Immigration
Ley de Extranjería y Migración against a backdrop of mass emigration
The Ley de Extranjería y Migración of 2004 and the Ley de Migración framework govern entry and residence, administered by SAIME. In practice the dominant migration fact is outward: more than seven million Venezuelans have left, making this the largest displacement crisis in the Americas and generating regularisation programmes in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National, administered by SAIME
- Deadline — Residence permits issued for one year and renewable
- Deadline — Naturalisation: 10 years of residence, reduced to five for nationals of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Latin American and Caribbean states
Governing law
- Ley de Extranjería y Migración2004
- Ley Orgánica de Identificación
In practice
For most practical purposes Venezuelan migration questions arise abroad rather than domestically, and turn on the destination state's regularisation scheme — Colombia's ten-year ETPV permit, Peru's CPP, Brazil's humanitarian residence — rather than on Venezuelan permit categories. Obtaining or renewing Venezuelan passports and apostilles has itself become a significant obstacle for nationals abroad.