Cuba: Information on whether a child born in the USSR in 1976 to a Cuban father and a Ukrainian mother is a citizen of Cuba
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB14030 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Information on whether a child born in the USSR in 1976 to a Cuban father and a Ukrainian mother is a citizen of Cuba, 1 June 1993, CUB14030, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abde64.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| 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. |
According to Article 29c of the Cuban constitution, a child born outside of Cuba to a Cuban national would be a citizen of Cuba, "subject to compliance with the formalities specified in the law." (Constitution of the Republic of Cuba 12 July 1992). However, the consul for Cuba in Montreal stated that there is a new law governing nationality which is currently unavailable to the consulate (17 June 1993). The consul stated that although the legislation is very detailed and complicated, he could provide the following summary as it pertains to the above subject (Ibid.).
A foreign-born child of a Cuban parent does have a right to Cuban nationality. The three main forms of acquiring Cuban nationality for the child are as follows:
1- registration of the child by the parents at a Cuban consulate after the child's birth. (The consul was unaware of a possible time limit for doing this, but said it must be done while the child is still a minor). In this case acquisition of Cuban nationality is automatic and the child can be issued a Cuban passport immediately.
2- the child, if not registered by the parents at a Cuban consulate, could request Cuban nationality when he or she reaches the age of majority. (The consul was not sure if this age was 16 or 18 years). In this case, the process for granting Cuban nationality is neither automatic nor immediate. The request is reviewed by authorities in Cuba, and a desision rendered.
3- if the person was not registered at a consulate by the parents and did not request nationality upon reaching the age of majority, he or she may still acquire Cuban nationality through what is known as "arrimamiento" (coming close to), in other words, living in Cuba for an uninterrupted period of more than 90 days. After which time the person may apply for Cuban nationality.
Additional or corroborative information on the above topic is currently unavailable to the DIRB.
References
Cuba. Constitution of the Republic of Cuba. 12 July 1992. (FBIS-LAT-92-226-S 23 Nov. 1992)
Consulate of Cuba, Montreal. 17 June 1993. Telephone interview with consul.
Attachment
Cuba. Constitution of the Republic of Cuba. 12 July 1992. (FBIS-LAT-92-226-S 23 Nov. 1992, p. 4)
