Venezuela: Information on whether a naturalized Venezuelan citizen of Haitian origin would lose his or her Venezuelan citizenship for being absent from Venezuela for more than two years
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | VEN18221.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Venezuela: Information on whether a naturalized Venezuelan citizen of Haitian origin would lose his or her Venezuelan citizenship for being absent from Venezuela for more than two years, 1 September 1994, VEN18221.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad2f47.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information that follows was provided by the Embassy of Venezuela in Ottawa (9 Sept. 1994). It adds to the information provided in previous Responses to Information Requests, including VEN18058.E of 28 July 1994, VEN16484.E of 29 March 1994 and VEN12576.E of 23 December 1992.
A naturalized Venezuelan citizen who is not residing in Venezuela should request a permit for extended absence (extensión de estadía) after two years of absence. The permit is normally granted automatically by Venezuelan embassies and consulates. The permit can still be requested and obtained after three or more years of absence, although it is recommended by Venezuelan authorities that the permit be obtained soon after completing an absence of two years.
The lack of a permit for extended absence does not mean that the naturalized citizen loses his or her Venezuelan citizenship; Venezuelan citizenship can only be lost through a legal proceeding in Venezuela that is roughly equivalent to a trial. If the person arrives in Venezuela after a prolonged absence (i.e. more than two years) without having obtained a permit for extended absence, the immigration or customs authorities at the port of entry in Venezuela should report this to the immigration authorities at the Ministry of the Interior. However, the port of entry authorities may sometimes overlook the absence of such a permit in a naturalized citizen's passport. If the absence of such a permit is noticed and the case is reported to the Ministry of the Interior, the ministry will decide whether Venezuelan citizenship should be revoked or if the case warrants investigation. In any case, the naturalized Venezuelan cannot be denied entry to Venezuela, as citizenship is not lost until the courts decide so.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela, Ottawa. 9 September 1994. Telephone interview with Consul.
