Moving to Cuba, like any other relocation, will necessitate extensive planning. Your schedule will be incredibly busy with all of the errands you’ll be doing, as well as obtaining the essential papers. Every task will necessitate an investment of time on your part. As a result, don’t squander any. Begin preparing as soon as possible so that you may enjoy the moving process without feeling rushed.
Cuba Visa Requirements
You will require a Tourist Card if you wish to visit Cuba for job hunting or fact-finding purposes and have already secured a means of supporting your living expenses. It’s good for one single entry for a 30-day trip (90 days for Canadian nationals) and can be renewed for another 30 days at the hotel or the immigration offices.
The following documents are required to obtain this visa in person at the Cuban Consulate:
- a current passport
- a plane ticket with dates of departure and arrival
- Payment of the service’s consular fee
If you want to apply for this visa via mail, you’ll need the following documents:
- a photocopy of your current passport that is readable
- a readable photocopy of your plane ticket, with the date of departure and arrival.
- the payment of the service’s consular charge
- a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the visa
Different Types Of Visas in Cuba
You must apply for a visa before traveling to Cuba, whether for a visit or to live there. The type of visa you’ll need is determined by many factors, including the length of your trip and its purpose.
Family Visa
Spouses and children of Cuban citizens of any other nationality who travel to Cuba and wish to remain with their Cuban relatives must provide their passports as well as the kinship papers (e.g. a birth certificate).
You’ll also require:
- a current passport
- one passport photo
- 3)application forms filled out
- a photocopy of the Permission for Residence Abroad (PRE) or the Cuban citizen’s marriage certificate, as well as payment of the consular charge in cash or with a bank certified check for this service.
If applying by mail, the applicant must include all of the necessary documents along with a stamped self-addressed envelope to receive their passport back.
Business Visa
Applicants must obtain business visas from the Cuban Embassy’s respective office, and after approval has been sent to the Consulate, the applicant must visit the Consulate during normal business hours. You will also need to show that you are employed in Cuba, in addition to the documents listed above.
Obtaining Permanent Resident Status
Permanent resident visa applications are exclusively available at Cuban consulates and are difficult to obtain. The procedure takes three to six months, and the following documents are required:
- your certificate of birth
- a letter explaining why the application is being made.
- two passport-size photographs, one of which should be a front-facing portrait
- a photocopy of the passport with verification from the Cuban Consulate stating it has been compared to the original.
- payment of the consular fee in cash or with a bank certified check for this service
The tough portion of the procedure, on the other hand, is obtaining a second set of documents: To begin, you will need a Certificate of Regular Residency, which is a document that certifies or accredits your current address. The police or the mayor’s office can issue this. After that, you must perform a series of health examinations and show the findings of a chest X-ray, blood tests, and HIV tests.
These tests could not have been performed more than six months before the Consulate received them. You can have these tests done in Cuba if you go to a hospital or clinic that specializes in foreign treatment.
You’ll also have to show proof of your technical and practical abilities (for those older than 16 and younger than 60).
These could be certificates from universities or documents attesting to years of professional experience, technical degrees, or your trade or occupation.
Confirmation of financial soundness will also be required by the consulate. As a result, you must create a bank account in Cuba. If the DIE denies the permit, you have the option to close your account at any time. The bank account can be opened from anywhere in the world as long as the certification is recognized and provided by the Cuban bank. A balance of at least 5,000.00 CUC is required in your new account.
Finally, a criminal record verification from the nation of residence is needed. It must have been issued no more than three months before applying at the Consulate by the official entity in question (e.g., the police).