The earthquakes that affected Venezuela in June 2026 have generated a serious humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people affected, significant material damage, and numerous families whose living conditions have been compromised.

As a result of this situation, many Spanish citizens and residents in Spain with family members in Venezuela are wondering if there is any way to facilitate their arrival and residence in our country.

The answer is yes, although it is worth making one important clarification: No new law has been passed or a specific residence permit created for Venezuelan citizens.

What is happening is that Spanish regulations already provide for the possibility of applying humanitarian criteria in exceptional situations, and the recent earthquakes have led the Administration to be able to assess these assumptions more flexibly.

A little context: the earthquakes that affected Venezuela

During the month of June 2026, Venezuela experienced several large-scale seismic events that affected various regions of the country. The earthquakes caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services, leaving thousands of people in a particularly vulnerable situation.

In the face of this situation, various international organizations and numerous governments expressed their concern about the humanitarian situation and offered support to the affected people.

Spain, for its part, has had legal mechanisms in place for years that allow for the consideration of this type of exceptional circumstances in certain immigration procedures.

The law already contemplated this possibility

Although in recent days there has been talk of a «new humanitarian route,» the fact is that the Foreigners’ Regulations already provide that certain exceptional circumstances can justify a more flexible interpretation of some requirements.

Royal Decree 1155/2024, which approves the current Foreigners Regulations, incorporates various provisions to address humanitarian situations, especially when natural disasters, conflicts, or extraordinary circumstances affect the country of origin of the family members.

Therefore, The novelty does not lie in the creation of a new residence permit, But rather in the possibility of applying these legal provisions to relatives from Venezuela affected by the situation generated after the earthquakes.

What does this mean in practice?

One of the cases where this interpretation could have a greater impact is in applications for residence for relatives of Spanish citizens.

Generally speaking, when a Spanish citizen intends to apply for residence for their parents, it is usually necessary to prove, among other things, that they are «dependent», that is, that there is sufficient economic support.

However, when humanitarian reasons of special importance arise, the Administration may evaluate the file taking into account the exceptional circumstances facing the country of origin and may relax the requirement for certain requirements.

Each application must be examined on a case-by-case basis, but the situation resulting from the earthquakes may be a relevant factor in that assessment.

Who could benefit?

There is no automatic authorization for all people from Venezuela.

Each case must be examined in accordance with its particular circumstances.

However, this interpretation may be particularly relevant for:

• Parents of Spanish citizens.
• Mothers of Spanish citizens.
• Descendants of citizens of the European Union in those cases provided for by the regulations.
• Other relatives when exceptional circumstances arise that may justify the application of humanitarian criteria.

The documentation provided, the family relationship, the applicant's personal situation, and the concrete consequences that the earthquakes have had will be aspects that the Administration may consider during the processing.

The importance of preparing the application correctly

Precisely because each case must be analyzed individually, it is especially important to present a well-founded dossier.

In addition to proving the family connection, it may be necessary to provide documentation that justifies the family member’s exceptional situation in Venezuela and explains why humanitarian circumstances exist that justify a flexible application of the regulations.

A properly prepared application can avoid subsequent requirements and make it easier for the Administration to have all the necessary elements to assess the case.

Conclusion

The earthquakes experienced in Venezuela have not resulted in a new residence permit or changed the Foreigners’ Regulations.

However, they have opened the door for the Administration to apply the humanitarian tools that Spanish law already contemplated for exceptional situations.

For many Venezuelan families with ties in Spain, this can represent an opportunity to apply for the residence of certain family members when the circumstances provided for by the regulations are met.

If you have relatives in Venezuela and you want to know if your case can be considered under this interpretation, please contact us at Nomadis Legal We can study your situation and advise you on the most appropriate course of action in accordance with current legislation.