Employment in Caracas

Local Economy

Caracas has a typical capital city service-based economy, with more banks and malls than factories and manufacturing plants. The largest company in the city, and indeed the country, is Petroleos de Venezuela, or PDVSA; a state-owned oil and natural gas enterprise which has enabled Venezuela to become one of the world’s largest oil exporters. The abundance of oil in Venezuela has also led to traffic problems in Caracas, as gas costs next to nothing to buy and use. The Caracas Stock Exchange is also based in the city and any expatriates working in Caracas in banking will likely be stationed in the central business district of Milla de Oro. Sitting across the north of the Barunta and south of the Chacao municipalities, Milla de Oro is one of Latin America’s largest financial districts. Transportation, communication, chemicals, textiles, leather, food and other materials also contribute to the economy of Caracas. Tourism also plays a role, with thousands of visitors from North and South America, as well as the rest of the world.

Job Hunting in Caracas

As is typical today, many jobs in Caracas can be found and applied for online. There are websites that offer a number of different roles, including IT, education, banking, and oil and gas specialists, but corporations such as Deloitte, some hotels, and also the government post jobs directly on to their own websites job pages. There are jobs available for tutors, au pairs, and nannies who speak English, also. Expats who have some knowledge of Spanish might find it easier to obtain work.

Work Permits for Caracas

Once an expatriate moving to Caracas has found work, the employer will need to apply for a work visa on the expat’s behalf. This needs to be approved by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice and will require providence of documentation including passport with a minimum of six months validity and two blank pages, a recent photograph, a letter of employment or invitation, flight itinerary, and fees. This varies based on the expatriate’s location, so it is worth checking online to see what documentation and fees are required, dependent on country.