Venezuela: Government Operations and Travel Disruptions Following Earthquakes

The situation 

Following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, the government has declared a nationwide state of emergency and implemented emergency response measures.  

A closer look 

• • Travel and mobility disruptions. As of June 25, 2026, Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía), Venezuela's primary international airport serving Caracas, has been closed after sustaining structural damage. All incoming and outgoing flights have been cancelled while authorities conduct safety assessments, and no reopening date has been announced. Additionally, Caracas metro and rail services have been suspended.  
    • • • Update July 3, 2026: Venezuelan authorities have extended temporary flight restrictions through at least July 9, 2026, requiring prior authorization for all private, executive and other non-scheduled flights entering, departing from, or operating within Venezuelan airspace. Cargo, humanitarian and official flights remain exempt. Additionally, following earthquake-related damage at Simón Bolívar International Airport, the airport is currently limited to authorized military, humanitarian and diplomatic operations. Several commercial airlines have temporarily relocated their services to Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia. Public ground transportation services remain limited in the regions most affected by the earthquakes.  
  • Government offices operational disruptions.  
    • • • Although there has been no official announcement regarding the closure of government offices (including the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration and Foreigners (SAIME), notary offices and other government agencies), Fragomen’s local team has confirmed that government agencies are not expected to provide public services for the remainder of this week.  
        • The online platforms managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa applications and apostille requests are currently unavailable due to technical outages that began following the earthquake.  
        • It is not yet clear whether additional government services will be suspended. 
        • Update July 3, 2026: SAIME offices remain partially closed. Authorities are currently processing only passport renewal and Venezuelan national identity card (cédula) renewal applications. They have suspended all other immigration and civil registry services. Although authorities expect to resume normal operations during the week of July 6, 2026, they have not yet confirmed an official reopening date. 

Impact 

• • Travel impacts. Travelers to and from Venezuela should check with their airline for specific impacts on suspended or affected flight schedules and/or availability. 
  • General processing delays. The unavailability of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' online platforms is expected to delay visa and apostille-related processes. Although government offices have not officially suspended operations, foreign nationals and employers should expect processing delays for all immigration-related applications processed in Venezuela through at least the remainder of the week. 
  • Employer impacts. Employers should ensure the safety of their employees and should account for travel disruptions and processing delays while authorities assess damage and restore transportation and government operations. 

Looking ahead 

Additional operational disruptions remain possible as damage assessments and recovery efforts continue.  

Fragomen is working with affected clients on a case-by-case basis. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available. At this time, information is fragmented and government authorities are issuing updates as needed, likely while they continue to work on resuming internal operations following the earthquake.  

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at  Fragomen.