Cuba’s migration policy updated

Cuba's migration policy updated

Amendments will come into force on January 14th, 2013

As part of the work undertaken to update the current migration policy
adjusting it to prevailing conditions in the present and the foreseeable
future, the Cuban government has decided to forgo the required Travel
Permit as well as the Letter of Invitation.

Therefore, as from January 14th, 2013, it will only be necessary to
submit the ordinary passport, duly updated, and the visa issued by the
country of destination, in those cases when it is required. The ordinary
passport will be issued to the Cuban citizens who meet the requirements
of the Migration Law, as modified in compliance with these provisions.
Such Law will come into effect ninety days after its publication in the
Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba.

Those already in possession of an ordinary passport, issued before this
decision is valid, should request from the corresponding authorities of
the Ministry of the Interior its updating absolutely free of charge.
Likewise, those with a valid Travel Permit will be able to depart
without any additional procedure.

It has also been decided that Cuban residents travelling overseas on
private affairs will be permitted to remain there for a period of
twenty-four months, counting from the date of departure. For a longer
stay, they will be required to obtain the corresponding evidence of
extension of stay from a Cuban consulate.

The updating of the migration policy takes into account the right of the
revolutionary state to defend itself from the aggressive and subversive
plans of the US government and its allies. For this reason, those
measures aimed at preserving the human capital created by the Revolution
from the theft of talents practiced by the powerful nations shall remain
in force.

In due course, other measures related to the migratory issue will be
adopted that will certainly help in the consolidation of the efforts
being made by the Revolution towards the full normalization of Cuba's
relations with its emigrants.

Today, the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba is publishing the
Law Decree of the State Council modifying the current Migration Law as
well as other supplementary regulations.

Additional information on the procedures required by the law and other
specificities concerning the country's migration policy are available to
the people at the Dirección de Inmigración y Extranjería and its voice
message through phone number 2063218; Portal del Ciudadano Cubano:
www.ciudadano.cu; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba:
www.cubaminrex.cu.

http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2012/10/16/nacional/artic13.html