Spanish Consulate Warns Cuban Applicants About Nationality Application Errors

With just a week remaining before the deadline to apply for Spanish nationality under the Democratic Memory Law (LMD), the Spanish Consulate General in Havana has issued an urgent message to Cubans interested in pursuing this process. This notice serves not only as a reminder of the deadline but also as a stern warning against mistakes that could exclude many from the process.

Critical Deadline: October 22 by 11:59 PM

The consulate's primary caution highlights a crucial point: October 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM (local time) is the fixed deadline to request a valid appointment to initiate the nationality process under Law 20/2022. According to the Instruction from November 5, 2024, issued by the General Directorate of Legal Security and Public Faith, the appointment request must be verified with a Secure Verification Code (CSV), sent via email once the application is correctly submitted. This CSV is essential for completing the file later, but if not received before October 22, the process will be deemed invalid.

"To prove that the appointment was requested before October 22 at 11:59 PM, it is essential to have received the Secure Verification Code or CSV by email," the consulate warns.

Addressing Common Misunderstandings

The Consulate has also dispelled false information circulating on social media, particularly claims that automatic responses received previously are valid proof of having requested an appointment. This is incorrect. The official statement explicitly states, "Automatic responses previously sent will NOT be accepted as they do not provide legal validity to the appointment request."

These clarifications are particularly crucial in a context where thousands of Cubans—over 107,000 according to official figures—have started procedures, and where misinformation and anxiety have overwhelmed many applicants fearing exclusion.

Physical Visits Won’t Solve CSV Issues

Another warning from the official communication points to the futility of physically going to the General Affairs window at the Consulate to resolve issues related to not receiving the CSV. "Going to the General Affairs window of the General Consulate will NOT solve the problem for those who have not obtained the Secure Verification Code or CSV before October 22." This clarification aims to prevent congestion in in-person services and curb desperate attempts to resolve the process outside the established digital system.

Technical Issues and Support Form

The process hasn’t been without problems. Many users have reported system failures, invalid codes, or difficulties completing the form, leading to distrust and growing frustration among applicants. In response to these issues, the consulate has set up an Incident Registration Form, available from the same appointment request portal. While this resource is useful, it arrives amidst significant complaints about mass rejections, lack of responses, and opacity in procedures, leaving many Cubans feeling stuck in an administrative limbo.

Process Under Stress

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that all application processing is centralized in a single consulate on the island: Havana. The influx of over a hundred thousand files has caused long delays and bottlenecks, affecting the system's fluidity and multiplying technical incidents. Despite the consulate's assurances that they are working to "improve the system," the volume of applications may continue to cause delays even after the deadline. This means that while a valid appointment (with CSV) grants the right to submit the file after October 22, the process will be lengthy and not without obstacles.

Final Recommendations

The Spanish Consulate in Havana has reiterated that only emails received from the address noreply@maec.es will be considered valid, and any issues with the receipt or validation of the CSV should be addressed exclusively via the electronic form provided. The warning is clear: no exceptions will be allowed outside the established framework.

In these critical final days, applicants are advised to:

• Check if they have received the CSV email.
• Confirm that the code works correctly on the electronic headquarters.
• Avoid being misled by unofficial social media posts.
• Not visit the consulate in person without an appointment or CSV.
• Use the incident form if any technical problem arises.

As the October 22 deadline approaches, the Consulate has intensified its message to prevent errors that could be irreversible. The last week is crucial for thousands of Cubans hoping to secure Spanish nationality through the Democratic Memory pathway. Simply "attempting" to complete the process won't suffice: only those who obtain the CSV before the deadline will be able to proceed.

"It is essential to have received the Secure Verification Code or CSV by email," the consulate reiterates. The diplomatic source has assured that efforts are being made to resolve complications and improve the system, but warned that delays might persist due to the high volume of applications.