In Havana, Cubans seeking Spanish citizenship are voicing their frustration over extended delays, lack of institutional communication, and a thriving black market for credentials valued at hundreds of euros. With the Democratic Memory Law (LMD) nearing its expiration, many have taken to social media to highlight irregularities and setbacks in the Spanish Consulate's naturalization procedures.
The primary complaint centers around the absence of responses for the issuance of credentials essential for scheduling appointments and progressing with their citizenship applications. Reports by elTOQUE reveal that over 800 individuals currently lack the usernames and passwords needed to access the Bookitit system, a crucial tool for booking in-person appointments to present their documents.
Those affected claim they have adhered to the Consulate's protocol, which involves emailing the necessary documentation in PDF format. Nonetheless, they have not received any confirmation or response, with many having waited for over a year.
Concerns Over Imminent Deadline
The Democratic Memory Law, often referred to as the "Grandchildren's Law," is set to expire on October 22, 2025. However, an instruction in the Official State Gazette (BOE) from November 2024 allows for physical submission of documents beyond this date, provided the online application was filed within the deadline. The current issue is that many descendants lack even the initial credentials required for that first step.
A list of more than 550 affected individuals was reportedly submitted to the General Affairs Window of the Consulate on March 18, demanding an immediate solution.
Electronic Registration Faces Challenges
On March 25, the diplomatic mission announced via social media that the new electronic Civil Registry model is now operational at the Spanish Consulate in Havana. It claims that civil registry certificates can now be obtained electronically. This system was announced by the Directorate General for Legal Security and Public Faith in 2024 to facilitate nationality applications by option.
While this tool is accessible at some consulates, like Miami, allowing applicants to receive a legal receipt upon uploading their initial documentation, it has yet to be fully implemented for LMD applicants in Havana. The lack of access to this new system and the minimal official communication from the Consulate have created a sense of uncertainty and abandonment among Cuban descendants of Spaniards on the island.
Black Market and Forged Documents Emerge
Amidst bureaucratic delays, illegal practices have surged. Instances of selling access credentials to the Bookitit system on the black market for between 600 and 800 euros have been reported, along with the forgery of ecclesiastical documents necessary to prove Spanish ancestry.
The Diocesan Historical Archive of Ourense in Galicia has warned about a clandestine market for forged certificates originating from Cuba, with prices reaching up to 3,000 euros. This situation not only undermines the legality of the process but also highlights the desperation of many Cubans seeking a legal migration path.
Record Numbers and Hopes for Extension
Cuba ranks among the countries with the highest number of applications under the LMD. By 2023, over 226,000 requests had been recorded, far surpassing the 192,064 dossiers filed during the three-year span of the previous Historical Memory Law at the Havana Consulate.
Applicants securing a valid appointment before the deadline may complete their process even beyond 2025, potentially extending to 2028 through the new digital system. However, the lack of access to credentials could exclude hundreds of applicants.
In response to the lack of transparency and official feedback, applicants have started to organize to draw attention to the issue through social media groups and collective letters addressed to the Consulate and Spanish authorities. Cuban descendants of Spaniards are demanding immediate action to ensure their right to citizenship and to end the uncertainty that threatens to exclude those who have diligently followed the required steps.
Key Issues Facing Cuban Applicants for Spanish Citizenship
What is causing delays in the Spanish citizenship application process in Havana?
Delays are primarily due to the lack of response from the Spanish Consulate in issuing necessary credentials for scheduling appointments, as well as the challenges in accessing the new electronic registration system.
How are Cuban applicants responding to the lack of progress?
Applicants are organizing through social media and sending collective letters to the Consulate and Spanish authorities to demand immediate action and transparency in the process.
What illegal activities have emerged due to the delays?
A black market for access credentials and forged ecclesiastical documents has developed, with prices reaching up to thousands of euros, reflecting the desperation of many applicants.