Citizenship In Venezuela

Venezuela is the land of Hugo Chavez and oil. Many people are attracted to the charismatic Chavez and his socialist rhetoric and prefer it to the USA. If that’s the case and you’d love to be a citizen of Venezuela, then have at it. Here are the laws that you need to comply with in order to be a citizen of Venezuela. Go for it, make the move and live in socialist utopia Venezuela.

CITIZENSHIP: (IPE) Citizenship Laws are based upon the Constitution of Venezuela.

BY BIRTH: Child born within the territory of the Republic of Venezuela regardless of the nationality of the parents.

BY DESCENT: Child born abroad, one of whose parents is a citizen of Venezuela, is granted citizenship under the following conditions:

- Before reaching the age of 18, the parents of the child establish residence in Venezuela.
- Before reaching the age of 25, the person must declare an intention to accept Venezuelan nationality.

BY NATURALIZATION: Venezuelan citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has lived continuously in the country for at least five years. (Citizens of Spain/Latin America need less than five years.)

The following are Venezuelans by naturalization whenever they declare their intentions:
- A foreign woman who marries a Venezuelan national.
- A foreign minor (natural born or adopted) of a recently naturalized Venezuelan, provided the child resides in the country and makes a declaration of intent before reaching the age of 25.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED.
Exception: Dual citizenship is recognized until the age of 25, at which time Venezuelan citizenship ceases if the foreign nationality is maintained.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP: Venezuelan woman who marries a foreigner retains her nationality unless she declares her intention to the contrary and, according to the laws of husband’s country, acquires his nationality.

Venezuelan nationality by birth is recovered whenever the person who lost it returns to live in Venezuela and declares an intention to recover citizenship. Citizenship may also be recovered by residing in Venezuela for a period of not less than two years.

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary letter of renunciation along with passport may be sent to the nearest Venezuelan Embassy.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of Venezuelan citizenship: Person voluntarily obtains new citizenship.

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, or requests for renunciation of citizenship, should be sent to the address below:
Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela
Consular Section
1099 30th ST., NW
Washington, DC 20007
Embassy/Consular Telephone: 202-342-221
Fax: 202-342-6820