Half-day government hours to continue indefinitely

IMPACT – HIGH

What is the change? Venezuela will continue to operate all government offices on a half-day schedule until further notice.

What does the change mean? Companies and individuals should plan for delays when applying for work permits, visa renewals and related government services, such as document processing and legalizations.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Work permits, visa renewals, document legalizations.
• Who is affected: Foreign nationals seeking government services in Venezuela.
• Impact on processing times: Delays are now expected to continue indefinitely.
• Business impact: Companies may need to adjust business schedules and start dates.

Background: Venezuela began curtailing government operating hours in May to approximately 10 hours per week. The government has now announced that while public offices will be open Monday through Friday, they will only operate from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The government had indicated that the closures were intended to reduce energy consumption during the El Niño storm season.

BAL Analysis: Applicants should factor in the shorter government office hours and anticipate that delays are likely to continue indefinitely until the government resumes normal full-time service.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Venezuela. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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