Venezuela: New Online Process Simplifies Travel Document Applications for Venezuelans Without Valid Passports

Venezuela has implemented a new automated process for issuing travel documents (salvoconductos) for Venezuelan nationals abroad who need to return to the country without a valid Venezuelan passport. Effective June 1, 2026, applicants may request the document online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ dedicated platform, eliminating the need to apply in person at a Venezuelan consular post. To register, applicants must provide their national identity card number, email address and create an online account password. Approved travel documents will be issued digitally and will include a QR code for real-time verification by airlines and immigration authorities. According to Venezuelan authorities, the document will be valid only for the traveler’s scheduled flight date and is intended solely for entry into Venezuela using an expired passport; travelers will need to renew their passport in Venezuela before departing the country again. The application fee is expected to be approximately USD 60, in line with the previous consular application fee. While authorities have not formally published a detailed announcement, issuance is estimated to take approximately 10 business days. The new online process is expected to simplify access to travel documents by eliminating the need for in-person consular appointments, centralizing applications through a single digital platform and reducing logistical barriers for Venezuelan nationals residing in countries with limited or no consular representation.  

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.