Starting April 1, 2025, all Cuban citizens wishing to enter Cuba will need to present a valid passport. This new regulation marks the end of the temporary extension granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed entry with expired passports.
Ana Teresita González Fraga, the head of the Directorate of Consular Affairs and Attention to Cuban Residents Abroad (DACCRE), explained to the official newspaper Granma that this temporary measure was introduced in 2020 in response to pandemic-related travel restrictions. It aimed to ensure that Cubans abroad could return home without needing to renew their documents.
With international flights now resumed and consular services operating normally, the Cuban government has set March 31, 2025, as the deadline for entering the island with expired passports. Beyond this date, having a valid passport will be mandatory for entry.
González also confirmed that consular offices are equipped and ready to process passport renewal applications efficiently, ensuring that all Cubans wishing to travel to the country can comply with the new requirement by April 1, 2025.
In 2023, the Cuban government announced the continuation of certain pandemic-era measures, including the extension of uninterrupted stays abroad beyond 24 months, without cost or conditions, as initially declared in March 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. This decision was intended to support Cuban nationals abroad during the critical phase of the pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, the Cuban regime required citizens to return to the island within two years to maintain their residency status. However, the closure of airports due to the health crisis led to a temporary suspension of this rule.
At that time, the validity of Cuban passports was also extended from 6 to 10 years for citizens over 16, and to 5 years for those younger. Later, the Cuban government clarified that the validity of passports issued for six years before June 30, 2023, would not be extended.
Last July, the Cuban Parliament approved a new Migration Law that includes significant reforms, such as the removal of the 24-month limit for stays abroad without losing residency in Cuba. This change, put into place since the COVID-19 pandemic, eases the return process for those residing abroad without time constraints.
FAQs on Cuba's New Passport Requirement
Why is Cuba requiring valid passports from April 2025?
Cuba is reinstating the requirement for valid passports due to the normalization of international flights and consular services, ending the temporary extension allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What was the purpose of the temporary passport extension during the pandemic?
The temporary extension was implemented to ensure Cuban citizens abroad could return without needing to renew their passports amidst travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
How long will Cuban passports be valid after renewal?
For citizens over 16, Cuban passports will have a validity of 10 years, while those under 16 will have passports valid for 5 years.