FBOs at Simón Bolívar International Airport SVMI CCS

Airport security

Caracas carries a U.S. Department of State Level 3 — Reconsider Travel advisory, with active risk indicators for crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and health; the city is additionally designated a critical-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Violent crime including armed robbery, kidnapping, and homicide is pervasive throughout the capital, and civil unrest can develop rapidly without warning, with security forces sometimes deploying crowd-control measures against demonstrations.

Foreign terrorist organizations with roots in Venezuela remain active, and terrorist incidents in the country cannot be ruled out. Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía is Venezuela's principal international gateway and primary commercial hub serving the capital.

No formal official security classification or independently verified access-control tier is available from authoritative public sources; however, documented conditions — including reports of Bolivarian National Guard personnel extorting travelers by force, degraded terminal infrastructure, and structural damage from the June 2026 earthquakes including ceiling collapses — indicate that physical security and facility integrity fall significantly below the standard expected of a major international hub.

Airport operations remain under safety review following the earthquake damage, and the FCDO has noted temporary closure of Venezuelan international airports as of late June 2026.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: H24 — airport is a designated port of entry with customs, immigration, and agriculture services aligned to H24 operations; confirm specific CIQ window with handler prior to mission. SENIAT is the primary customs authority. All arriving passengers are subject to customs screening.

Advance coordination with a local ground handler is strongly advised given irregular procedural enforcement and documentation requirements in the current operating environment.

Ground corridor

• AVOID ADVISORY — multiple governments including the FCDO and U.S. State Department advise against all but essential travel to Venezuela, with specific warnings applicable to the airport-to-Caracas corridor. Ground transport risk in the Maiquetía–Caracas corridor is classified as high, driven by opportunistic violent crime, kidnapping, and the presence of irregular armed groups
• nighttime transit on this route is explicitly flagged as hazardous by U.S. government advisories. Pre-arranged vehicles coordinated through a vetted ground support team operating from within the secured FBO or GA terminal are strongly advised
• use of unsolicited or unregulated transport from the airport forecourt presents a documented and elevated personal security risk. Independent or walk-up transport from the terminal area should be avoided entirely
• all surface movement should be planned and confirmed before arrival with a professional driver briefed on current local conditions.

City threat summary

Caracas carries a U.S. Department of State Level 3 — Reconsider Travel advisory, with active risk indicators for crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and health; the city is additionally designated a critical-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Violent crime including armed robbery, kidnapping, and homicide is pervasive throughout the capital, and civil unrest can develop rapidly without warning, with security forces sometimes deploying crowd-control measures against demonstrations.

Foreign terrorist organizations with roots in Venezuela remain active, and terrorist incidents in the country cannot be ruled out.

Country overview

Venezuela is navigating an exceptionally complex convergence of political transition, catastrophic earthquake damage, and persistent violent crime following the January 2026 U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the installation of interim President Delcy Rodríguez.

The June 2026 earthquakes caused widespread destruction across the northern coastline, damaged critical infrastructure including the main international airport, and have deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. State Department downgraded its advisory from Level 4 to Level 3 in March 2026 — the first easing in seven years — though the UK FCDO and Transport Canada maintain advisories against all travel.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Caracas SVFM HIGH
• Charallave SVCS HIGH
• Los Aguacates SVLW HIGH
• Maiquetía SVMI HIGH
• Valencia SVVA HIGH