Venezuela
Location: South America
Film Commissions
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Only certain countries need visas and there is no need for work permits.
Most crews travelling on Western passports can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. US passport holders are required to obtain a visa prior to travel.
Journalists must have the appropriate accreditation and working visa, from the Venezuelan authorities, before arriving in the country.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
In Venezuela, film location permits are generally easy to obtain, typically same day or within a couple of days. Most locations are possible.
Shooting alcohol or cigarette commercials in national parks is forbidden.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Venezuela is not an ATA carnet country.
All standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally. More specialised equipment can be easily brought in from abroad.
When to Film
When to Film
Although Venezuela is situated in the tropics, its climate varies substantially from the humid low-elevation plains to the cold glacial highlands.
The dry season runs from December to April and is the best time to film. The rainy season is between May and November.
Venezuela is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Venezuela.
Costs & VAT
The favourable exchange rate means that your currency goes far in Venezuela. Venezuela offers a similar price point to Cuba and Colombia.
Standard crew and equipment are available locally, as are film processing facilities.
Please note that most ATMs don’t accept US issued debit or credit cards.
The standard VAT rate in Venezuela at the time of writing is set at 16%.
Funding and Tax Incentives
Funding
Centro Nacional Autónomo de Cinematografía (CNAC) (Autonomous National Centre of Cinematography)
Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up to date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.
Treaty Documents