Starting Monday, January 13, 2025, Cuban citizens will have the ability to manage the acquisition and legalization of Civil Registry certifications online. The announcement was made this Friday by the law firm Consultores y Abogados Internacionales (CONABI) via a post on their Facebook profile. They outlined the features and benefits of this new service amidst the widespread bureaucratic challenges in the country.
According to the information released, users can submit their requests using a phone, computer, or any device with Internet access, whether they are in Cuba or abroad. Among the main advantages are the elimination of the need for an appointment, the ability to process the transaction at any time, and real-time updates on the status of the request.
For document collection, applicants can either visit the relevant office or, if they are outside the country, authorize a relative to handle the process on their behalf, though it remains unspecified whether this can also be done online or through a power of attorney. Payments will be made online, matching the cost of in-person applications: 400 CUP for obtaining the certificate and 375 CUP for legalization, plus the cost of stamps, which varies based on the applicant's place of residence.
This service will initially support a limited capacity of 50 requests per week as part of a pilot phase, aiming to refine the service mechanisms and gradually increase response capacity. CONABI has hailed this online format as a significant advancement in simplifying essential legal procedures and streamlining the process of acquiring official documents in the country.
For more information, interested parties can visit the official CONABI website. In August, CONABI introduced the online service for obtaining and legalizing criminal records.
Sandra Rodríguez, president and CEO of CONABI, presented the new initiative to the Cuban News Agency (ACN), as cited by the newspaper Escambray, calling it an "achievement." She highlighted that clients will no longer need to book appointments and can complete the process from anywhere at any time using their computers or mobile devices.
The directive, without addressing the technological and connectivity challenges faced by many citizens, indicated that users must create an account on the CONABI website and then request the acquisition and legalization of their criminal records.
In May, after a year when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) acknowledged delays in document legalization, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla assured that these backlogs had been resolved. The minister noted a positive outcome from the measures implemented over the past year, stating, "The situation of delays in the document legalization service has been reversed."
Key Insights on Cuba's New Online Legalization Service
What are the main benefits of the new online service for Civil Registry certifications in Cuba?
The new online service eliminates the need for prior appointments, allows requests at any time, and provides real-time updates on the status of applications.
How can Cuban citizens access the new online service for document legalization?
Citizens can access the service using a phone, computer, or other internet-enabled devices from anywhere, including outside of Cuba.
What are the costs associated with the online legalization of documents?
The cost is 400 CUP for obtaining the certificate and 375 CUP for legalization, plus the value of stamps, which varies by the applicant's residence.