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The Cuban regime published on Tuesday in the Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 60 the new laws on Migration, Foreigners, and Citizenship along with their regulations, marking the entry into force of a regulatory framework approved by the National Assembly in July 2024, which had remained unpublished for nearly two years.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced the publication at a press conference held at the International Press Center, featuring participation from authorities of the Identification, Immigration, and Foreigners Department of the Ministry of the Interior and the General Directorate of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The regulations were developed with the participation of 37 state agencies from Cuba, according to information provided by the authorities present at the press conference.
Among the most significant changes is the introduction of the concept of Migratory Effective Residency, which recognizes as residents those who stay more than 180 accumulated days in Cuba per year, or demonstrate ties through family, work, economic, or property connections.
The previous limit of 24 months of residence abroad has also been eliminated. According to the official announcement, "there is no time restriction on your stay in the country; and the increase in the status of emigrant is halted."
This 24-month restriction had generated constant tension with the Cuban diaspora, estimated at over two million people.
The Cuban parliament approved the new Immigration Law on July 19, 2024, but its final provisions set a deadline of 180 days following its publication in the Official Gazette for it to come into effect, a publication that has been delayed until today.
In terms of citizenship, the concept of effective citizenship is introduced, which "recognizes the possibility of holding another citizenship without losing the Cuban one, although the obligation to use the latter in legal acts within the national territory remains."
The new citizenship and immigration laws also create unprecedented immigration categories: provisional resident and humanitarian resident, and expand the criteria for applying for permanent residency in Cuba, including family ties, length of stay, professional qualifications, and investment capacity.
Additionally, the new Migration Law , granting authorities the power to authorize, deny, or cancel the entry, stay, and exit from the national territory for both foreigners and Cuban citizens.
Among its provisions, multiple grounds for inadmission to the country are established, which include criminal records for offenses such as terrorism, drug trafficking, or human trafficking, as well as broader reasons related to national security, public order, or actions deemed hostile against the political system.
In the case of Cuban citizens, the regulations also broaden the circumstances under which departure from the country can be restricted.
These include being subject to legal proceedings, having outstanding financial obligations to the State, fulfilling criminal sanctions, or even lacking specific authorizations when it comes to preserving skilled labor or information deemed sensitive.
Furthermore, the law includes restrictions for reasons of national defense and security or for administrative decisions that serve the public interest.
Similarly, mechanisms are introduced that allow for the restriction of entry into the country, even for Cuban citizens, in exceptional situations such as emergencies, high-impact events, or when authorities believe there are risks to internal stability.
This is complemented by the possibility of implementing measures such as deportation, expulsion, or bans on reentry for foreigners who violate current legislation or are deemed a threat to social order.
La Gaceta also includes the Decree-Law 117/2026, signed on April 15 by Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly, which urgently establishes the migration status for Investors and Businesses for Cuban emigrants wishing to participate in the Island's economy.
This figure was necessary because on March 16, the government announced measures to allow the participation of the diaspora in the national economy, but Law 171 had not yet come into effect.
Cuban emigrants who wish to invest in Cuba will be able to apply for this condition at Cuban consulates or at offices of the Ministry of the Interior, with a resolution period of 30 business days.
The process has a cost of 3,500 Cuban pesos, as established by Resolution 93/2026 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, signed by Minister Vladimir Regueiro Ale.
Cubans who obtain the status of Investors and Businessmen are granted the same rights as residents within the national territory as long as they remain in Cuba, according to Decree 150/2026 signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
The distrust of the diaspora regarding the regime's openings has been a constant since these measures were announced in April, given the history of non-compliance and rule changes by the Cuban government towards those who have chosen to invest in the Island.
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