Immigration
Ley 1312 on migration with visas required for most visitors
Ley 1312 de Migración and its regulations govern entry, exit and residence, administered by the Dirección de Identificación, Inmigración y Extranjería within the Ministerio del Interior. Most visitors need a tourist card or visa, and foreign nationals working in Cuba require authorisation linked to their employer or investment project. The 2013 migration reform removed the exit permit requirement for Cuban citizens and extended the permitted period abroad without loss of residence.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National; Dirección de Identificación, Inmigración y Extranjería
- Deadline — Tourist card: normally 30 days, extendable once for a further 30 days
- Deadline — Cuban citizens abroad: residence retained for up to 24 months without a further permit
- Deadline — Temporary residence for foreign workers: tied to the duration of the authorised project
Governing law
- Ley 1312 de Migración
- Decreto-Ley 302/2012reforming Ley 1312
- Ley 1313 de Extranjería
- Decreto-Ley 26/2020
In practice
The 24-month rule is the provision that most affects the diaspora, because exceeding it without authorisation results in loss of residence and of associated rights such as property holding, and re-establishing status is difficult. Foreign personnel on investment projects generally cannot be hired directly by the foreign entity, since staffing runs through a Cuban employment agency, which shapes both immigration and payroll planning.