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The Consulate General of Spain in Havana announced this Monday a 35% increase in the number of available appointments for the legalization of documents, a necessary procedure for Cubans who need to validate certificates with Spanish institutions.
The measure, which will come into effect in February, wil increase the available weekly appointments from 1,000 to 1,350.
“With the aim of improving services to the public, starting in February, the available appointments for document legalization will increase by 35%,” the diplomatic mission reported through its official account on X, where it also shared the link to its website with the updated instructions and requirements for this procedure.
The expansion is part of the internal restructuring plan initiated by the consulate to address the high demand for consular services in Cuba, which includes nationality applications, visas, legalizations, and other processes related to the Law of Democratic Memory and Cuban emigration in general.
The announcement has been received with relief by many users, although it has also been met with skepticism by those who claim that the appointment system is still overwhelmed.
In recent years, the legalization of documents has become one of the slowest processes due to the large volume of applications and recurring technical failures of the digital appointment platform.
The increase in appointments aims to expedite especially the processes of legalization and apostille, essential steps for the validation of university diplomas, birth certificates, criminal background checks, or marriage certificates issued in Cuba.
These documents are required by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain and the Immigration Offices, especially for applications for residency, studies, or nationality.
The increase coincides with the imminent mass regularization of immigrants announced by the Spanish government, which will allow the application for a temporary residence permit until June 30, 2026.
According to the explanation given to CiberCuba by immigration consultant Mario Dueñas, Cubans may face difficulties in taking advantage of this process if they do not manage to legalize their documents on time, as current deadlines are around four months.
The consulate has reminded that official information regarding legalizations is available exclusively through its institutional channels and has reiterated that there are no authorized intermediaries to manage appointments or procedures on its behalf.
He also requested that users verify in advance the validity of documents issued by Cuban authorities before submitting them for legalization.
The measure represents a partial relief in a context of significant pressure on the Spanish consular system in Cuba, where thousands of citizens are awaiting the validation of essential documents to embark on a new phase in Spain.
The Spanish Consulate in Havana, one of the most overcrowded in the world due to the Grandchildren's Law
Since the approval of the Democratic Memory Law in 2022, the Consulate General of Spain in Havana has become one of the most overwhelmed consular offices in the world.
More than 350,000 Cubans have applied for Spanish nationality under this law, which allows the children and grandchildren of Republican exiles to reclaim citizenship.
The avalanche of cases has caused delays of up to several years and reports of collapse, according to specialized lawyers like Vicente Marín, who claims that the appointment system “does not operate with the necessary efficiency”.
Despite the additional staff hired through the Palco Business Group and the announcement of a future consulate in Camagüey, the problem persists.
The new increase in appointments for legalizations is part of Spain's diplomatic efforts to alleviate the workload and improve consular service, although experts agree that the change will be limited unless human and technological resources are consistently expanded.
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