On Monday, the newly established Spanish Visa Application Center began operations in the Playa district of Havana. From the early hours, dozens of Cubans gathered, grappling with uncertainties surrounding the procedures and fees of this newly implemented system.
According to a report by EFE via Infobae, more than 30 individuals lined up at the center located on Avenida 31, between 18th and 14th Streets, in Miramar. The primary reasons for their visits included student, tourist, and family reunification visa applications.
For Maura Lindsay, a young woman from Havana who has been waiting since July for an appointment to study in Spain, the opening of the center provides relief, albeit with initial confusion. "It's partly good that they've opened another center," she commented, acknowledging that many people seemed "quite disoriented" about the document collection process and required payments based on visa types.
Jalina Pérez, who arrived early to apply for a tourist visa to visit family in Spain, also highlighted the transportation challenges to reach Playa, but emphasized her main goal: "The ultimate objective is to secure the visa."
Operational Support for Spain's Consulate General
The new center will serve as operational support for the Consulate General of Spain in Havana, handling applications, receiving documents, assisting the public, and delivering passports and decisions once files are complete.
However, the authority to approve or deny visas remains solely with the Consulate General, as clarified by Spanish authorities when announcing the new system.
Gradual Implementation of Services
The implementation will be gradual. Starting Monday, short-stay Schengen visas and passport collections are being processed. From October 12, national visas, including those for studies, work, non-lucrative residence, internships, and research, will be managed. On October 19, applications for relatives of Spanish citizens and other EU nationals will be accepted.
Submitting visa applications through the new center will incur a fee of 17 euros, in addition to any applicable consular fees. Booking appointments remains free of charge.
This transition also marks the end of the Bookitit system for new applications. Those who already had appointments or received credentials prior to the platform change will not need to restart their process and will be contacted via email by the new center.
Addressing High Demand and Pressure
The opening of the center comes after years of high demand and difficulty securing appointments at the Spanish Consulate in Havana.
According to figures from the Spanish Government, the Consulate General in Havana received 107,338 nationality applications under the Law of Democratic Memory, representing 12.24% of the global total at that time. The deadline for new applications closed on October 22, 2025, but cases initiated within the timeframe will continue processing.
The pressure is further compounded by the growing Spanish community in Cuba. The Official State Gazette reported in December 2025 that the number of registered individuals at the Consulate General of Spain in Havana had doubled in just over a decade, nearing 185,000.
FAQs on Spain's New Visa Center in Havana
What types of visas does the new center process?
The center processes short-stay Schengen visas and will manage national visas including study, work, non-lucrative residence, internships, and research visas starting October 12. It will also accept applications for relatives of Spanish citizens and other EU nationals from October 19.
Is there a fee for using the new visa application center?
Yes, there is a fee of 17 euros for processing visa applications through the new center, in addition to any applicable consular fees. However, booking appointments is free of charge.
Will the new center decide on visa approvals?
No, the decision to approve or deny visas remains the exclusive responsibility of the Consulate General of Spain in Havana.