A single point of contact in the State, a five-stage process and six ways to invest. Here is what you need to know before the first conversation.
Five stages, from the first conversation to the start of operations. For each one, what the CIIP does and what you need.
You present your company, your experience and the project you want to develop in Venezuela. If it is not yet defined, the conversation starts with your sector and your capacity.
A profile of your company and a description of the initiative.
The CIIP analyzes the entry conditions: sector, track record, finances and capacity to execute. If you already have a project, it also reviews how well defined it is and its supporting documents.
The company's documents and, if there is one, the project's.
The CIIP sets out the applicable investment structure, the government counterpart and the requirements of each. On that basis you build your business plan.
A business plan and the sources of financing.
The CIIP sets out the procedures with each agency and tracks your file.
Visa, an incorporated company and tax registrations.
See the requirements to operate →The CIIP takes to the agencies whatever the project needs to start operations.
The sector permits for your activity.
You deal with a single point of contact in the State. The CIIP guides the structuring of your project and tracks your file with the agencies.
Anti-Blockade Law (2020), Productive Foreign Investment Law (2017) and Special Economic Zones Law (2022)
The order and duration of the stages depend on the sector and on how advanced the project is. Some can run in parallel.
The investment structure is the legal vehicle the investor uses. It is defined by the sector's law and the type of asset. The CIIP tells you which one applies to each project and what it requires.
The investor sets up or acquires a company of their own in an open sector. Above the minimum amount, they sign a Foreign Investment Contract. Inside a Special Economic Zone, the instrument is the Economic Activity Agreement.
Legal basisConstitutional Law on Productive Foreign Investment (2017), Articles 19 and 38. Organic Law on Special Economic Zones (2022).
The State and the investor are partners in a company with a majority State stake. It is the vehicle for primary hydrocarbon activities. The private partner may take on technical and operational management. In mining, the law also allows companies with a minority State stake, authorized by the State.
Legal basisOrganic Hydrocarbons Law and its 2026 reform. Organic Mining Law (2026).
Plants, land or companies under state administration are brought into production with a private operator. The contract sets the committed investment, the term and how results are shared.
Legal basisConstitutional Anti-Blockade Law (2020), Articles 29 and 30.
The concessionaire builds, operates and maintains a public work or service for a defined term, with a payment to the State. It applies to airports, ports, roads and mining.
Legal basisLaw on the Promotion of Private Investment under the Concession Regime (1999). Organic Mining Law (2026).
The State authorizes a private company to carry out a regulated activity at its own risk. It applies to non-associated gas, hydrocarbon refining and marketing, small and medium-scale mining and telecommunications.
Legal basisOrganic Law on Gaseous Hydrocarbons (1999). Organic Hydrocarbons Law. Organic Mining Law (2026). Organic Telecommunications Law.
The State grants the use of farmland, buildings or facilities through lease, loan for use (comodato), usufruct or award, in exchange for an investment and production plan.
Legal basisLand and Agrarian Development Law (2010). Organic Law on Public Assets (2012).
Five requirements every company must meet in Venezuela. None is needed for the first conversation with the CIIP; the moment for each one is indicated in the corresponding stage.
Define the activity, sector and scope of your investment: whether you will set up a new operation, expand an existing one or take part in a project. If you do not yet have a specific project, the sector and the capacity your company brings are enough. Estimate the investment amount and the resources available.
A business visa (TR-N), an investor visa (TR-I) or an entrepreneur visa (TR-E) allows you to sign corporate documents with the commercial registry. It is requested at the Venezuelan consulate in your country of residence, before traveling.
The TR-I is valid for three years with multiple entries. Foreign staff you bring in later work under a work visa (TR-L) with authorization from the Ministry of Labor. The law allows foreign staff of up to 10% of the payroll.
Venezuelan consulates (MPPRE), SAIME and the Ministry of Labor
Foreigners and Migration Law (2004), Resolution 019 of SAREN, Article 3, and the LOTTT, Article 27.
The Commercial Code recognizes four types of commercial company: general partnership, limited partnership, stock corporation (compañía anónima) and limited liability company. A foreign company can also operate through a branch or by registering as a foreign company (domiciliación).
The compañía anónima (stock corporation) is the most commonly used structure. It limits each shareholder's liability to the value of their shares and has no capital ceiling.
SAREN, Commercial Registry
Commercial Code, Articles 201 and 354 to 358
Reserve your company name with SAREN, submit the incorporation document endorsed by a lawyer, and prove the capital contribution. Then register the company with the Commercial Registry of your domicile, publish the articles of incorporation, stamp the corporate books and obtain the RIF.
Foreign partners sign using their passport and the visa obtained in step 2. Documents from a foreign parent company must be presented legalized, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
SAREN and SENIAT
Resolution 019 of SAREN, Articles 2, 3, 12 and 34. Commercial Code, Articles 211 to 221.
To operate, every company must meet three groups of obligations. The first two apply to any activity; the third depends on your sector.
RIF, IVA, ISLR, invoicing and the municipal economic activities license.
IVSS, INCES, BANAVIH, FONACIT, FONA, the Sports Fund and labor registration.
Health, food, telecommunications, energy, mining, tourism, environment and foreign trade.
SENIAT, the municipal government, IVSS, INCES, BANAVIH and your sector's regulator
Tell us about your initiative and we will outline the next steps.