Remittances
How to send money to Venezuela from the U.S. or Spain
Official read in the BCV text, the Gazette or the primary source. Reported from press or firms, with its date (a bank's or company's own official page about its service counts as Official). Unconfirmed no reliable source: ask the provider.
From the U.S. or Spain you can send money to Venezuela through formal services such as Western Union (paid out by Zoom) or Remitly; it arrives in bolívares, to a bank account, via Pago Móvil or as cash at an agent. In Venezuela, banks and exchange houses can’t charge more than 4% to receive a remittance; what the sending company charges abroad is separate. Use the calculator to compare offers against today’s official rate.
Formal options
- Western Union (via Zoom): pays only in bolívares; cash at 600+ agents, Pago Móvil (minutes) or transfer to an account in the recipient’s name; up to USD 7,500 per transfer; no commercial transfers or transfers to government-linked persons Official.
- Remitly: pays in VES by deposit to 20 Venezuelan banks Official.
- Ria: bank deposit and Pago Móvil Reported. MoneyGram 2026 terms Unconfirmed.
What it really costs
Two parts: the fee and the exchange rate. Venezuela caps what its banks and exchange houses charge for receiving or sending electronic remittances at 4%, minimum EUR 2 equivalent Official; it does not regulate the sender’s fee abroad. Per Zoom, remittances are settled at the lowest official BCV rate Reported, so compare how many bolívares arrive per dollar. The calculator above does it with today’s official rate.
What OFAC says (summarized and quoted, not interpreted)
- FAQ 665 (summary): asked whether the designation of the Government of Venezuela prevents humanitarian aid and personal remittances, OFAC answers no, and that the general licenses allow noncommercial, personal remittances.
- GL 16C: authorizes transactions «ordinarily incident and necessary to processing noncommercial, personal remittances involving Banco de Venezuela, Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, Banco del Tesoro, or Banco Central de Venezuela»; it does not cover transfers to support a business, including a family business.
- GL 57 (April 14, 2026): authorizes financial services with the BCV, Banco de Venezuela, Banco Digital de los Trabajadores and Banco del Tesoro; its Note 1 includes «services in connection with the collection, forwarding, processing, or receipt of funds or remittances». Bank Secrecy Act obligations remain.
- Not covered: transfers or donations to blocked persons or anyone on the SDN list, and commercial transfers.
All Official, from ofac.treasury.gov. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer.
How much is sent
There is no official Venezuelan figure; Ecoanalítica estimates USD 3.5–4 billion a year (May 2026) Reported.
Questions people ask
Is it legal to send money to family in Venezuela from the U.S.?
OFAC's FAQ 665 says the designation of the Government of Venezuela does not prevent noncommercial, personal remittances to the Venezuelan people, and General Licenses 16C and 57 mention remittances expressly. Read OFAC's text for your situation; this is not legal advice.
Does the money arrive in dollars?
Through the formal channels we verified, no: Western Union Venezuela pays in bolívares and Remitly pays in VES. We found no formal channel paying cash dollars in Venezuela.
Sources checked on November 8, 2026
- OFAC — FAQ 665
- OFAC — General License 57 (Apr 14, 2026)
- OFAC — General License 16C
- Western Union — send money to Venezuela
- Remitly — send money to Venezuela
- BCV — fee schedule in force from Sep 22, 2026 (remittances: max 4%)
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