Cuba strengthens ties with its nationals abroad

HAVANA, Cuba, May 16 (ACN) Miguel Diaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, affirmed that the migratory and consular measures announced today by the Foreign Ministry ratify the unchanging will to continue strengthening ties between the country and its nationals abroad.

On Twitter, the head of state described these provisions as a result of the permanent dialogue between the nation and its emigration.

Foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla also wrote on the same social media that these measures continue the path taken with the so-called 78 dialogue, considered a turning point in Cuba's relations with its emigrants.

This morning, at a press conference, the general director of consular affairs and Cubans residing abroad of the foreign ministry, Ernesto Soberon, announced a group of migratory measures that will take effect on July 1, 2023.

These changes include extending the validity of passports to 10 years for those over 16 years of age, and five years for minors; eliminating the extension requirement; and reducing the cost of this document at consulates, setting the fee at 180 dollars or euros for those over 16 years of age, and 140 for minors.

Likewise, the time of stay in Cuba for Cubans living abroad and their foreign relatives (spouses and children) is equal, and the use of the Cuban passport when entering the national territory is established for those who emigrated before January 1, 1971.

In a message on Twitter, Soberon stresses that these measures are in addition to others, adopted over the past 45 years, aimed at facilitating travel abroad by Cubans, their return to Cuba and increasing their participation in the political, economic and social life of their country of origin.