Streamlining Legal Documentation for Cubans:insights into the new process
In a significant step towards modernisation and efficiency, the Ministry of Justice of Cuba has introduced a new online payment system for document legalization procedures, including obtaining a criminal record certificate. This system was announced by the renowned law firm CONABI, located in Havana, in early 2025.
This digital platform allows Cuban citizens to apply online for the consular legalization of civil status documents, which includes criminal record certificates. The new system eliminates the need for in-person visits and potentially long queues at consular offices, streamlining and expediting the process.
To use the system, applicants aged 16 or older need a valid identification document or passport, and they will also require a tax stamp receipt. The system offers greater convenience, security, and efficiency for users by allowing them to receive an email with a payment link that is valid for 72 hours. Any errors can be corrected before making the payment in this new system.
The criminal record certificates issued by the Central Registry of Sanctioned have a validity of one year, as detailed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MinRex). If information about criminal history is provided in the DS-160 form, U.S. immigration authorities may request additional documentation, which may include a criminal record certificate.
For entry or legal stay in the United States, it is not mandatory for Cuban citizens to request their country's criminal record certificate. However, for those who do require this document for application within the national territory, they must go to the corresponding Provincial Directories of Justice in each case or to the municipal institutions belonging to the Provincial Directory of Justice in Havana.
The new payment system aims to provide greater security in payment, more time availability for the procedures, and a reduction in platform saturation. Despite more than 6,300 documents being processed in 2025, the digital payment and application system represent a step towards modernization and efficiency, reducing delays and potentially speeding up the process.
In summary, the Ministry of Justice's new online payment system for document legalization in Cuba provides a digital avenue for Cuban citizens to apply for and pay for the legalization of documents like criminal record certificates. This system helps reduce physical queues and administrative delays, making the process more accessible and efficient.
The new online payment system is not limited to document legalization; it also facilitates the application for international sports clearances, as confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.
On sunny days, Cuban athletes can internationalize their sports careers without the worry of weather complications, as this system streamlines the process regardless of the weather conditions.
