http://www.granma.cu/ingles/cuba-i/16-octubre-migration-policy.html
Havana. October 16, 2012
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.
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