Frequently Asked Questions

661. What does General License 9H authorize with respect to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) debt and equity and what are the implications for U.S. and non-U.S. persons?

General License (GL) 9H authorizes U.S. persons to engage in all transactions prohibited by subsection 1(a)(iii) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13808 or by E.O. 13850 , each as amended by E.O. 13857 , or by E.O. 13884 , as collectively incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part… Read more

1246. Does General License 52 authorize the sale of certain shares of CITGO that are the subject of Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela?

No. A specific license will be required before any sale is executed in the Crystallex case. Notwithstanding the existence of any general licenses under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations (VSR), a specific license from OFAC is required for the entry into a settlement agreement, or for the… Read more

1247. Do non-U.S. persons face sanctions risk for engaging in transactions authorized by General Licenses (GL) 46B, 51A, and 52?

No, provided that non-U.S. persons comply with certain conditions outlined in GLs 46B , 51A , and 52 , as described below. Subject to certain conditions, GLs 46B, 51A, and 52 authorize established U.S. entities to engage in certain transactions involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), as… Read more

1248. Since January 2026, OFAC has issued a series of Venezuela-related General Licenses related to purchases and investment in Venezuela's natural resource sectors, such as Venezuela-related General Licenses (GLs) 48A and 50A, that include a reporting requirement. Which parties are responsible for providing such reports pursuant to those General Licenses?

In general, the parties engaged in the primary authorized activity are responsible for complying with the applicable reporting requirements in these Venezuela-related GLs. Parties that are only indirectly involved or providing services ancillary to the primary authorized activity are not required… Read more

1259. Are private and commercial flights authorized to arrive in and depart from airports in Venezuela, and can they receive ground services in-country?

Yes. Venezuela-related General License (GL) 30B authorizes U.S. persons to engage in all transactions involving the Government of Venezuela (GOV), including its agencies and instrumentalities like the Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (INAC) and Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Aquaticos (… Read more

1260. Does the requirement in certain Venezuela General Licenses (e.g., 46C, 47A, 48B, 50B, 51B, 52A, and 54A) that the terms of contracts be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of a state or other jurisdiction within the United States mean that U.S. law must govern all aspects of the underlying activity?

No. Certain Venezuela general licenses (GLs) require that any contract for transactions authorized by the GL with the Government of Venezuela or certain other covered entities (e.g., Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. in GL 52A or CVG Compañía General de Minería de Venezuela CA in GL 51B ) specify that… Read more

519. How can I help the Venezuelan people while making sure to abide by the U.S. sanctions?

While E.O. 13884 blocks all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that come into the possession or control of U.S. persons or U.S. jurisdiction, the Venezuelan people are not subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions. Sanctions do not preclude U.S. persons from exporting… Read more

1263. Does General License (GL) 60 require that payments to the Government of Venezuela be made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds Account (FGDF)?

No. GL 60 authorizes all transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, which includes payment of taxes, tolls, and fees to the Government of Venezuela connected with such relief efforts. Payments related to earthquake relief that are… Read more

1239. Where can I find the account information to make authorized payments to the Foreign Government Deposit Funds deposit account, as specified in Executive Order 14373?

To obtain payment account information for payments to the Foreign Government Deposit Funds deposit account established consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14373 , "Safeguarding Venezuelan Oil Revenue for the Good of the American and Venezuelan People," and referenced in certain Venezuela General… Read more

595. What does Venezuela-related General License 5Y authorize?

The President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13835 on May 21, 2018. Subsection 1(a)(iii) of E.O. 13835 prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions related to the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by the Government of Venezuela (GOV) of any equity interest in an entity… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

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