The Spanish passport is an official, individual and non-transferable document issued by the Administration so that its holder can leave the country and travel to another country, constituting the accreditation of nationality and identity when a Spaniard is outside Spain.
One of the advantages of being part of the European Union is that, to travel within the European Union, you only need your ID card, but once you want to leave the limits of the EU, for example if you want to travel to Cuba, it is essential to have your passport in good condition and in force whether you are an adult, a minor or a pet.
Upon arrival at the airport in Cuba, you will be met by an immigration agent who will ask you for some documents including your passport. This must be a legitimate document, legible, updated and in good condition.
An updated or valid passport for emigration to Cuba, is one that has a validity of at least 6 months from the departure of your flight. If this requirement is not met and the expiration date is close to your trip, you may be denied entry to the country or even the airline itself may not allow you to board.
The Spanish passport for adults over 30 years old is valid for 10 years, for people between 14 and 30 years old it is valid for 5 years, for children under 14 years old and over 5 years old without an ID card it lasts until the child turns 14 years old but can never exceed 5 years, and for children under 5 years old it is valid for 2 years.
Therefore, if you are planning a trip to our tropical paradise, our first recommendation is to make sure that your passport and those of your family members are in order. Remember that you can request the renewal of your passport from 6 months before its expiration date, in your corresponding administration office. In this link you can find information on how to obtain this document for the first time, how to renew it or information on costs, requirements, preparation times, etc.
In case you travel with your pet, an updated veterinary passport with current vaccinations is one of the requirements that must also be fulfilled. It is important to clarify that although Cuba is considered a
If you have a Spanish passport or residence, but you were born in Cuba:
Current Cuban immigration regulations establish that all Cubans, whether or not they are residents of Cuba, must enter the country with a current and updated Cuban passport.
That is to say, if you were born in Cuba, even if you have residency or citizenship of another country, and you wish to visit the island, then you must have a Cuban passport valid for at least 6 months from the departure of your flight and updated with the corresponding extensions.
The Cuban passport is valid for 6 years and every 2 years it is necessary to carry out the procedure of the extensions. The confection, renewal or extensions are carried out in the Cuban Consulates abroad.
For more information, please click here.
Spanish resident:
If you are a resident in Spain, but do not have a Spanish passport because you are not a citizen, then you must enter Cuba with the passport of your country of origin updated and as in the rest of the cases, with a validity of at least 6 months from the departure of your flight. You will need to show the Spanish residency card when you leave the country when you check the flight to Spain and at the departure immigration.
Loss of passport:
One of the worst things that can happen on your trip is that your passport is lost or stolen. In such a case, the first thing to do is to go to a police station and report it, and then go to the Spanish Embassy in Havana and apply for a duplicate. This report is essential for the Spanish embassy or consulate to issue a new passport.
As a recommendation it is always a good option to carry a photocopy of the passport in paper and in the cell phone and walk around with it, keeping the passport in a safe place, so we could avoid this bad time.
A photocopy will also be of great help to take to the embassy if you have lost your passport, it will allow the process to be faster. As well as a document with a photo, such as a driver’s license.
In the worst case scenario, when the return flight will depart before you have a new passport, the embassy or consulate may issue a laissez-passer. Remember to evidence about your return to Spain and that will determine whether you need a new passport or an emergency passport. The laissez-passer will be valid for the next 48 hours, during which time you must leave the foreign country and return to Spain. Once in Spain, the new passport can be processed at your leisure.
