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The Ministry of Interior (MININT) announced this Tuesday that Cuban citizens over 18 years old residing on the island can apply for a regular passport digitally through the Information and Services Platform Soberanía, available at soberania.gob.cu.
The process includes electronic payment and allows the applicant to manage the document without having to visit a MININT office in person to initiate the procedure, which represents a novelty in the management of immigration documents in Cuba.
The cost of the procedure is 2,500 Cuban pesos, payable via stamp through the digital platforms Transfermóvil and EnZona.
Once the online application is completed, the citizen only needs to physically visit the appropriate office to collect the passport, after a period of 30 business days has passed since the notification of the process conclusion.
To access the service, the interested party must have a Certified Digital Identity on the Soberanía platform, complete an online form, and follow the system's instructions.
The MININT described the new service as "a faster, safer, and more transparent alternative way to manage essential documents," highlighting among its benefits the ability to submit requests from any connected device, real-time tracking of the process with notifications, and the full legal validity of the issued documents.
The Sovereignty platform was launched in July 2025 under Decree 125 of the Council of Ministers, designed as a single digital gateway to centralize procedures and public services.
Before the introduction of the passport, its most prominent online services were certifications from the Civil Registry and duplicates of the identity card, accumulating more than 23,000 requests in the first category.
However, the platform has not been free from scrutiny: in July 2025, it was pointed out for being born with a discriminatory bias, including one of a homophobic nature, which sparked a debate about equity in the access to digital services provided by the Cuban state.
Access to the new service is also contingent upon the availability of internet and the possession of a certified account with digital identity, requirements that exclude a significant portion of the Cuban population with limited connectivity.
The Cuban passport has been a sensitive topic in recent years. As of April 1, 2025, Cuba requires a valid passport to enter the country, eliminating the option to enter with an expired document.
For Cubans abroad, the cost of a passport ranges between 140 and 180 euros or dollars depending on age, and the delays have led to repeated complaints: a Cuban woman in Florida paid 292 dollars through an agency and waited over a year to receive the document.
The MININT stated that with this new option, the Sovereignty Platform "broadens its catalog of digital services" and reduces "bureaucracy, waiting times, and the mobility of people," although the real effectiveness of the system will depend on the technological infrastructure available in a country where internet access is still very limited.
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