Register US-born child for Venezuela dual nationality

Register US-born child for Venezuela dual nationality

Important — Venezuela consular services in the US are disrupted. Following the January 2019 severance of US–Venezuela diplomatic relations, Venezuela’s official consular presence in the United States has been disrupted and its current operational status is uncertain. Some offices may be closed, relocated, or not processing routine services for the general public. Treat the procedure below as general reference and confirm whether any Venezuelan consulate is currently providing this service through an official Venezuelan government source before relying on it or traveling to a consulate.

Children born in the United States to Venezuela-citizen parents are entitled to dual nationality — US citizenship by birthright (14th Amendment) and Venezuela citizenship by descent. To exercise the Venezuela citizenship, you register the child’s birth at the nearest Venezuela consulate.

This procedure is widely used — every year, thousands of US-born children of Venezuela parents are registered for dual nationality, mostly for future travel, family visits, and to preserve cultural and economic ties.

Why register your US-born child

Registering provides the child with:

• A Venezuela birth registration certificate (an official civil-registry document of Venezuela)
• Eligibility to apply for a Venezuela passport (often same consulate, separate appointment)
• Right to live, work, study, and inherit property in Venezuela without immigration restrictions
• Eligibility for Venezuela-specific education programs (scholarships, university admissions reserved for citizens)
• Healthcare access in Venezuela as a citizen
• Inheritance rights from Venezuela-citizen grandparents and other relatives

Dual nationality — confirmed lawful by both countries

The United States permits dual nationality. Per the US Department of State: “A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another.”

Venezuela also permits dual nationality with the US. Both passports can be held simultaneously.

Required documents

To register your US-born child as a Venezuela citizen:

• Child’s US birth certificate (long-form, certified copy with raised seal — sometimes apostilled is required by the consulate)
• Venezuela passport of the Venezuela-citizen parent(s) (current and valid)
• Marriage certificate of parents (apostilled if applicable)
• Parents’ photo ID (current state ID, driver license, or passport)
• US proof of address (utility bill, lease, or bank statement less than 3 months old)
• Recent photo of the child (passport-style, often taken at consulate)
• Completed registration application (download from consulate or fill at appointment)
• Fee ($10-$30 typical, money order or cash)

Step-by-step process

1. Schedule appointment at your local Venezuela consulate (online portal)
2. Gather documents per checklist above
3. Apostille the US birth certificate if required by your consulate (see apostille process)
4. Attend appointment with the child present (most consulates require the child to be physically there)
5. Submit documents and pay fee ($10-$30 typical)
6. Wait for processing — Same-day registration in most consulates; civil registry record issued in 2-8 weeks
7. Receive Venezuela birth registration certificate — this is the child’s official Venezuela civil-registry document
8. Apply for Venezuela passport (optional, separate appointment) using the new birth registration

Children born outside marriage (and other family configurations)

Each country has its own rules for transmission of citizenship by descent. Some require the Venezuela-citizen parent to register the birth within a specific time period (e.g., before the child turns 18); some require both parents to be Venezuela citizens; some have additional rules for adopted children, surrogacy, or children born outside marriage. Verify your specific situation directly with the Venezuela consulate before the appointment.

After registration

Once the child’s Venezuela citizenship is registered:

• The child can be issued a Venezuela passport (separate consular appointment)
• Use the Venezuela passport when entering Venezuela
• Use the US passport when entering the US
• This is the standard dual-national travel pattern

When the child is older, they can register to vote in Venezuela elections from abroad if Venezuela allows it.

Related information

• All Venezuela consulates in the US
• Venezuela passport renewal
• Apostille process for US documents
• US vital records by state
• Find pro bono immigration legal help

Authoritative sources

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MPPRE): https://mppre.gob.ve/
• US Department of State on dual nationality: travel.state.gov
• 14th Amendment of the US Constitution (birthright citizenship)

Last verified: 2026-05-26. General procedural information for educational purposes. Citizenship-by-descent rules vary by country and change. Verify directly with the Venezuela consulate before traveling. Not legal advice.