The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) of Cuba has set the total cost for renouncing Cuban citizenship at 1,000 dollars or euros.
The Resolution No. 37/2026 published this Wednesday outlines the new Consular Fees that modify the costs of numerous services provided by consulates and diplomatic offices of the island abroad. The regulation will come into effect on October 1, 2026.
The process for renouncing Cuban citizenship is divided into two payments: 500 dollars or euros for the application and another 500 for obtaining the result. It will be one of the most expensive consular services.
The regime justified the rate adjustment with a generic argument.
"As a result of the current complex international macroeconomic landscape, characterized by sustained global inflation affecting all sectors of the economy, the existing consular tariffs have been adjusted rationally," the text states.
The new fee schedule also increases other tariffs. The passport for individuals over 16 years old will cost 200 dollars or euros, and the passport for those under 16 years old rises to 160 dollars or euros. The provisional passport is set at 120 dollars or euros. The Citizenship Registration Certification will have a cost of 190 dollars or euros.
The Resolution 37/2026 repeals Resolution 116 of October 15, 2025. It is the third consular tariff change in less than three years.
The renunciation of Cuban citizenship has been regulated for the first time by Law 172/2024 "Citizenship Law", approved by the National Assembly in July 2024 and published in the Official Gazette on May 5, 2026.
That law comes into effect 180 days after its publication, meaning in November 2026, so the tariff will be active weeks before the full legal procedure begins.
To be able to resign, the law requires that five conditions be met simultaneously:
- be over 18 years old
- to be abroad
- to obtain another citizenship
- not having debts with the Cuban government
- not serving a criminal sentence nor being pursued for a crime.
Paying the $1,000 does not guarantee the success of the process. Article 50 of the Citizenship Law states that "for the renunciation of Cuban citizenship to be effective, it must be accepted by the competent authority and the corresponding pronouncement issued."
The final decision rests with the President of the Republic of Cuba or the Minister of the Interior, with no defined timelines or objective approval criteria.
The first colonel Mario Méndez Mayedo, head of the Identification, Immigration, and Foreign Affairs Directorate of MININT, stated in June 2024 that "there is no intention to deny a resignation," but clarified that "the Cuban state must accept that resignation."
Whoever manages to have their resignation accepted will be considered a foreigner and must enter Cuba with a foreign passport, visa, and the appropriate travel documents.
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