The situation at the Spanish Consulate in Havana is deteriorating rapidly, reaching an alarming state of dysfunction.
This is according to Vicente Marín, a prominent immigration attorney in Spain specializing in nationality issues. Marín has highlighted the plight of thousands of Spanish descendants in Cuba who find themselves ensnared in an inefficient process that could take over a decade to resolve unless urgent actions are taken.
Marín, who operates a law firm in Granada and assists immigrants across Spain, recently shared a video on Facebook criticizing the mishandling of applications under the Democratic Memory Law (DML).
Since the introduction of this law in October 2022, numerous Cuban descendants of Spaniards have pursued citizenship, yet the majority are facing an overwhelmed system.
"How long must we wait? The Spanish Consulate in Havana is utterly overwhelmed," Marín declares. "Thousands of Spanish descendants are stuck in a process with no clear end in sight."
What began as a promising opportunity has transformed into a source of ongoing frustration, according to Marín.
"Many Spanish descendants were extremely hopeful about gaining Spanish citizenship. However, their excitement has turned into disappointment," he remarked.
He notes that the Havana Consulate is inundated with applications, receiving numbers in the hundreds of thousands globally.
The issues start even before scheduling an appointment: "Many individuals have been waiting months, even years, just to receive the username and password necessary to request an appointment," Marín explains.
Even those who manage to access the system face delays.
"In the best-case scenario, some have obtained credentials but must wait to apply. There are also those who have applied but find their cases stalled, awaiting resolution," he adds.
Marín poses a question that captures the essence of the struggle faced by countless families: "How long will this take? Are we talking months, years, or decades?"
Experts and associations have warned that without additional resources, these processes could exceed ten years.
"Administrative procedures lasting a decade? That's the reality. Without adequate resources, we're facing an unacceptable situation," Marín warns.
He recalls having predicted the system's failure back in 2022.
"This process won't work. It has been proven ineffective. The same issues occurred with the Historical Memory Law. The credential system, appointment scheduling, and consular processing aren't functioning efficiently," he critiques.
Marín believes the root of the problem is evident: a lack of personnel and political will.
"There's a need for a significant increase in staff. Consulates must be equipped with necessary resources to handle the extraordinary volume of applications," he emphasizes.
"That solution should have been implemented in 2022, before the law's enforcement. If it wasn't, at least now we should not prolong the wait unnecessarily," he urges.
Marín is especially firm in defending applicants' rights.
"The grandparents and parents of these descendants were, like me, Spanish by origin. These individuals deserve recognition of their Spanish nationality, and the process should be completed within a reasonable timeframe," he asserts.
He concludes with a direct call for action: "They are Spanish citizens with full rights, and we must acknowledge them with an efficient process. It's time to demand dignity and speed. Justice for Spanish descendants abroad is essential."
Since the Democratic Memory Law, often referred to as the "Grandchildren's Law," came into effect, the Spanish consular system has been overwhelmed.
In just two years, 2.3 million people globally have sought to reclaim nationality under this law, with over a million cases still pending.
Cuba is significantly affected, with the Havana Consulate handling approximately 350,000 applications, making it the second busiest, following Buenos Aires.
To manage this influx, Spain contracted Grupo Empresarial Palco, a Cuban state-run company, for 1,131,295 euros, a four-year agreement mandating exclusive staffing through this entity.
Palco provides 87 employees who work long hours for meager wages of 3,630 to 3,706 Cuban pesos monthly, less than 10 dollars, while the state company earns over 200 euros per worker.
Despite these measures, complaints about transparency, delays, technical failures, and lack of communication persist.
By October 2025, the deadline to apply under the law had passed. Only those who received the Secure Verification Code (CSV) are guaranteed an appointment. Many claim they never received this code, despite timely credential requests.
In December, the Spanish government announced the opening of a second consulate in Camagüey, though no opening date has been specified.
An increase in weekly appointments was also planned, allowing 167 more individuals to submit applications each week.
However, according to Vicente Marín, these actions fall short in addressing a structural issue that leaves thousands of Spanish descendants in Cuba waiting indefinitely.
Challenges Facing Spanish Descendants Applying for Citizenship
Why is the Spanish Consulate in Havana overwhelmed?
The consulate is overwhelmed due to a massive influx of applications from Cuban descendants of Spaniards seeking citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law, which has led to significant delays and backlogs.
What measures have been taken to address the backlog?
Spain contracted Grupo Empresarial Palco to provide additional staffing for the consulate and announced plans for a second consulate in Camagüey, along with increasing weekly appointment slots.
What are the main challenges faced by applicants?
Applicants face challenges such as long waiting times for credentials, stalled application processes, lack of transparency, and technical issues within the consular system.