The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sharply escalated its travel warning for Venezuela, now advising against all travel to large swathes of the country and tightening guidance for the remaining regions amid a deteriorating security environment and heightened regional tensions.

The move, updated through late 2025 and still listed as current as of January 1, 2026, comes against a backdrop of chronic crime, political volatility, risks to civil aviation and renewed international concern over wrongful detentions and border instability.

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FCDO Tightens Warning as Security Picture Darkens

The FCDO’s Venezuela travel advice now explicitly warns against all travel to key frontier regions and entire states, citing the presence of armed groups, criminal kidnapping and severe infrastructure breakdowns.

British officials stress that these advisories are not precautionary in nature but reflect concrete and ongoing security incidents, as well as the absence of reliable law enforcement or health services in many areas.

Travel to all areas within 80 kilometers of the border with Colombia is advised against entirely, with authorities pointing to the activity of drug trafficking networks and illegal armed organizations that frequently operate across the frontier.

Similar all-travel warnings are in place for a 40 kilometer band along the border with Brazil, where cross-border criminal activity and kidnapping risks are considered acute.

Zulia State, in Venezuela’s far northwest, has also been placed under an “advise against all travel” designation. The FCDO highlights extended power outages, chronic water shortages, high levels of violence and localized conflict in Zulia, making it one of the most volatile regions in the country for residents and visitors alike.

“All but Essential Travel” for the Rest of the Country

For the remainder of Venezuela, the FCDO formally advises against all but essential travel, underscoring that serious crime, economic collapse and political uncertainty are pervasive.

In practice, this means that most leisure and business trips are strongly discouraged, and only those with compelling, unavoidable reasons to be in the country should consider going.

The advisory warns that violent crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping, carjacking and home invasions, is widespread and can occur at any time of day.

Foreigners are often perceived as wealthy and may be specifically targeted, particularly in urban areas and on routes linking major cities with airports.

Night travel between cities, and between Caracas and Simón Bolívar International Airport, is flagged as particularly dangerous.

Travelers are also reminded that their insurance may be invalidated if they enter regions where the FCDO advises against all travel, or if they ignore “all but essential travel” guidance.

This has significant implications for medical evacuation coverage and financial protection in the event of crime or disruption, leaving travelers potentially exposed to high out-of-pocket costs if they encounter difficulties.

Layered Risks: Crime, Civil Unrest and Institutional Breakdown

The FCDO’s latest warning fits into a wider international picture that portrays Venezuela as one of the riskiest destinations in the world for foreign travelers.

The United States has maintained a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Venezuela, repeatedly emphasizing that there is no safe way to travel to the country and urging all U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to depart immediately.

Both British and U.S. guidance highlight an overlapping set of concerns: widespread violent crime, the presence of non-state armed groups in border regions, the risk of arbitrary arrest, and a collapsing health system marked by severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, fuel and basic utilities.

Prolonged power cuts, limited access to clean water and recurring fuel scarcities are common, aggravating the risks for both residents and any foreign visitors who might depend on logistical support in an emergency.

Civil unrest remains a recurrent possibility, particularly in urban centers where protests over economic hardship, political grievances or service failures can erupt with little warning.

Security forces and affiliated groups have previously responded with heavy-handed tactics, and foreign nationals caught in or near demonstrations may face not only physical danger but also detention and questioning by authorities.

Airspace, Flight Cancellations and Regional Repercussions

The security concerns surrounding Venezuela are not limited to events on the ground. Recent military operations and regional tensions have led to temporary airspace restrictions in the broader Caribbean and northern South America, disrupting commercial routes and highlighting the vulnerability of civil aviation in the area.

While Venezuelan airports technically remain open, some international airlines have reduced or suspended their services over recent years, and carriers can still cancel flights at short notice in response to security developments, regulatory changes or operational concerns.

The FCDO’s latest update specifically notes that some airlines have recently canceled flights to and from Venezuela, urging travelers to stay in close contact with their airline or travel agent to confirm schedules.

For passengers already en route through the region, this means that transit plans can change rapidly. Even when flights are not directly serving Venezuelan airports, rerouting to avoid parts of Venezuelan airspace or nearby corridors can result in delays, missed connections and extended travel times.

Would-be visitors need to factor in the possibility of sudden cancellations, extended layovers and complex rebooking processes when assessing any itinerary involving the country.

Border Tensions and the Prospect of Emergency Measures

The FCDO also draws attention to political and military measures that could significantly restrict movement in and out of Venezuela with little notice.

In late 2025 authorities in Caracas announced plans for a possible “state of external commotion,” a legal tool that could be enacted in the event of internal or external conflict. If decreed, such a measure could permit the closure of the country’s borders and airspace, cutting off international travel routes.

For travelers, the risk is that a sudden legal decree, military escalation or diplomatic breakdown could trap foreign visitors inside Venezuela without clear routes to exit.

The country’s strained relations with several Western governments, and the absence of full embassy operations by some states, further complicate the prospects of organized evacuations or consular support in a crisis.

Nearby border regions already experience higher levels of militarization and irregular armed group activity. The FCDO and other foreign ministries note that even inadvertent crossings of a few meters into Venezuelan territory from neighboring countries can lead to detention.

Increased scrutiny of border movements, combined with unclear or shifting territorial control, increases the margin for error for overland travelers in adjacent countries.

Consular Limitations and the Insurance Factor

One of the most consequential aspects of the current advisory is the restricted ability of foreign governments to protect or assist their nationals inside Venezuela.

Some countries withdrew all diplomatic personnel from Caracas in 2019, and since then the capacity to provide routine or even emergency consular services has been limited or non-existent.

This means that foreign nationals who are detained, injured or otherwise require official support may not be able to rely on in-country consular visits, legal referrals or direct intervention with local authorities.

In cases of wrongful detention, independent human rights organizations have documented instances of detainees being held for extended periods, deprived of communication and subjected to harsh conditions without regular access to lawyers or family members.

Insurance adds another layer of complexity. Many travel and medical insurers explicitly exclude coverage when travelers ignore government advisories that warn against all travel or all but essential travel.

Those who do decide to enter Venezuela, despite the warnings, may find that their policies will not cover theft, medical treatment, evacuation or trip disruption.

Travelers considering essential business or humanitarian trips are strongly encouraged to verify in writing what their insurers will and will not cover under the current advisory.

Impact on Travelers, Airlines and the Wider Tourism Industry

The combination of severe security warnings, limited consular options and operational uncertainty has effectively placed Venezuela off the mainstream tourism map.

Major leisure operators have long since withdrawn standard packages to Venezuelan beach destinations and national parks, and cruise itineraries that include Venezuelan ports are increasingly rare.

Airlines, faced with complex risk calculations and fluctuating demand, have focused instead on more stable regional hubs. Carriers that previously served Caracas or other Venezuelan cities now frequently route passengers through neighboring countries, with no onward service to Venezuela itself.

This has further isolated the country from international tourism flows and reduced options for the limited number of travelers who still seek to enter for family, diplomatic or specialized business reasons.

For the global travel trade, the FCDO’s reinforced warnings serve as a reminder of how quickly political and security conditions can upend destinations that once ranked among the most visited in South America.

Industry analysts note that even if conditions were to stabilize in the future, it would take years of sustained improvement, infrastructure rebuilding and policy reform to restore confidence among airlines, tour operators and insurers.

What Travelers Should Do Now

Prospective travelers with existing bookings to Venezuela are urged to immediately review their plans in light of the latest FCDO guidance. Contacting airlines, tour operators and insurers is essential to understand options for cancellation, rebooking or refunds.

Many providers will consider government travel advisories when assessing claims, but policies and goodwill gestures vary widely by company.

Individuals already in Venezuela are advised to follow local developments closely, maintain a low profile and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings.

They should keep family or trusted contacts fully informed of their movements and contingency plans, ensure that communication devices remain charged, and where possible, secure access to emergency funds and essential supplies.

Those who can safely and legally depart are being encouraged by multiple foreign governments to do so as soon as practical.

For the broader traveling public, the developments in Venezuela highlight the importance of checking official travel advice well before booking. Advisories not only reflect security threats but also affect the validity of travel insurance and the extent of consular support that may be available in a crisis.

As the situation in Venezuela demonstrates, waiting until check-in to understand the risk environment can be far too late.

FAQ

Q1. Has the FCDO officially advised against all travel to Venezuela?
The FCDO currently advises against all travel to specific high-risk regions, including areas near the Colombian and Brazilian borders and Zulia State, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Venezuela, effectively placing the country under one of the UK’s strictest travel regimes.

Q2. Which areas of Venezuela are considered highest risk for UK travelers?
Regions within 80 kilometers of the Colombian border, within 40 kilometers of the Brazilian border, and the entirety of Zulia State are categorized as areas where the FCDO advises against all travel due to armed groups, criminal kidnapping, infrastructure failures and a lack of security guarantees.

Q3. Is any type of tourism to Venezuela currently recommended?
No mainstream tourism is recommended. The FCDO’s stance that all but essential travel should be avoided, combined with parallel “Do Not Travel” warnings from other governments, makes leisure travel to Venezuela highly inadvisable at this time.

Q4. How does this advisory affect my travel insurance?
Many insurers will not cover trips that go against official government advice. If you travel to areas where the FCDO advises against all or all but essential travel, your policy may exclude medical, cancellation, theft and evacuation coverage, so checking the small print before traveling is critical.

Q5. Are flights to and from Venezuela still operating?
Some airlines continue to operate limited services, but flights can be canceled or rescheduled at short notice due to security concerns, operational constraints or regulatory changes. Travelers should verify flight status directly with their airline or travel agent before departure.

Q6. What are the main security risks for visitors on the ground?
Key risks include armed robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, civil unrest, arbitrary detention and severe shortages of basic goods and medical supplies. Night travel, especially between cities and to or from airports, is considered particularly hazardous.

Q7. Can embassies provide help if I get into trouble in Venezuela?
Consular support is severely limited because some countries withdrew their diplomatic staff from Caracas and operate only remotely or through third states. In many cases, embassies cannot offer in-person assistance, rapid intervention or regular consular visits to detained nationals.

Q8. What should I do if I am currently in Venezuela?
Foreign nationals still in Venezuela are urged to monitor official advice closely, avoid demonstrations, keep a low profile, maintain reliable communication with trusted contacts and consider leaving the country as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so.

Q9. Does the advisory affect neighboring countries?
Neighboring states remain open to travelers but border regions with Venezuela often carry higher risk due to criminal activity and armed groups. Travelers in bordering areas should avoid crossing into Venezuelan territory and closely follow local security guidance.

Q10. How often is the FCDO travel advice for Venezuela updated?
The FCDO reviews its travel advice regularly and updates it whenever significant new information about security, political developments or travel disruption emerges. Travelers should check the latest version of the advisory immediately before booking and again shortly before departure.