Venezuela travel advisories

Lifting of infectious disease risk information for Mpox

Sept. 12, 2025, midnight Wide area information (infectious diseases)

●The infectious disease risk information level 1 (take extreme caution) regarding Mpox issued for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic will be lifted.
●Sporadical infections are still being seen around the world, so please stay up to date on the infection situation in your destination and take measures to prevent infection.

Alert regarding piracy and other incidents in the waters of Central and South America

Aug. 15, 2025, midnight wide area information

【point】
Although the number of incidents of piracy and other crimes (Note) in the waters of Central and South America is decreasing, vigilance remains necessary. Operators of ships sailing through these waters and those planning to board such ships should be fully aware of the risk of encountering damage from piracy and other crimes in these waters, make efforts to obtain the latest information, take great care to ensure safety, and, depending on the situation, refrain from boarding ships sailing through these waters.

Note: "Piracy and other incidents" includes "piracy" that occurs on the high seas and "armed robbery" that occurs within territorial waters.

Caution as tensions with the United States rise

Oct. 29, 2025, 6:10 a.m.

1. According to media reports, since August, while the U.S. fleet has been deployed in the Caribbean, at least eight drug smuggling ships have been attacked in the Caribbean, while Venezuela has been conducting military exercises in various parts of the country, mainly along the Caribbean coast, indicating rising tensions with the United States. Most recently, on October 24, U.S. newspapers reported that the U.S. government was considering attacks on drug smuggling bases within Venezuela, and the U.S. government also announced that it would be sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford to the Caribbean.

2 On September 23rd, the Venezuelan government announced that "President Maduro has signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in order to protect core interests from foreign attacks." This decree will be activated immediately in the event of a foreign attack or other incident, and will grant the president additional security powers, enabling him to respond to such situations. In addition, military exercises are being conducted from time to time throughout the country, and an exercise called "Plane de Independence 200" began on October 8th, mainly in the Caribbean coastal region.

3. Currently, the situation in Caracas remains peaceful, with people living their lives as usual, and we have not received any specific information regarding threats. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the situation could become tense due to some trigger. Therefore, we ask that you always be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, take the following safety precautions, and make efforts to ensure your own safety.
(1) Always try to obtain the latest information from the media, etc. False information that stirs up anxiety may be circulating on social media, so try to act calmly and check multiple reliable sources of information to avoid being misled by false information.
(2) In the event of an emergency, first ensure your own safety. In dangerous situations, do not force yourself to travel, but consider waiting at home or at work, and avoid unnecessary outings.
(3) In the event of an emergency, it is expected that you will need to stay at home for a certain period of time. Therefore, prepare a two- to three-week supply of the minimum necessary supplies, such as water, food, medical supplies, and fuel. Also, confirm that you have a means of contacting and gathering information in an emergency (such as a battery-powered radio). Prepare a certain amount of US dollar cash in case of an unforeseen event.
(4) Any behavior that may arouse caution (such as the use of small boats, possession of drones, resistance to security authorities, photographing military exercises, facilities and equipment, or important facilities such as oil fields) must be strictly refrained from.
(5) Drug smuggling bases are said to be located in parts of Sucre State and the Colombian border area. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for these areas, so you should never enter Level 3 areas.

[Reference] Our museum's "Safety Guide"
The Embassy's website contains a "Crime Prevention Guide" and an "Emergency Response Manual for Japanese Nationals Residents in Venezuela" as reference materials to help those traveling to or staying in Venezuela ensure their own safety.
https://www.ve.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100898362.pdf

[Contact information]
Embassy of Japan in Venezuela Tel: (+58) 212-262-3435
Consular Section Email Address: consul@cr.mofa.go.jp
Website: http://www.ve.emb-japan.go.jp

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