Date of publication:

09/07/2026

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Do domestic laws and policies provide for a legal status to refugees, authorizing them to stay in the country?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Analysis

Article 19 of the Organic Law on Refugees and Asylees provides that, once refugee status has been recognized, applicants shall have access to an identity document which, in turn, grants access to a series of rights, including lawful stay.

Article 26 provides that persons recognised as refugees in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall be provided with all necessary facilities to process their naturalisation.

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    Organic Law on Refugees and Asylees
    • Year: 2001
    • Type: Domestic law
    • Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
    • Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/node/18314

    Legal provision

    Article 19 - Rights granted by the identification document

    (Unofficial translation) The identity document issued to individuals residing in the country with refugee status under the terms of this Law shall be valid not only for legal residency but also for engaging in any gainful activity. In the case of children and adolescents, the document shall be valid for enrollment in educational institutions. El documento de identidad otorgado a las personas que se encuentren en el país con la condición de refugiado (a) bajo los términos de esta Ley, será valido no sólo para la permanencia legal, sino para el ejercicio de cualquier actividad lucrativa. Cuando se trate de niños (as) y adolescentes, el documento será válido para cursar estudios en institutos educativos.

    Article 26 - Access to naturalization

    (Unofficial translation) Those recognized as refugees in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will be given every assistance in processing their naturalization. A las personas reconocidas como refugiadas en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, se les brindarán todas las facilidades para tramitar su naturalización.