CU country scene

General Permanent Residence

CubaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

The status is 'Residente Permanente' (permanent resident): the category for foreigners or stateless persons admitted to establish their definitive domicile in Cuba who meet the established requirements.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Gaceta does not link this status to accumulated residence: it is obtained by admission on application (Reglamento Arts. 91, 115-118), not after a qualifying period.
  • chars 123792-124092
    Se considerarán Residentes Permanentes, los extranjeros y personas sin ciudadanía a quienes se les haya otorgado tal categoría antes de la publicación de este Reglamento, y aquellos que sean admitidos para fijar su domicilio definitivo en el territorio nacional y cumplan los requisitos establecidos.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the qualifying residence period and when it begins.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Read Ley Arts. 2-3, 16 and Reglamento Arts. 89-91, 100-101, 114-118, 120 in full. No qualifying period of prior residence exists in this law: permanent residence is requested as a category of entry (Art. 91) with the documents of Art. 115. The 24-month rule (Ley Art. 9.2) concerns Cuban citizens abroad, not foreigners.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm which types of residence count towards the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No provision states which types of residence count towards permanent residence, because no residence-period requirement exists (see R2 nota). Temporary-resident categories (Arts. 75-85) and real-estate residents (Arts. 92-93) are not linked to permanent residence anywhere in the Gaceta.

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the absence and continuity rules for the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No absence or continuity rule for foreign permanent residents appears. The only absence rules are for Cuban citizens (Ley Art. 9.2: 24 months abroad = emigrado; Reglamento Art. 40) and for Cuban emigrados' visits (Art. 47). Res. 318 (MINREX) records that the exit permit was abolished for foreigners residing permanently in Cuba, which is about exit, not accumulation.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

Adults apply at the Cuban diplomatic or consular office nearest their habitual domicile, filing their particulars with a birth certificate, a certificate of habitual residence, radiographic and serological examinations, proof of technical or practical capacity, economic solvency and family or work ties in Cuba, and the reasons for the request; the consular official certifies the documents. The Immigration Directorate then opens a file and summons an adult member of the household in Cuba with whom the applicant intends to reside, who must sign the request and undertake to provide lodging and maintenance until the applicant has paid work or own income. Non-appearance can shelve the file and disagreement can lead to denial. The official source does not state renewal, retention or loss rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rule for permanent residents is stated; Ley Art. 2 only requires residents to carry a valid passport and the foreigner's identity card ('carne de identidad').
  • chars 136103-138410
    Los extranjeros y personas sin ciudadanía mayores de edad, para solicitar su admisión como Residentes Permanentes al territorio nacional, deberán concurrir a la representación diplomática o consular u oficina cubana en el exterior expresamente autorizada al efecto, que se encuentre más próxima al lugar de su domicilio habitual, y llenar una solicitud en que consten sus generales, a la que acompañarán una certificación de nacimiento, una certificación de residencia habitual, exámenes radiográficos y serológicos, y prueba de su capacidad técnica o práctica, solvencia económica, relaciones o vinculaciones familiares o laborales en Cuba y la explicación de los motivos de la solicitud. ARTÍCULO 116.- Los funcionarios autorizados ante quien se presente la solicitud a que se refiere el artículo anterior, deberán certificar que los documentos acompañados son expedidos conforme a las leyes del país de que se trate y que los exámenes y análisis han sido realizados por personas competentes para ello. ARTÍCULO 117.- Recibida que sea la solicitud de entrada de un extranjero o persona sin ciudadanía como Transeúnte o Residente Permanente, la Dirección de Inmigración y Extranjería radicará expediente y procederá a citar, a través del órgano provincial de Inmigración y Extranjería, en su caso, a un miembro mayor de 18 años de edad del núcleo familiar que el solicitante pretende visitar, o con quien pretende residir. La incomparecencia de esta persona podrá motivar que se archive el expediente, sin otro trámite que la comunicación al interesado a través de la correspondiente oficina cubana en el extranjero. ARTÍCULO 118.- Al comparecer ante el funcionario de Inmigración la persona citada según el Artículo anterior, se le preguntará si desea formular invitación a favor del solicitante, y en caso afirmativo deberá suscribir la solicitud correspondiente, responsabilizándose por los eventuales alojamiento y manutención de aquel mientras dure su visita o hasta que comience a desempeñar labores remuneradas o a percibir ingresos propios, si entrase a residir permanentemente en Cuba. Si el compareciente no estuviese de acuerdo con la solicitud, lo hará constar por escrito que se incorporará al expediente, que en este caso podrá ser denegado sin otro trámite que la comunicación al interesado.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Your story.
Your next step.

Explore pathways in Cuba →