Venezuela: Circumstances under which a valid Venezuelan passport would be stamped "Anulado"; whether a new, valid passport would automatically be issued
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 July 2012 |
| Related Document(s) | Venezuela : information sur les circonstances dans lesquelles un timbre « anulado » (annulé) serait apposé sur un passeport vénézuélien valide; information indiquant si un nouveau passeport valide serait automatiquement délivré |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Venezuela: Circumstances under which a valid Venezuelan passport would be stamped "Anulado"; whether a new, valid passport would automatically be issued, 10 July 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/537208ed4.html [accessed 19 May 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. |
In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an official at the embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Canada stated that an "anulado" (void) stamp used to be placed in a non-biometric Venezuelan passport whenever the holder required its renewal or replacement; however, with the introduction of the Venezuelan biometric passport, this practice is no longer followed (Venezuela 3 July 2012). In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the same official indicated that even though biometric passports had been introduced about one year ago, the embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Ottawa ceased stamping passports with "anulado" stamps for renewals and replacements after November 2011 (ibid. 9 July 2012). The official explained that instead of using the rubber stamp, the Administrative Service for Identification and Immigration Affairs (Servicio Administrativo de Identificación, Migración y Extranjería, SAIMÉ) database system automatically voids any previous passport from the database (ibid.). When a passport is renewed or replaced, a new one will be issued automatically (ibid. 3 July 2012).
However, the official indicated other cases in which the "anulado" stamp continues to be used: if the requestor is sought by Venezuelan authorities or misrepresents him or herself as Venezuelan, the embassy retains the passport, places an "anulado" stamp, and deals with the requestor according to the particular circumstances (ibid. 3 July 2012). The same stamp is also used to void lost passports received by diplomatic missions when it is [translation] "impossible" to contact the owner (ibid. 9 July 2012).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Venezuela. 9 July 2012. Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Ottawa. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by an official.
_____. 3 July 2012. Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Ottawa. Telephone interview with an official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, inculding: Venezuela - Embajada de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Washington, Ministerio del Ponder Popular para las Relaciones Exteriores, Ministerio del Poder Popular para las Relaciones Interiores y Justicia.
