Cuban activist Amelia Calzadilla has raised alarms about the disorder and delays plaguing the appointment system at the Spanish Consulate in Havana. This chaos threatens to derail the citizenship aspirations of numerous applicants before the Democratic Memory Law expires in October 2025. In a letter shared on Facebook, addressed to both the Consulate and Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Calzadilla highlighted that this law, enacted in 2022, has enabled thousands of Cubans to pursue Spanish citizenship. With the deadline looming in less than three months, the urgency is palpable.
She noted that a new credential system introduced in May/June this year has left many applicants in limbo, particularly those who submitted their applications in April 2024 but have yet to receive confirmation or an appointment to present their documents. “With just over two months remaining until the law's expiration, this process has been lengthy, exhausting, and costly,” Calzadilla warned.
System Overhaul Creates Chaos
While filing applications at the Consulate is free, many have incurred significant expenses for legalizations, travel, or accommodations to seek information in Havana. Calzadilla pointed out that appointment confirmations and credentials from the new system are being distributed haphazardly, affecting applicants from both early and late April. Furthermore, the email address previously used to report issues with the old system has been deactivated, leaving many without a means to file complaints.
Calzadilla illustrated the situation with her mother's case; her application, sent on April 2, 2024, still awaits credentials or any notification of transfer to the new appointment system. "For some of us, this right means reuniting with our parents, whom we cannot visit due to political entry bans to Cuba," she added.
Calls for Clear Guidance
The activist urged Spanish authorities to immediately clarify whether applicants need to reapply for credentials in the new system to safeguard their rights before the legal deadline. “We are not seeking preferential treatment, but we need clear instructions. Anxiety gnaws at us as we fear time is running out, not due to our actions, but because the documents have not been processed,” Calzadilla emphasized.
Her warning resonated with a wave of support and personal stories from Cubans facing similar predicaments. Yanizorro De la Vega recounted spending over 130,000 pesos to secure his Spanish citizenship and called for an extension of the Democratic Memory Law “in light of such incompetence that is not the citizens' fault,” so everyone who started the process can complete it.
Systemic Inefficiencies and Public Outcry
Marisol González shared how her son waited an extended period for credentials, only to be denied on April 1, 2024, due to a formatting error in his name. After reapplying on April 2, he has yet to receive a response. “I don't understand how the child of a Spanish citizen must endure a collapsed, inefficient system... We demand respect for our rights, we demand answers,” she insisted, explaining her three-year separation from another child due to this issue.
According to Alejandro Díaz Montes de Oca, Calzadilla's letter already has an official, albeit unsatisfactory, answer: “They will tell you to wait, it’s all they know to say.”
Yaney Fariña Albelo expressed frustration: “This is distressing; something that should be swift has turned into years of waiting... they provide information but nothing concrete. Don’t we deserve the truth?” She relayed waiting over a year for credentials, describing the process as “laborious, costly, and exhausting.”
Lismary López echoed this sentiment, having submitted her documents on April 10, 2024, without a response, despite her parents and sister already holding Spanish citizenship. "It's heartbreaking to think we might lose everything, standing on the brink of something so desired," she lamented.
Mercedes Rodríguez Alonso reminisced about the initial wave of citizenship applications in 2007, noting that obstacles then were even more significant: “I waited years and had to create and legalize documents countless times... those were truly years of anguish.”
Urgent Calls for Extension
This scenario unfolds as Spain implements a new appointment system to process nationality applications in Cuba, replacing the previous method and sparking confusion over whether applicants need to re-register to retain their rights. Faced with delays and the risk of the legal deadline expiring, several Cubans have appealed to the Spanish government to extend the Democratic Memory Law, arguing that factors beyond the applicants' control are hindering access to appointments and the submission of complete dossiers.
As the final deadline approaches, many Cubans are intensifying their efforts to secure Spanish nationality, shouldering the costs of travel, legalizations, and urgent procedures, all while uncertainty mounts about completing the process before the law ceases to be in effect.
FAQs on Spanish Citizenship Application Delays in Cuba
Why are there delays in the Spanish citizenship application process in Havana?
Delays have been attributed to a new credential system implemented in May/June, causing confusion and backlog among applicants.
What should applicants do if they haven't received an appointment yet?
Applicants are urged to contact the Spanish authorities for clarification on whether they need to reapply for credentials under the new system.
Is there a possibility of extending the Democratic Memory Law?
Many Cubans have called for an extension due to systemic delays, but as of now, no official extension has been announced.
What are the consequences if the law expires before applications are processed?
If the law expires, applicants may lose their opportunity to obtain Spanish citizenship unless an extension or alternative solution is provided.