The Government of Spain approves the establishment of a General Consulate in Camagüey

The Government of Spain approved this Tuesday the creation of a General Consulate in Camagüey, in the central-eastern region of Cuba, with the aim of improving assistance to Spanish citizens residing in and visiting the island, as well as alleviating the increasing workload at the main office in Havana.

The decision was made by the Council of Ministers, which approved the Royal Decree for the creation of the new consulate headquarters, as reported La Moncloa.

The Spanish government indicated that the measure aims to address the geographical dispersion of the Spanish community in Cuba, the limitations of internal transport, and the significant presence of Spanish tourism in the eastern region of the country.

Currently, the Consulate General of Spain in Havana is experiencing a sustained increase in the number of registrants, visa applications, and other consular procedures, which has led to delays and difficulties in meeting demand. The new consulate in Camagüey will complement its functions and capabilities, expanding coverage in Cuban territory.

In the same session, the Council of Ministers also approved the establishment of a General Consulate of Spain in Bangalore, India. This decision was justified by the increase in bilateral exchanges with that Asian country and the limited Spanish consular presence that has existed so far.

Although the announcement refers to a General Consulate, Spain has maintained an honorary consular presence in Camagüey since 1999. That year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established an Honorary Consular Office with the status of Vice Consulate, based in Havana and with jurisdiction over Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, and Las Tunas, due to the growth of the Spanish population and the influx of tourists.

The official reference from the Council of Ministers does not yet specify deadlines for the opening, exact location, or staffing for the new consulate, according to Cubanet.

In September last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, announced that a new consulate general in Cuba would be opened “very soon”, without specifying the exact date at that time.

The establishment of the Consulate General in Camagüey takes place against a backdrop marked by the end of the Law of Democratic Memory (known as the "grandchildren's law") in October, although thousands of pending files remain and a significant number of Spanish citizens in Cuba require consular assistance.