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The authorities of Nicaragua announced on Wednesday new requirements for Cuban travelers, who now must process an electronic visa, even if they already have a physical visa stamped in their passport.
Starting March 11, immigration authorities requested that all individuals who have already had their Visa stamped in their passport enter the online visa portal and complete certain requirements.
Among them, present the reason for entry, biodata page of the passport, countries they have traveled to along with their respective images of immigration stamps, hotel or house reservation, length of stay, places to visit, and proof of financial stability.
According to sources in the tourism sector cited by journalist Mario J Pentón, the measure has caused the rescheduling of flights by the Venezuelan airline Conviasa, as well as uncertainty among dozens of passengers who were expecting to travel in the coming days.
Initially, a flight was scheduled to depart with around 40 Cubans who already had visas, but the Nicaraguan authorities changed the immigration procedure.
According to the available information, the visa stamped in the passport will no longer be valid. Instead, travelers will need to fulfill the previously mentioned requirements for an electronic visa through the new system set up by the government of Nicaragua.
The situation has raised concerns among hundreds of Cubans who have been waiting for over a month to be able to travel to the Central American country.
Travel agencies also report that they have had to refund some customers who were unable to secure seats on available flights after the changes in immigration requirements.
On February 8, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo ordered the cancellation of the visa-free travel benefit for Cuban citizens entering Nicaragua with ordinary passports, a measure that had been in effect since November 2021.
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