Can a foreigner buy a property in Venezuela?

Yes. Article 26 of the Código Civil grants foreigners the same civil rights as Venezuelans, save for legal exceptions, and we found no law that bars them from buying a home. If the property is in a security zone, such as the border zone, ask a lawyer to check whether there are restrictions.

Do I need a RIF if I live outside Venezuela?

Yes. The SENIAT providencia that regulates the RIF, reprinted with reform SNAT/2026/00080 in August 2026, requires non-residents who own property in the country to register, a rule that reform did not change. The registrar must also record the buyer's RIF in the document. The SENIAT portal did not load from abroad in our tests in October 2026.

Does a general power of attorney work for buying?

Article 1.688 of the Código Civil says that a mandate in general terms only covers acts of administration and requires an express mandate for acts that go beyond ordinary administration. The prudent choice is a special power of attorney to buy that identifies the property and lists each power granted.

Do I pay IGTF if I buy in dollars?

It depends on how you pay. The law charges 3% on foreign currency payments within the national banking system and on foreign currency payments to a special taxpayer that do not go through financial institutions. A 2024 exemption decree says that foreign currency payments to someone who is not a special taxpayer are not subject to it, but the law contains no such condition: confirm with your bank and your accountant.

What tax does the buyer pay when registering?

The municipal tax on the transfer, from 1 to 5 tax units depending on the value, which the buyer pays before recording under article 91 of the Ley de Registros y Notarías. The law does not say who pays the registry processing fee (0.5% to 2% depending on the value); that is agreed in the option.

Buying property in Venezuela from abroad

Q: What does the registry ask about the source of the money?

Resolución No. 008 of 2019 makes a sworn declaration of lawful source and use of funds mandatory; on the SAREN form, the declarant states under oath that the money comes from lawful activity. The press also reports that proof of payment, by check or transfer, is requested.

You can buy without traveling: an attorney-in-fact signs for you at the Registro Público (Public Registry). What you should not delegate blindly is the review of the property and the way you pay, because the registry will ask for papers on both. This is what the rules say as of October 27, 2026.

Who can buy: Venezuelans abroad and foreigners

Article 26 of the Código Civil (Civil Code) says that foreigners enjoy the same civil rights in Venezuela as Venezuelans, "con las excepciones establecidas o que se establezcan" (with the exceptions that are or may be established). We found no law that bars a foreigner or a non-resident from buying a home in Venezuela, or that requires them to be resident.

The exception you should check is security zones (zonas de seguridad). The Ley Orgánica de Seguridad de la Nación (Organic Law on National Security; Gaceta Oficial, the Official Gazette, No. 37.594, 2002) allows the Executive to declare them, including a border zone, zones along the sea, lakes, islands and navigable rivers, and zones surrounding military installations and basic industries (article 48). They are subject to a special regulation on "personas, bienes y actividades" (persons, property and activities) (article 47), set by their own regulations (article 52); until those are issued, the earlier rules remain in force (article 58). If the property is in such a zone, ask a lawyer to confirm which rules apply to foreigners.

Two procedural details for foreigners:

Resolución No. 008 of 2019 (article 29) identifies foreigners at registries and notary offices by "pasaporte ... con el visado correspondiente" (passport with the corresponding visa). If you will sign in person, ask which visa they accept.

Banca y Negocios reports that, if a foreigner is involved in the deal, they must first complete a foreigners' registration on the website of SAREN (the national registries and notaries service). This is reported practice, not a rule we have found: confirm it with the registry.

The RIF (tax ID): you need one even if you live abroad

The registrar must record in the document the RIF number of the seller and of the buyer (article 86, parágrafo cuarto, of the Ley de Impuesto sobre la Renta, the Income Tax Law). That is why you need a RIF before signing.

Can a non-resident have one? They must. The providencia (administrative ruling) of the SENIAT, the national tax authority, that regulates the RIF was reprinted with reform SNAT/2026/00080 (Gaceta Oficial No. 43.435, August 12, 2026), which did not touch articles 1, 2 and 4: the rule for non-residents is not new.

Article 1: non-residents or non-domiciled persons without a permanent establishment who "posean bienes susceptibles de ser gravados" (own property that can be taxed) in Venezuela must register.

Article 2: a foreigner with a tourist or transit visa is not required to register unless, among other cases, they own property in the country.

Article 3: registration and changes to it follow the requirements published on the SENIAT's electronic channels.

Article 4: the number is unique and permanent.

The practical problem: in our tests in October 2026, the SENIAT portal did not load from outside Venezuela, and the providencia does not say whether an attorney-in-fact can complete the registration for you. Sort out the RIF with an accountant before signing the opción de compra-venta (purchase option agreement). If you already have a RIF, update your details if, for example, your tax domicile has changed (article 6).

Buying with a power of attorney

The power of attorney is granted at a Venezuelan consulate or before a notary in the country where you live, with an apostille and an official translation when needed. The step by step is in the guide to selling from abroad; it works the same way for buying. What changes is what the power of attorney must say.

Article 1.688 of the Código Civil says that a mandate in general terms only covers acts of administration; for acts that go beyond "la administración ordinaria" (ordinary administration), it must be express. Under article 1.689, the attorney-in-fact cannot exceed the power. The prudent choice is a special power of attorney to buy (poder especial de compra) that identifies the property (location and registry details) and lists each power granted:

Sign the option and the final deed, and agree on the price.

Pay the price, only if you are going to send them the money.

Request certificates and clearances (solvencias), and sign the sworn declaration of source and use of funds.

Receive the property, its keys and its documents.

Banca y Negocios reports that the power of attorney of the seller's attorney-in-fact must first be recorded at the property registry. It does not say whether the same is required of the buyer's attorney-in-fact: ask at the office.

What to check before paying

Owner and liens. Request a certificación de gravámenes (lien certificate). See how to tell whether a property has debts or liens.

Condominium. Debt for common expenses follows the apartment. See condominium debts when buying.

The opción de compra-venta. It sets the price, the deadline, who pays each cost and what happens if someone fails to comply. See what the option must say.

The seller's solvencia municipal (municipal tax clearance) and ISLR (income tax) advance payment. Without them the registrar cannot record the sale (article 97 of the Ley de Registros y Notarías, the Registries and Notaries Law).

How you pay and what the registry asks about the money

Banca y Negocios lists the proof of payment (check or bank transfer) among the requirements. And Resolución No. 008 of January 31, 2019 of the Ministerio de Relaciones Interiores, Justicia y Paz (Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace; Gaceta Oficial No. 41.581), on preventing money laundering at registries and notary offices, makes a sworn declaration of lawful source and use of funds mandatory, signed before the official (article 27). On the SAREN form, the declarant states under oath that the money "procede de actividad lícita" (comes from lawful activity).

IGTF (large financial transactions tax): when it charges 3%

The Ley de Impuesto a las Grandes Transacciones Financieras (Large Financial Transactions Tax Law; reform in Gaceta Oficial No. 6.687 Extraordinario, February 25, 2022) sets 3% (article 24) for two types of payments in foreign currency or crypto-assets (article 4):

Numeral 5: those made "dentro del sistema bancario nacional" (within the national banking system), by any person.

Numeral 6: those made to a contribuyente especial (special taxpayer) without going through financial institutions.

Whoever makes the payment pays the tax: the buyer. Decreto No. 4.972 (Gaceta Oficial No. 6.821 Extraordinario) lowered numerals 1 to 4 to 0% from July 15, 2024 and kept the 3% for numerals 5 and 6.

How you pay	IGTF under the text of the law?
Foreign currency from an account at a Venezuelan bank	Yes, 3% (numeral 5); see the discrepancy below
Foreign currency cash to a seller who is not a special taxpayer	Does not fit numerals 5 or 6
Foreign currency cash to a special taxpayer (for example, a construction company)	Yes, 3% (numeral 6)
Bolívares	An individual paying on their own account is not covered by numerals 1 to 4, which are also at 0%
Transfer between accounts outside Venezuela	It is not "dentro del sistema bancario nacional", but article 3, numeral 8, taxes "los débitos en cuentas para pagos transfronterizos" (debits to accounts for cross-border payments); we found no published SENIAT position

Unresolved discrepancy: the annual IGTF exemption decrees (the latest we found is Decreto No. 4.924, Gaceta Oficial No. 42.823, February 21, 2024) say in their article 5 that payments in foreign currency to those who are not "sujetos pasivos especiales" (special taxpayers) are not subject to the tax. The law contains no such condition, that decree was issued for one year, and we found no later one; according to Moore Venezuela bulletin 156 (September 2025), those decrees are no longer in effect. Before paying in foreign currency through a Venezuelan bank, ask your bank whether it charges IGTF and confirm with your accountant.

Costs on the buyer's side

Cost	Rule
Municipal tax on the transfer	Paid by the buyer before recording: from 1 to 5 unidades tributarias (tax units) depending on the value (article 91, Ley de Registros y Notarías)
Registry processing fee	0.5%, 1% or 2% depending on the value in petros (article 83, numeral 7), plus per-page fees; the law does not say who pays it, it is agreed in the option
Lawyer	Every document must be drafted and approved (visado) by a lawyer (article 23); there is no official fee
IGTF	3% in the cases in the table above

The full breakdown, with who pays each item, is in closing costs of a purchase.

To draft the power of attorney and the option you will need a Venezuelan lawyer; for the RIF and the taxes, an accountant.

This article is for information only and is not legal or tax advice. Requirements vary by consulate, registry and municipality.

How to buy a property in Venezuela from abroad