Two major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on 24 June 2026, damaging infrastructure and forcing the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía, the country's principal international gateway. All incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled after the airport sustained structural damage. The disruption also reached government services used for relocation paperwork: Fragomen reported technical outages affecting Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa and apostille platforms, while Venezuela's registry and notary service suspended in-person activity on 25 and 26 June. Travellers and applicants should expect delays and verify the current position directly before relying on a flight, appointment or processing date.
What is confirmed
The earthquakes measured approximately magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 and struck in rapid succession. Venezuela's acting president declared a state of emergency and confirmed that the country's main airport had closed because of serious infrastructure damage. Associated Press reporting independently confirmed the closure. Venezuela's state broadcaster also reported that the autonomous registry and notary service, SAREN, stopped activity at all offices on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June as a safety measure. These official operational changes are separate from the wider humanitarian impact of the disaster.
Immigration and document services
Fragomen's 25 June mobility alert reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs platforms used for visa applications and apostille requests were unavailable. It also warned of broader delays across immigration-related government services while authorities assessed damage and restored operations. The alert did not say that every immigration office had formally closed, and there was no official nationwide SAIME closure notice in the sources reviewed. The accurate working assumption is therefore reduced capacity and processing delays, not a confirmed shutdown of every immigration function.
People most likely to be affected
- Travellers booked to arrive at or depart from Simón Bolívar International Airport
- Applicants waiting for a Venezuelan visa or a decision through an affected online platform
- People who need a Venezuelan apostille or notarised document for an overseas immigration application
- Foreign residents with an upcoming in-person appointment or time-sensitive permit matter
- Employers coordinating travel or immigration filings for staff in Venezuela
What to do before travelling
Contact the operating airline and confirm both the flight and the airport before starting the journey. A booking confirmation issued before the earthquakes does not show that the flight is still operating. Travellers already in Venezuela should keep copies of cancellation notices, appointment confirmations and screenshots of unavailable government systems. Those records may help explain a missed appointment or delayed filing later, but they do not automatically extend a visa or permit. Do not assume that an overstay or missed deadline has been waived unless the responsible Venezuelan authority publishes that relief.
What applicants should expect
Apostille, visa and registry work may take longer even after websites and offices reopen because agencies must process interrupted appointments and accumulated cases. Applicants using Venezuelan documents in another country should notify the receiving authority if the earthquake prevents them from obtaining an apostille or original document on time. Ask whether the authority can extend a deadline or accept interim evidence. For an immigration status that is close to expiry, use a qualified local adviser or the responsible authority rather than relying on general disaster reporting.
No general immigration waiver has been confirmed
The sources reviewed confirm airport closure, SAREN's two-day office suspension and technical outages affecting visa and apostille platforms. They do not confirm a blanket extension of visas, permits or filing deadlines, nor a formal closure of every immigration office.
Key Takeaway
Verify flights and government appointments directly, preserve evidence of disruption and do not assume immigration deadlines have been waived.