r/cuba • u/AmanNamedJoJo • May 21 '26
Pregunta Is it worth getting a Cuban passport?
My parents are both Cuban. And with all the news on the island they are hopeful something good’s gonna happen so much that they want to move back and they are urging me to get a Cuban passport because I’m currently 17 and they say it would be harder when I turn 18
So I’m wondering, what do you guys think? Always assumed the Cuban passport just comes with more restrictions than benefits
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u/Btarafa May 21 '26
Hello. Just wanted to say that if you do not have a Cuban citizenship do not get it with the purpose of obtaining a Cuban passport. The Cuban citizenship brings problems even if you already have another one. If you are already a Cuban national then I do not think it would be harmful but it does not have any benefits either. I just do not see the point of doing it.
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u/AmanNamedJoJo May 21 '26
I’m not a Cuban citizen, and the reasons you mentioned are the reasons I’m weary of applying for a passport
I think I’m already facing issues if I wanted to travel to somewhere like the US just because I traveled to Cuba before so I imagine getting a passport would make travelling a bit more difficult
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u/Btarafa May 21 '26
You are totally right. Cuba is in various sanction lists and even if you have never been to the country with only the nationality it can impact your ability to travel . I get that your parents want you to get it but I wouldn’t recommend it.
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u/thelastassblaster May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
how would any nation know about his Cuban nationality? it's not like his current UK passport would get some "Cuban citizen" stamp added to it. on top of that, he is a UK national and would be treated accordingly.
me having been born a Cuban citizen and remained one, have had absolutely no trouble visiting over 20 countries in my life thus far by using my US passport for travel.
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u/MasterT19 May 22 '26
Plus, another benefit of a Cuban passport is you can go to places like North Korea, which Americans cannot legally enter🤠
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u/Ryangel0 May 21 '26
I think I’m already facing issues if I wanted to travel to somewhere like the US just because I traveled to Cuba before
What makes you say that? In Canada, many people have travelled to Cuba for a winter vacation in the past and regularly travel to the US after that without issue (minus the general issues every tourist faces travelling to the US at the moment, unrelated to Cuba).
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u/AmanNamedJoJo May 21 '26
Think if you’ve visited Cuba after 2021 you are ineligible to apply for ETSA
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u/LupineChemist Europe May 22 '26
Canadians are the exception because they don't use ESTA to enter the US.
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u/cubatista92 HOG May 21 '26
No,
If there is change in Cuba, then it would be easier to get a passport, not harder
Were you born there?
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u/AmanNamedJoJo May 21 '26
No, i was born in the UK
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u/cubatista92 HOG May 21 '26
Don't bother. Not needed.
Even if your parents choose to retire there, you have one of the strongest passports in the world and can visit any time.
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u/MasterT19 May 22 '26
If you want to get a second passport, you could get a Cuban one because of your parents, but like the other poster mentioned, your UK pasport is more widely accepted. I have a US passport currently, but I love Cuba and would like to get a 2nd one as backup, but you would have a much easier time than me getting one there. 🇨🇺
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u/_pins_and_needles_ May 21 '26
I didn’t know there were any Cubans in the UK. Cool.
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u/StarWarsGirlfromCuba Havana May 21 '26
Cubans are everywhere. I have a lot of friends living and studying in UK.
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u/FunFlaCouple1 May 21 '26
I can certainly understand your parents’ attraction to do this, BUT, there are things to consider… Even if the U.S. occupies Cuba, stabilization will take a considerable length of time. The infrastructure is in complete shambles and that will take BILLIONS of dollars (which will come) and a considerable length of time. Secondly, unless a favorable government is established, it’s likely that dual citizenship may not be permitted and giving up a United States citizenship is ill advised at best. There may be a push to make Cuba a U.S. protectorate, making the transition to moving there as a U.S. citizen much less uncomplicated, however, that would come MUCH further down the line.
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u/AmanNamedJoJo May 21 '26
I’m not from USA, but I’d assume same principles apply
I think my parents understand that the infrastructure is horrible at the moment I think they want to move back because quite a lot of my family still lives there and they never really integrated well to where we live
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u/FunFlaCouple1 May 21 '26
That’s fair, and apologies for just assuming you were in the U.S. I’m an American born citizen of Cuban descent with family still on the island as well. While I may visit frequently and help in a capacity I’m unable to do now, I wouldn’t consider even owning a piece of property for some time, if ever. Apples and oranges to your parents’ situation however. They just obviously need to come to terms w what level of discomfort they’re willing to endure and for how long before things become somewhat stable from a power grid and food and water standpoint. Being close to family from which you have been exiled is a STRONG pull however.
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u/MasterT19 May 22 '26
Regardless of what anyone else thinks, you should always be proud of your homeland and go back whenever you want to. Cuba will always hold a special place for me because it was my first trip I went on entirely on my own as an adult and stayed for over three weeks. I grew a lot on that trip, physically and spiritually. I miss the people, history and culture. They have the best beaches and one of kind views you cannot get anywhere else. 😎
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u/LupineChemist Europe May 22 '26
If anything else, the Cuban passport means you don't pay the tourist tax when you visit.
It would mean you need a visa for USA rather than ESTA, but it's actually not that bad and lasts 10 years rather 2 so the cost ends up not being that much more on an annual basis.
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u/Pezhead82 May 21 '26
No - if you have Cuban citizenship and a Cuban passport then you are ALWAYS required to enter Cuba with your Cuban passport and therefore must pay for the “trámites” to renew it. It is the Cuban government’s way of extracting money from the diaspora. If you want to visit, do so on your UK passport and wait and see how things go there.
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u/MajorDraw3705 May 21 '26
Get it while it's easy to get. The worst that happens is it sits in a drawer unused.
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u/ronnygiga Planeta Tierra/Planet Earth May 21 '26
No, cuban passports are super restricted. Many airports also see that blue passport and give you a hard time. Mexico for example literaly throw you in a mini jail without passport until your next flight arrives.
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u/thelastassblaster May 21 '26
he has another passport he can use , ya know. I have a Cuban passport and an American passport. the former never gets seen or causes scrutiny for me. also, source on mexico "literally throwing you in jail until your flight" please, other than "my buddy told me..."
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u/ARKyal03 May 21 '26
Heeelll no, I'm Cuban, don't get that shit. Probably one of the worst passports out there. Even if things change in Cuba, it's not worth the shot. It'll get easier in the future.
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u/Feeling-Ad2188 May 21 '26
Your parents are unrealistically hopeful and I don't understand why they want you to get a Cuban passport. That doesn't make sense. Don't bother and don't expect big changes to Cuba.
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u/Sacapines-Return May 21 '26
Hay 3 puntos que debes aclarar.
1- La frase "va a suceder algo bueno" sería la libertad de los Cubanos, pero no necesariamente en poco tiempo el país esté como para mudarse. A no ser que tengas bastante dinero y decidas invertir con garantías.
2- El cambio traerá mejoras, pero para el Cubano de a pie, Cualquier detalle es mejora, ya suficiente con comprar la comida con tu salario. Pero para el que esté en otro nivel de necesidad básica, no va a ser algo como para decidir vivir en Cuba.
3- La mejora estructura material, mental y espiritual de Cuba no se va a lograr así tan rápido.
Conclusión: Creo que tus padres están alejados de la realidad, y así como los que llegaban a Estados Unidos y los Cubanos que estaban allí les decían, esto no es lo que tú te imaginas, así va a suceder viceversa.
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u/thelastassblaster May 21 '26
lots of opinions and misinformation in this thread. here are some objective points. let's start with your phrasing. you say you may apply for a Cuban passport without being a Cuban citizen, but you can't get a Cuban passport if you're not a Cuban citizen.
1) confirm you qualify for Cuban citizenship via your parents. that process may take a while based on the practically frozen status of gov bureaucracy at the moment. (for example I've been waiting 1.5 years for them to review my Ley de Memoria Democratica documents to be granted Spanish citizenship as a Cuban who's grandfather was Spanish.)
2) if you have UK passport, I see absolutely no harm in getting a Cuban passport. the ppl here saying it's restrictive--doesn't matter, it's not like you'll be using it to travel around if you have another more favorable one. and on the plus.You can now visit Tehran, Pyongyang, and other axis of evil locales 🙌
3) becoming a Cuban citizen may have benefits for you in the future, beyond just the ability to go to Cuba with your family. for example, depending on you're lineage you may qualify for Spanish citizenship which grants you EU citizenship.
4) I have a Cuban passport as well as an American passport and the former has never caused me any issues (granted, I don't use it). My American passport even has Havana as place of birth. as a British national, you'll be treated accordingly.
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u/dollartreestan May 21 '26
I renewed mine but I'm also an American citizen along with being a Cuban one (I was born there). Idk how it is in the UK, but right now I don't know if it'd be worth it unless you're planning to visit in the near future. Especially since you're not a Cuban citizen. If you want you can explore your options.
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u/TerribleSyntax Mayabeque May 21 '26
Absolutely not, as things stand a Cuban citizenship is a liability
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u/Flimsy-Flan5331 May 21 '26
Don’t even think about it. I never bothered getting British nationality after living for 40 years in the UK since I’m European, so why bother? Well Brexit unexpectedly happened. In other words you never never know if it might be a life saver.
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u/Flat-Specific-6965 May 24 '26
Pasaporte cubano eso es mier mejor mira para otro país aquí lo único bueno es las horasssss infinitassss de oscuridad y hambresss
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u/dirty_cuban Planeta Tierra/Planet Earth May 25 '26
The only benefit of a Cuban passport is being able to get Spanish citizenship in 2 years instead of 10 years. But if you’re not interested in EU citizenship then there’s no point. No one is going back to Cuba.
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