As our people know, with the celebration of the Dialogue of '78, promoted and led by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, a process of recomposition, diversification and strengthening of ties with the Cuban community abroad began, which continues to develop satisfactorily today.
During these almost 45 years, a significant number of measures have been adopted, of different kinds, aimed at facilitating the travel of our nationals abroad, their return to Cuba and increasing the participation of Cubans living abroad in the political, economic and social life of their country of origin.
In this regard, the participation of our compatriots living in around 130 countries in the debate on the draft of the new Constitution and the Family Code is emblematic; at the same time, the number of cooperation, business and investment projects presented by Cubans living abroad, aimed at participating in and contributing to Cuba's economic development, is growing steadily and systematically.
Likewise, the extension of uninterrupted stay abroad beyond 24 months, automatic and free of charge, announced in March 2020 with the aim of supporting our nationals who were abroad during the critical period of Covid-19, remains in force.
In correspondence with the above, as part of the periodic updating of our Migratory Policy and the analysis carried out by our government, it has been decided to adopt three (3) measures of a migratory-consular nature aimed at benefiting Cubans living in Cuba and abroad, as well as the family relationship between them.
These measures are adopted in the context of the difficult conditions resulting from the tightening of the blockade and the hostility of the United States government, the latter aimed at suffocating the Cuban economy, damaging the standard of living of the population, establishing extraordinary restrictions on Cuba's relations with Cubans living in US territory and in other countries, as well as creating additional obstacles to direct communication and links between emigrants and the nation.
They are also adopted under the undisputed global socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the effects of which are still palpable, particularly in the case of Cuba, a country suffering brutal financial persecution by the greatest empire humanity has ever known.
The measures in question are:
1- Extend the validity of the current passport from six (6) to ten (10) years, for Cuban citizens sixteen (16) years of age or older, and set it at five (5) years for minors; eliminate the requirement to extend passports every two (2) years, and lower the cost of the procedures associated with passports at consulates.
2- Equalise the length of stay in Cuba for Cubans living abroad and their foreign relatives (spouses and children) during their stay in the country.
3- Establish, for people who emigrated before 1 January 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 by popular referendum.
These measures will enter into force as of 1 July 2023.
Further details on these migratory-consular measures and the particularities for each territory will be informed in the coming hours, through the Roundtable space, the site Nation and Emigration, the website of the Directorate of Identification, Immigration and Aliens, the consulates of Cuba around the world, social networks in general and the municipal offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
We reiterate, once again, the will of our government to continue implementing, in an invariable manner, the policy of strengthening ties with our nationals abroad.