The Permanent Residency in Cuba
In Cuba there are many kinds of residencies, including the permanent one. This page has been designed to strangers who need to obtain complete information about getting the permanent residency and this information is up to date. Here, you will not find a definition of this residency or a comparison with the others. For this kind of information, consult this page instead.
Being permanent resident in Cuba mean living there without restrictions, time constraints or permissions and enjoy of all national privileges. These advantages are not trivial:
- Not be forced to pay all the services and rights in convertible currency (CUC).
- Getting the free instruction and health care like any Cuban.
- Stay in casas particulares in Old Havana, in the Vedado, in Nuevo Vedado or in Miramar, for example, without being involved in the renting taxes in CUC, therefore getting rented for much less than being a tourist. Obviously the houses paying renting taxes in CUP are not as much as these paying it in CUCs and they have not the same quality, but this is another story.
- Having a domicile in Cuba which will allow you to actively participate to life in Cuba.
- To travel and return back to Cuba without being forced to have a flight ticket to leave the country.
- Entering in Cuba by paying the excess baggage in CUP (which you are allowed to do this only once in a calendar year).
- Enter in Cuba without being forced to get a health insurance, a very annoying thing indeed.
- You can stay in Cuba as long as you want without being forced to leave each month, each three or six months, according to your visa, your country of origin (Canadian tourists may stay up to three months you can extend up to six), or your migratory classification.
- Access to museums, libraries, recreational and other cultural events without being forced to pay, as a stranger, in the CUC currency.
- Buy goods, services and estates in your name without having the obligation to do it in the name of a third party person. For example, buy a home in Cuba.
- The list may continue as you want... But the message is clear.
Sure, this information shoud be already available somewhere in the internet, but I didn't found any page which really provides in one place a really comprehensive and updated information about this. For this reason we have decided to provide a complete set of instructions in this site.
If you are Cuban and your case is different, even if you have the same goal (for example you have lost your residency and you whish to get it again), the dossiers and requirements may be different in respect to these we will describe, but it's about details which you may easily find for your specific case. Here you will get the big picture, nevertheless, we pretend to offer a really complete information on the matter.
The Requirements to Get the Permanent Residency
In Cuba, you can be citizen only by birth and not by naturalization, except under exceptional circumstances. But you can become resident and, in order to apply for this, you must fulfill one or more of the following requirements:
- You are married to a Cuban or with a permanent resident in Cuba.
- You have children in Cuba (majors of age) or other first grade family ties.
- You are a Cuban citizen but you have lost your residency because you lived outside Cuba for a long time.
Notice: if you only tie is a children under 18, then your are not applicable. At the end of this article, we'll explain the reasons.
The Cuban authorities may establish any other requirement at their sole discretion. Then, this list may be subject to change.
The Necessary Documentation to Apply for a Cuban Permanent Residency
Well, once you know you can become a resident, it's time to begin to prepare the necessary documentation. Let's enumerate and explain, one by one, all the necessary papers. Most of these documents must be updated by less than six months in respect to the date of the application.
An Argued Letter of Request
You should prepare a letter where you request to obtain the permanent residency in Cuba, explaining the reasons for which you want to become a resident. The letter has not to be very large, it's just a way to begin the request. The Cuban government want to know why you whish to be a resident.
A Filled Biographic Model
This biographic model is just a form which will contain additional informations about you, your personal data, previous trips either in Cuba and elsewhere, the names of the people who may go visit you in Cuba, family data, working experience, spoken languages, diplomas and so on.
This model must be completely read before you fill it, it must be written in Spanish and with block letters, it cannot be filled by people younger than 16 and all the fields must be filled. When it's not possible, you'll have to explain it in a separate sheet.
Police Record and Birth Certificate
If you are Cuban it's easy. If you are a stranger, you must get them in your country and translate and legalize them in the nearest Cuban embassy. Obviously this involves some high fees, depending on the country you come from. For example, if you come from UK, the price might be between 500 and 700 sterling pounds, if you come from an American country, the price will probably be in USD and it will be similar. If you have another currency, it may not be accepted, for this you have to check in your Cuban embassy.
Notarial Agreement of the House Where you'll Live
This agreement which must be made on an office of notary, it has the purpose to authorize the stranger to live in a home permanently. Obviously the home owner must have a familiar tie with the stranger (for example the spouse or a relative of her). It may also be done by a home owner of an estate the stranger will buy (and it's possible that you will be asked for the documentation that will justify this near transaction).
Agreements made by rental home owners are not accepted (even if after you get the permanent resident you will have the right to rent a house in national currency, but when you apply for the residency, it will not work). The Cuban authorities explain this measure telling that the link between the stranger and the rental home owner is a commercial link, thus a weak tie and it may be broken over the time, making the stranger a load for the Cuban government. This may be a point, but I don't believe that it explains it all, I also imagine that these measures are taken to limit or prevent that strangers will get false marriages only to obtain the residency. Another possible reason is to avoid that the rental home owners have a permanent customer, ensuring a permanent income and a level of life higher than the rest of the population.
Therefore only notarial agreements of the following will be accepted:
- A near of far relative of the candidate of the permanent residency.
- An estate which will be purchased by the candidate.
Evidences of Economic Reliability
Years ago, the candidate had to deposit 5000 cuc in the Metropolitan Bank, now it's no longer required but the immigration authorities may require documentation about your economic solvency. If, for example, you get shares from some company, you have to show documents that certify it. If you receive money or you have life income or incomes of any other kind, you have to prove it. The authorities don't specify exactly what kind of income you have to cash or how much, but I imagine that any acceptable amount may suffice.
The reason of this is probably to prevent that a new resident may become a load for the government.
40 Cucs in Stamps
This is easy, the stamps may be purchased in any Cuban bank, even if the bank that most typically provide them is the Metropolitan Bank.
Certificate of Marriage Updated and Conform to Cuban Laws
Updated means that the document has to be issued in the last three months in respect to the date you are applying for the permanent residency. If you have an older certificate, you should get a more updated copy. Fortunately this paper is not expensive even if it may involve a queue in the special notary office. Furthermore you have to deal the case in the same notary office where you got married. If, for example, you got married in Santiago de Cuba and you live in the Havana, then you have to go to Santiago to get the paper!
Identity Card of the Spouse
In order to request the permanent residency in Cuba, you will need a copy of the identity card of your spouse. Furthermore, when you request your residency, your spouse must be present!
Documents Related With Other Family Ties or Citizenship
Getting married is not the only way to obtain the permanent residency in Cuba. There are other cases, as we have seen, of other family ties, including the own citizenship (you can perfectly be Cuban but living outside Cuba). Let see also these cases as well.
Cases of Other Family Ties in Cuba
If you have children, parents or other direct relatives in Cuba, you can apply for permanent residency. I imagine that Cuban authorities may ask other kind of documents, such as the birth certificate of the children, the identity card of any parent and so on. We strongly suggest, for each case, to get appropriate information in any Immigration unit or in any Cuban embassy or consulate in your country.
Cuban Citizenship
People born in Cuba never lose their Cuban citizenship, as well as a stranger who get permanent residency, never loses his/her foreign citizenship. Cuba grants citizenship by birth, not by naturalization, except of cases of extreme merit (for example, Ernesto Che Guevara got the Cuban citizenship). In other words, a Cuban never cease to be a Cuban and a stranger never cease to be a stranger, if we see things from this point of view. If you are a Cuban citizen, but you have residency outside Cuba, you can apply for permanent residency in Cuba, this requires an application called "repatriation". If this is your case, the Cuban authorities may ask you a birth certificate or an expired identity card, as a proof of your Cuban citizenship. In this case as well, we strongly suggest you to get appropriate information to any Immigration unit or any Cuban embassy or consulate, because these informations are outside the aims of this article.
Copy of your Passport and any Stamped Page of it
This means that the Cuban immigration wants not only a copy of your passport, but also an evidence of your past travels stamped on this passport. Therefore, any page of it having a stamp, must be copied.
Four Pictures for Cuban Identity Card
I believe that the size of these pictures should be 1x1 inches, but this data is subject to variation, so you should check it personally.
Medical Exam
The medical exam consists on an HIV test, a serology test and thoracic radiography. You must do it in any Cuban international clinic, for example, in the Cira García one, the CIMEX hospital, the Camilo Cienfuégos and so on. The immigration authorities request not only the result of these tests, but also the invoice of your payment, so if you get the same results in a national clinic or in any other way they will not accept it! For example, years ago, it was possible to get a HIV or AIDS test in Cuba for free and anonimously. The service were available either for Cuban than for strangers. Now, it is no longer available and we don't know if it will be available again or when. But, that test was only useful to clear your doubts, it was not officially valid to request the residency!
Questions and Answers About Residency in Cuba
Here's some very typical questions that most people ask about permanent residency in Cuba and about which a very few know the correct answers. In some case, the same immigration officers will provide confuse answers, while in other cases there are not written laws about the matter but only common accepted applications.
Once I get the residency, how many time can I stay outside Cuba without losing it?
Fortunately, officers have a clear answer to this question. A stranger resident in Cuba may stay outside Cuba at most for one year without losing it. If he/she wish to extend this time, he/she must apply for this in the nearest Cuban consulate. Otherwise, he/she will lose all his/her rights of permanent resident.
Once I obtain the residency, if I'm outside Cuba, how much time does I have to go to Cuba and claim it?
Good question. If you get the residency and you still have not got it, there is not a written law determining how much time you have to find your resident's card. However, the maximum recommended time is six months. My personal recommendation: go for it as soon as possible.
If I only have underage children, why I'm not eligible?
This is not in the law neither, but it is dictated from high commands of power. Sure, it must be well understood, if you have children under 18 and you are married with an adult Cuban, then you have no problem, you are eligible. If a relative of your children (for example, your mother in law) may guarantee a domicile, there is no problem again. But, if your only familiar link is a child under 18, you will no get the residency. Why? Because with child under 18, you cannot fulfill the "Notarial Agreement of the House Where you'll Live" requirement, a child under 18 may not respond for you in case of necessity and the government is really interested on the fact you will not become a charge for the State. This is the only explanation (and immigration officiers will confirm it to you).
The permanent residency how much will it last?
The duration of the permanent residency card was five years. It has been extended to ten years, like Cubans. After these ten years, your residency card will expire and you will need to get a new one.
Is that difficult to renew the residency once it expires?
To renew your permanent residency card, you only have to bring a fresh picture of you (a square inch in size) and a stamp in CUP (national money) currency. In this case, the presence of your Cuban relative is not required and you don't have to bring a proof of address.
If I get divorced will I lose the residency?
You shouldn't, if you don't request for a permanent change of your address, which is generally never necessary. Forther the officiers will not care if you have family links with the people living in your new address.
Once I get the residency, may I live in another address?
You can perform a temporary change of your address or simply don't request for any change. Just stay rented, sign the receipt and that's enough.
Final Considerations
Years ago, the Cuban authorities were also requiring you a job application in any Cuban company in order to become a permanent resident. This is no longer required, even if it will be agreed. Also a copy of the house ownership where the stranger went to live was required, but this requirement is now replaced by the notarial agreement.
The permanent residency application in Cuba seems to be quite trickly, but, in reality, it's not so complicated once you overcome the most difficult parts. For some people the hardest step may be the economic solvency, for others the legalization/translation of the documents and so on. But, once you get all the requirements, the application may require a waiting time between two and six months, after that you will get the same rights that any Cuban and you may change your domicile if you wish.
This article will be updated over time and some information would be added or modified if needed. So it's recommended you visit it again just to make sure you will not miss anything new.
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