[national identification number#Venezuela|national identification number]], although the names of these individuals were altered when checking against the national database. At least one individual's place of birth was also changed from [[Iraq]] to [[Venezuela]]. According to Misael López Soto, a former employee at the Venezuelan embassy in Iraq who was also a lawyer and [[CICPC]] officer, the Bolivarian government would sell authentic passports to individuals from the Middle East, with the Venezuelan passport able to access 130 countries throughout the world without a visa requirement. López provided CNN documents showing how his superiors attempted to cover up the sale of passports, which were being sold from $5,000 to $15,000 per passport. López Soto fled the Venezuelan embassy in Iraq in 2015 to meet with the FBI in Spain, with a Venezuelan official who assisted him to fly out of the country being killed the same day. The investigation also found that between 2008 and 2012, [[Tareck El Aissami]] ordered for hundreds of Middle Eastern individuals to obtain illegal passports, including members of Hezbollah.<ref name=CNNpassport>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/world/venezuela-passports-investigation/index.html |title=Venezuela may have given passports to people with ties to terrorism |last1=Zamost |first1=Scott |first2=Drew |last2=Griffin |first3=Kay |last3=Guerrero |first4=Rafael |last4=Romo |date=8 February 2017 |website=CNN |access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Diplomático venezolano denunció la entrega de documentos a terroristas {{!}} Venezuela, Terrorismo, Hezbollah – América|url=http://www.infobae.com/2015/11/24/1772058-diplomatico-venezolano-denuncio-la-entrega-documentos-terroristas/|access-date=8 February 2017|work=[[Infobae]]|date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

The Venezuelan foreign minister, [[Delcy Rodríguez]], denied the government's involvement when questioned by the reporters during the [[Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly]] and accused  the network of performing what she described as an "imperialistic media operation" against [[Venezuela]] for airing the year-long fraud investigation.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/world/venezuela-passports-investigation/ Venezuela may have given passports to people with ties to terrorism]</ref>

On 14 February 2017, Venezuelan authorities ceased the broadcasting of [[CNN en Español]] two days after the Venezuelan president, [[Nicolás Maduro]], ordered CNN to "(get) well away from here".<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuelan-president-says-he-wants-cnn-out-of-country-just-days-after-report-on-passports-visas-being-sold-in-iraq/ Venezuelan president says he wants CNN out of country just days after report on passports, visas being sold in Iraq]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuela bans CNN after report alleges Iraq passport fraud |work=BBC News |date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423181236/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38986809 |archive-date=2023-04-23 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38986809}}</ref> The government deemed the report "(A threat to) the peace and democratic stability of our Venezuelan people since they generate an environment of intolerance."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/americas/cnn-en-espanol-venezuela-off-air/index.html|title=CNN en Español kicked off air in Venezuela|author=Steve Almasy|website=cnn.com|date=16 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327123310/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/americas/cnn-en-espanol-venezuela-off-air/index.html|archive-date=2017-03-27}}</ref> Venezuelan [[National Commission of Telecommunications]] director Andrés Eloy Méndez accused [[CNN en Español]] of instigating religious, racial and political hatred, violence and other themes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trtworld.com/americas/venezuela-pulls-cnn-for-distorting-truth-298639|title = Venezuela pulls CNN for "distorting truth"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/15/americas/cnn-en-espanol-venezuela-off-air/|title = CNN en Español kicked off air in Venezuela| date=16 February 2017 }}</ref>

===Material shortages===
[[File:Prorroga.jpg|thumb|Extension stamped on a Venezuelan passport]]
In March 2017, it was reported that SAIME lacks enough "materials" to cope with demands for passports. As a result, only approximately 300,000 passports were issued in 2016 while between 1.8 million and 3 million Venezuelans applied for passports. SAIME launched an online platform for applications while guaranteeing 72-hour delivery with doubled fees. The site has crashed numerous times since its launch.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuelans-passports-in-short-supply-as-millions-try-to-flee-troubled-nation Venezuelans passports in short supply as millions try to flee troubled nation]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Venezuelans Are Trapped by a Chronic Passport Shortage |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=8 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524113756/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-08/escape-from-venezuela-passports-vanish-when-they-re-needed-most |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-08/escape-from-venezuela-passports-vanish-when-they-re-needed-most}}</ref> Those outside Venezuela were solicited bribes usually many times of the cost of the passport.<ref>[http://www.elnuevoherald.com/noticias/mundo/america-latina/venezuela-es/article131805349.html La crisis deja a los venezolanos sin pasaporte]</ref><ref>[http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/las-alcabalas-del-pasaporte_83799 Las alcabalas del pasaporte]</ref>

Due to these shortages, the Maduro government has since 1 November 2017 allowed Venezuelan passport holders to extend their passports by 2 years,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fragomen.com/insights/alerts/passport-extension-process-released|title = Passport Extension Process Released &#124; Fragomen}}</ref> provided these passports have enough blank pages, although Venezuelan citizens with pending applications for new passports will end up having said applications cancelled if they exercised the former option.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/venezuelan-passport-ireland-3789645-Jan2018/|title=Dozens of Venezuelans 'stranded in Ireland' as Maduro's government fails to issue new passports|date=13 January 2018 }}</ref> Since 2022 the passport extension was granted for up to 5 years passed the expiration date.

==Visa requirements map==
{{Main|Visa requirements for Venezuelan citizens}}
[[File:Visa requirements for Venezuelan citizens.png|thumb|none|700px|Visa requirements for Venezuelan citizens
{{legend|#002377|Venezuela}}
{{legend|#00A2E8|ID card travel}}
{{legend|#22b14c|Visa free access}}
{{legend|#b5e61d|Visa on arrival}}
{{legend|#61c09a|eVisa}}
{{legend|#79D343|Visa available both on arrival or online}}{{legend|lightgrey|Visa required}}]]

Visa requirements for Venezuelan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of [[Venezuela]]. As of 1 May 2022, Venezuelan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 128 countries and territories, ranking the Venezuelan passport 42nd in the world in terms of travel freedom according to the [[Henley Passport Index]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The ''Henley Passport Index'' |url=https://www.henleypassportindex.com/assets/2020/Q2/HENLEY_PASSPORT_INDEX_2020_Q2_INFOGRAPHIC_GLOBAL_RANKING_200407.pdf|publisher=Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd |access-date=11 July 2020 |date=7 July 2020 |quote=This graph shows the full Global Ranking of the 2020 Henley Passport Index. As the index uses [[Ranking#Dense ranking ("1223" ranking)|dense ranking]], in certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries because these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.}}</ref>

Venezuelans do not require a passport when travelling to Argentina and Brazil, as they are allowed to use their ID card (Cédula de Identidad) instead.

===Recent developments===
Since 2017, 10 countries in [[Latin America]] and [[Caribbean]] ([[Panama]], [[Honduras]], [[Guatemala]], [[Saint Lucia]], [[Peru]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Chile]], [[Ecuador]], [[Dominican Republic]] and [[Caribbean Netherlands]]) have stopped providing visa-free access to Venezuelans following the [[Venezuelan refugee crisis|ongoing refugee crisis]] and reinstated visa requirements for those seeking to enter these countries. Some countries will still allow Venezuelans to enter visa-free if holding a valid visa/residence permit from a particular third country, such as Canada or the United States.

From 21 January 2022, Mexico started requiring visa for Venezuelan citizens.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Pasaporte Estados Unidos de Venezuela(1946).jpg|Passport of the [[United States of Venezuela]] issued in [[1946]].
File:Venezuela passport l (1).jpg|Front cover of a Venezuelan passport issued in 1972.
File:Pasaporte República de Venezuela(2000).png|Passport of the [[Republic of Venezuela]], prior to the Bolivarian Republic.
File:Pasaporte 2005.jpg|Venezuelan passport prior to that of the Andean community.
File:Pasaporte Venezolano(Andino).jpg|Until 2006, Venezuela issued the Andean Passport.
File:Pasaporte-biométrico venezolano.jpg|Venezuelan biometric passport issued from 2007 until 2014. It circulates simultaneously with the format implemented since 2015, until its expiration.
File:Pasaporte Venezolano Mercosur.jpeg|Passport, valid since 2015.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of passports]]
* [[Venezuelan nationality law]]
* [[Visa requirements for Venezuelan citizens]]
* [[Visa policy of Venezuela]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081204172523/http://www.skyteam.com/SP/travelPlanner/timatic/index.jsp Skyteam.com], Informação de vistos para todas as nacionalidades
*Unless otherwise stated, the data on visa free-travel was taken from the [http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/ IATA Delta Travel Planner] database.

{{commons category|Passports of Venezuela}}

{{Passports}}

[[Category:Passports by country|Venezuela]]
[[Category:Government of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Mercosur passports]]