Cuba extends passport validity

Cuban passport. Photo: REUTERS

The Director General of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Consular and Consular Affairs, Ernesto Soberón, said that starting July 1, passports for Cuban citizens over the age of 16 will be valid for 10 years, while passports for Cuban citizens under the age of 16 will be valid for 5 years. In addition, Cuba also eliminated the requirement to renew passports every 2 years and equalized residence permits on the island for foreigners and consular citizens.

Previously, passports for adult Cuban citizens were usually valid for six years and people had to renew them every two years at a high cost.

Mr. Soberón emphasized that the recently announced migration policy updates are part of the program of restructuring, diversifying and strengthening relations with the Cuban community abroad that Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro began in 1978. The new measures facilitate travel and increase the participation of Cubans residing abroad in the political, economic and social life of their homeland.

The Cuban diplomat also said that the number of cooperation, business and investment projects by Cubans residing abroad to participate and contribute to the economic development of the island is increasing steadily and systematically.

According to VNA