The new Cuban passport measures benefit residents in the United States, despite the restrictions of the only consulate in the country, MINREX sources recently reported.
The general director of Consular Affairs and Cubans Living Abroad of the Minrex, Laura Pujol Torres, offered an update at the Round Table on the new provisions of the cuban passport that were put into effect last year.
These measures were announced on May 16, 2023, “in the midst of a tightening of the economic blockade as a result of the policies of the Trump and Biden governments,” he specified in this regard, according to a review by Cubadebate.
Recent data from the Directorate of Immigration and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior indicates that since the implementation of the new measures, 119,530 Cuban passports have been requested from abroad.
Pujol Torres pointed out that the 140 Cuban consular offices in 123 countries “have had to absorb this increase, taking measures to avoid accumulations of procedures and delays.”
In this sense, he explained the process of applying for a Cuban passport from outside the island.
“Passport applications are made from the consulates and are processed electronically in Cuba by the Directorate of Immigration and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior. The passports are then sent back to the embassies for delivery to the applicants.”
APPLICATION FOR CUBAN PASSPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES
According to the information offered, the new measures have mainly benefited Cubans residing in the United States, where more than 83,000 passport applications have been registered.
However, he regretted that “the only consulate in the United States works with restrictions, which slows down the passport application and delivery process.”
Among the most notable measures adopted are the reduction in the price of the Cuban passport in the United States, which was previously set at 350 USD. Now, The official cost of a Cuban passport is 180 euros in Europe and 180 dollars in the United States.
Remember, however, that despite this discount, applicants may face additional fees for non-face-to-face procedures or through agencies.
You can find everything you need to know about the price of the Cuban passport and its extensions in 2024 in this article.