US extends Venezuela earthquake sanctions relief, exempts aid payments from government deposit rules

WASHINGTON, October 16, 2026 — The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 60A on Friday, extending authorization for transactions supporting earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela until 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on April 21, 2027. The amended license replaces General License 60, issued June 25, and permits activities otherwise prohibited under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, including financial transfers supporting authorized relief operations.

The authorization allows US financial institutions and registered money transmitters to process funds on behalf of third-country persons involved in earthquake relief. Financial institutions may rely on the originator of a transfer to establish compliance, provided they have no knowledge or reason to believe the transaction falls outside the license. However, the exemption does not permit the unblocking of frozen property or transactions prohibited under other US sanctions programs.

In an accompanying amendment to Frequently Asked Question 1263, OFAC clarified that payments of taxes, tolls and fees to the Venezuelan government connected with earthquake relief do not have to pass through the Foreign Government Deposit Funds Account (FGDF). The clarification distinguishes humanitarian payments from commercial transactions authorized under other Venezuela-related general licenses, which remain subject to mandatory deposit requirements. OFAC explicitly warned that payments covered by those licenses cannot be reclassified as earthquake relief to circumvent the restrictions.

The measures provide additional flexibility for humanitarian organizations, financial institutions and international relief operations while preserving the broader framework of US sanctions against Venezuela. The extension maintains a narrowly defined exemption for earthquake-related activities rather than introducing a general relaxation of restrictions on dealings with the Venezuelan government.