After acknowledging delays in document legalization a year ago, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) has announced significant improvements. On Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated that these delays have been successfully addressed.
Using a thread on X (formerly known as Twitter), the minister declared, "the delays in the document legalization service have been reversed," highlighting the positive impact of measures adopted since last year. Rodríguez Parrilla noted that "since May 2, the legalization process has been completed within a 10-day timeframe."
According to the island's foreign minister, "this is the result of efforts made by the personnel of the Department of Legalizations and coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Justice and other involved entities, despite the country's challenging economic situation." He also emphasized that the Ministry currently has no backlog of documents.
However, he cautioned that "while procedures will follow their usual course, they might encounter objective challenges in some of the entities involved in the process due to the difficult current situation." The severe energy crisis in Cuba has forced many bureaucratic processes to be halted or rescheduled due to frequent power outages across the territory.
In April of the previous year, MINREX acknowledged delays in document legalization due to increased demand for the service. Ernesto Soberón, Director-General of Consular Affairs and Cubans Residing Abroad (DACCRE), explained that demand had risen by 16% compared to the previous year. For instance, in May 2023 alone, MINREX reported an average weekly legalization of 23,305 documents for Cubans.
This period coincides with the opportunity to obtain Spanish nationality through the Law of Democratic Memory, passed by the Spanish Congress and Senate and in effect since October 2022. It is estimated that about five million Cubans could benefit from this process, allowing them to acquire Spanish nationality and settle in any European Union country.
The ongoing migrant exodus has overwhelmed notary offices in several provinces, leading to increased demand for services such as powers of attorney, authorizations, and property sales, amidst the government's inability to effectively manage these processes. This surge in procedures has prompted the Cuban government to consider joining the Apostille Convention, an international agreement that would eliminate the need for legalization for up to 60% of documents for them to take legal effect outside the island. However, this option remains under study by Cuban authorities.
Document Legalization Process and Current Challenges in Cuba
Given the recent developments in the document legalization process in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and answers that can provide further clarity.
What changes have been made to the document legalization process in Cuba?
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reduced the document legalization process to a 10-day timeframe, following measures adopted since last year.
What challenges might still affect the legalization process despite improvements?
While procedures will follow their usual course, they may face challenges due to the current difficult situation in some entities involved in the process, exacerbated by Cuba's severe energy crisis.
How has the increased demand for document legalization affected the process?
The increased demand, partly due to opportunities like obtaining Spanish nationality through the Law of Democratic Memory, has overwhelmed notary offices and led to a surge in procedures.
What is the Apostille Convention, and how might it benefit Cuba?
The Apostille Convention is an international agreement that could eliminate the need for legalization for up to 60% of documents to take legal effect outside Cuba. The Cuban government is currently studying this option.