Cuba: Information on the terms and conditions for permanent residence in Spain, particularly for a Cuban national
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB27086.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Information on the terms and conditions for permanent residence in Spain, particularly for a Cuban national, 1 June 1997, CUB27086.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac532c.html [accessed 14 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information on permanent residency in Spain for citizens of Latin American countries was provided in a telephone interview with a counsellor at the Spanish Embassy on 26 January 1995.
Citizens from Latin America who are not married to Spanish citizens can obtain Spanish citizenship by residing in Spain for a period of two consecutive years after having received immigration office approval for permanent residency. The counsellor stated that because they share the same language and/or culture with Spain, citizens from Latin America, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and descendants of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 have a shorter residency requirement in order to obtain Spanish citizenship than do refugees and other foreign nationals. Citizens from all other countries must, however, be permanent residents of Spain for ten years before they can receive Spanish citizenship, whereas refugees need to live in Spain for only five years before they can receive Spanish citizenship (DIRB 27 Jan. 1995).
In a 4 June 1997 telephone interview with the DIRB, an official of the Spanish Embassy stated that this provision applies equally to Cuban nationals. The official stated, however, that visas are mandatory for citizens of Cuba, Peru and Santo Domingo (ibid.).
A French-language copy of the 1 July 1985 organic law 7/1985 on the rights and freedom of foreigners in Spain, which includes the terms and conditions for residency in Spain, and a copy of the law's implementation regulations in Spanish, are available at the DIRB upon on request. The 1 July 1985 organic law is also available in Spanish in the UNHCR RefWorld database.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Ottawa. 27 January 1995. Response to Information Request ESP19474.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, Ottawa. 4 June 1997. Telephone interview with official.
