Statement by the General Director of Consular Affairs and Attention to Cubans Resident Abroad of MINREX, to the national and foreign press media accredited in Cuba, announcing new migratory measures.
May 16, 2023
As our people know, with the celebration of the Dialogue of 1978, promoted and led by the Historical Leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, a process of recomposition, diversification and strengthening of ties with the Cuban community abroad began. , which currently continues to develop satisfactorily.
During these almost 45 years, an important number of measures, of different kinds, have been adopted, aimed at facilitating the trips of our nationals abroad, the return to Cuba and increasing the participation of Cubans residing abroad in political life, economic and social situation of their country of origin.
In this sense, the participation of our compatriots residing in around 130 countries in the debate on the draft new Constitution and in the Family Code is emblematic; At the same time, the number of cooperation, business and investment projects presented by Cubans residing abroad, aimed at participating and contributing to the economic development of Cuba, grows in a sustained and systematic way.
Likewise, the extension of uninterrupted stay abroad, beyond 24 months, automatic and free of charge, remains in force; Announced in March 2020 with the aim of supporting our nationals who were abroad during the critical period of Covid-19.
In correspondence with what has been indicated, as part of the periodic updating of our Immigration Policy and the analysis carried out by our government, it has been decided to adopt three (3) measures of a consular-immigration nature aimed at benefiting Cubans residing in Cuba and in the abroad, as well as the family relationship between them.
These measures are adopted in the context of the difficult conditions resulting from the strengthening of the blockade and the hostility of the United States government, events, the latter, aimed at suffocating the Cuban economy, damaging the standard of living of the population, establishing restrictions extraordinary effects on Cuba's relationship with Cubans living in the United States and in other countries, as well as creating additional obstacles to direct communication and the ties of emigrants with the nation.
They are also adopted under the indisputable socioeconomic impact, globally, of the Covid-19 pandemic; whose effects are still palpable, particularly in the case of Cuba, a country that suffers brutal financial persecution by the greatest empire humanity has ever known.
The measures in question are:
- Extend the validity of the current passport from six (6) to ten (10) years, for Cuban citizens sixteen (16) or older, and set it at five (5) years for minors; Eliminate the requirement to extend passports every two (2) years, and reduce the cost of paperwork associated with passports at consulates.
- Equate the length of stay in Cuba of Cubans residing abroad and their foreign relatives (spouses and children) during their stay in the country.
- Establish, for people who emigrated before January 1, 1971, the requirement to present their Cuban passport to enter Cuba; in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic, approved in 2019 in a popular referendum.
These measures will enter into force as of July 1, 2023.
More details about these migratory-consular measures and the particularities for each territory will be informed in the next few hours, through the "Mesa Redonda", the Nation and Emigration website, the website of the Departament of Identification, Immigration and Aliens, the Cuban consulates around the world, social networks in general and the municipal processing offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
We reiterate, once again, the will of our government to continue implementing, invariably, the policy of strengthening ties with our nationals abroad.
(Cubaminrex-www.nacionyemigracion.cu)
https://cubaminrex.cu/es/declaracion-del-director-general-de-asuntos-con...