India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late on 3 January issued an urgent travel advisory warning Indians against all non-essential travel to Venezuela. The advisory follows a dramatic 24-hour period in which the United States confirmed “Operation Bolivar”, a series of precision strikes against military assets loyal to President Nicolás Maduro and the announcement of indictments against the Venezuelan leader. In its statement, the MEA urged citizens already in Venezuela to “exercise extreme caution, restrict movements and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Caracas.”
Why now? According to Indian officials, intelligence shared by partner countries suggests a risk of civil unrest and retaliatory attacks on foreign nationals after the US operation. Commercial airlines have begun rerouting traffic to avoid Venezuelan airspace, driving up ticket prices and extending flight times on popular India–Latin America routings via Europe and the Gulf. Consular officers told Global Mobility News that at least 250 Indian engineers and oil-field technicians are currently on rotation in Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt; employers have been advised to activate evacuation plans.
![India issues ‘avoid travel’ advisory for Venezuela amid escalating US-Venezuela conflict]()
Travellers scrambling to adjust itineraries or obtain last-minute transit visas through Colombia, Panama or Europe can turn to VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) for real-time entry requirements, expedited processing and courier-assisted passport renewals. Leveraging VisaHQ’s concierge support allows mobility teams to offload paperwork while they concentrate on security briefings and extraction logistics.
Practical impact for mobility managers: 1) New travel insurance exclusions now label Venezuela a high-risk destination, raising premiums or voiding coverage. 2) Indian business visitors may face multi-leg itineraries through Bogotá or Panama because direct services through Madrid, Istanbul and Doha are overbooked. 3) Any Indian national remaining in-country must register on the MEA’s MADAD portal and supply local contact details. The advisory also reminds holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards that consular help in conflict zones may be limited.
Companies with Venezuelan exposure should brief travelling staff on personal-security protocols, confirm that passports have at least six months’ validity and ensure access to cash in US dollars, as local ATMs are frequently offline. Mobility teams should also monitor further US sanctions announcements that could complicate cross-border payments, payroll or insurance remittances for Indian expatriates. Finally, airports in neighbouring Colombia reported congestion as expatriates attempt to exit; booking flexible tickets and seats on multiple carriers is advisable until the security picture stabilises.
Why now? According to Indian officials, intelligence shared by partner countries suggests a risk of civil unrest and retaliatory attacks on foreign nationals after the US operation. Commercial airlines have begun rerouting traffic to avoid Venezuelan airspace, driving up ticket prices and extending flight times on popular India–Latin America routings via Europe and the Gulf. Consular officers told Global Mobility News that at least 250 Indian engineers and oil-field technicians are currently on rotation in Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt; employers have been advised to activate evacuation plans.
Travellers scrambling to adjust itineraries or obtain last-minute transit visas through Colombia, Panama or Europe can turn to VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) for real-time entry requirements, expedited processing and courier-assisted passport renewals. Leveraging VisaHQ’s concierge support allows mobility teams to offload paperwork while they concentrate on security briefings and extraction logistics.
Practical impact for mobility managers: 1) New travel insurance exclusions now label Venezuela a high-risk destination, raising premiums or voiding coverage. 2) Indian business visitors may face multi-leg itineraries through Bogotá or Panama because direct services through Madrid, Istanbul and Doha are overbooked. 3) Any Indian national remaining in-country must register on the MEA’s MADAD portal and supply local contact details. The advisory also reminds holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards that consular help in conflict zones may be limited.
Companies with Venezuelan exposure should brief travelling staff on personal-security protocols, confirm that passports have at least six months’ validity and ensure access to cash in US dollars, as local ATMs are frequently offline. Mobility teams should also monitor further US sanctions announcements that could complicate cross-border payments, payroll or insurance remittances for Indian expatriates. Finally, airports in neighbouring Colombia reported congestion as expatriates attempt to exit; booking flexible tickets and seats on multiple carriers is advisable until the security picture stabilises.
