Money and duty free for Venezuela
Currency and Money
Currency information
Bolívar (Nueva expression monetaria) (VED; symbol Bs. D.) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of Bs. D. 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5; coin denominations are Bs. D. 1 and 50 and 25 céntimos.
Credit cards
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in the main cities and tourist areas. Most people in Venezuela now use debit cards or e-wallets (like HayPunto and Zoom) to pay for goods and services.
Due to hyperinflation, local banknotes are in short supply. Apart from credit cards and debit cards, take US dollars with you. Also, consider setting up a Western Union account which allows you to pick up your deposited funds at any Zoom branch (Zoom is an authorised agent of Western Union in Venezuela).
ATM
ATMs are available, but not widespread in rural areas.
Travellers cheques
Travellers cheques are no longer popular.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0830-1530.
Currency restrictions
Amounts over USD $10,000 or equivalent must be declared.
Venezuela duty free
Overview
The following items may be imported into Venezuela without incurring customs duty:
Gifts and personal effects such as watches, clothing, toiletries, laptops, mobile phones, musical instruments, video cameras, cameras, sports equipment, toys, etc. up to a value of US$1,000.
Duty-free allowances are subject to change, sometimes at short notice due to policy updates or external factors. Information is correct at the time of writing; travellers should verify current allowances with official customs authorities before departure. We accept no liability for any inconvenience or loss arising from changes to these regulations.
Banned Imports
Narcotics and radioactive, bacteriological and chemical substances are prohibited.
This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
Import Restrictions
Restricted items include dairy products, flowers, living animals, birds, weapons and artworks.