INFORMATION ON DOCUMENTS FOR A WEDDING IN CUBA
Straight-to-the-point summary on documents required by Canadian couples planning a destination wedding in Cuba and by Canadians planning to marry Cuban in Cuba.
Here you will find What documents you need to get married in Cuba? How and Where to get them? and their legalization process in Canada, prior to hopping on the airplane (this can not be done in Cuba).
The following information was compiled from official Cuban sources, tips from clients who have “been there-done that” and from my 20+ years of experience helping Canadians marrying in Cuba, and is provided to you free of charge, under the terms of the no-fine print Waiver on page 6.
In a nutshell, the documents required for a destination wedding in Cuba vary depending on…
1. Your current marital status, and
2. If marrying another Canadian, or
3. If marrying a Cuban, and in this case, if you are a…
a) Born Canadian or
b) Naturalized Canadian
i. Born Canadian, or
ii. Naturalized Canadian
3. Whichever documents apply to your case, must be…
a) Recently issued (not older than 4 months)
b) Translated into Spanish by a translator accepted by the Cuban Consulate
(My translations are accepted since 1992)
c) Follow their corresponding legalization protocols with…
i. Canadian Notary Public
ii. Canadian Provincial Agency
iii. Federal agency in Ottawa (only 2.b.ii. above)
iv. the Cuban Consulate in Canada.
- Two Born or naturalized Canadians
If never married before, only need:
- a) Canadian Passport valid at least six months after the scheduled return date from Cuba.
- b) Tourist Card available at the airline, airport, travel agency or
- c) Affidavit explaining name discrepancies (if any) between different documents, usually (but not exclusively) in case of previously divorced brides
If previously married, additionally need:
- c) Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate of former spouse (Original or certified copy)`
- d) Affidavit explaining name discrepancies between different documents, usually (but not exclusively) in case of previously divorced brides.
- e) Affidavit of current marital status if divorced/widowed two or more years ago.
Bon voyage! after reading the important information in numerals 5a to 5h.
- BORNED canadian MARRYing A CUBAN
If never married before, you need:
1a), 1b) As above
- c) Birth Certificate (long form), not the credit card/wallet-size.
- d) Affidavit of single marital status, not a “negative result of marriage record search in a Provincial Registry”.
Tourist Card available at the airline, airport, travel agency or consulate.
Same documents as above are required according to the Canadian citizen’s marital status is sinlge , wiWhether never married, a. If never married before: Same as
Al the above
- iv)
- b) Affidavit of Single Status. (a variation of 1b.iv) stating to have never married anywhere.[2]
If previously married, 1a, b, c, d and 2a) 1e) above, plus above, plus also same also…
- v) Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate of Spouse (Original or certified copy)
- vi) Affidavit of no remarriage. (a variation of the above 2.iv).
- Documents for a NATURALIZED canadian MARRYing A CUBAN IN CUBA
- in case of NAME Discrepancies Between Documents
The above mentioned affidavit must include a justification between document and specially against the passport[2]. Usually (but not exclusively) in case of previously divorced brides.
- THE RED TAPE
To valid in Cuba, foreign documents in a language other than Spanish, must be:
- 1. GODEDEN RULES: Any documents your case may require as indicated further down, must be:
- Recently issued, not more than 3 months prior to step XX below. (i.e.: that safely kept certificate your mother obtained from Statistics Canada when you were born, or the one issued by a Court when you divorced four months ago, are not accepted. GOLDEN RULES: Any documents you require as indicated further down, must:must be recently issued, not more than 3 months prior to that of step XX below. (i.e.: that safely kept certificate your mother obtained from Statistics Canada when you were born, or the one issued by a Court when you divorced four months ago, are not accepted.
Officially translated into Spanish by an accredited translator and professionally typewritten (without corrections or erasures). For the most convenient price and turnaround, deal directly with the translator (not an agency). Contact Victor toll free at 1-888-847-8906 or by e-mail.
Important Notes:
- Recently issued, no more than 4 months prior to their presentation to the Cuban Consulate in Canada for their legalization.
- The template for the affidavit is provided with the translation at no additional cost. You still have to sign it in front of a Public Notary of your choice and get it certified, at your cost
Documents not issued in Canada, must be authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate in Canada of the issuing Country or by the Cuban Consulate in the issuing country.
- Starting Dec/01/2016, prior to the Cuban Consular Certification (See 3c below), the Cuban government requires authentication (Apostile) of documents and signatures of the notaries by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa (after the translation).
The good news is that this authentication is free of charge and takes 30 minutes or less. The bad news is that you have to personally take the documents there (to Ottawa). Alternatively, you can use the postal mail in and return option, but the return may take up to 3-4 weeks. This red tape is on you in the DIY option (4a), but included in the SMAT option (4b).
- Certification by the Cuban Consulate Take the package of apostilled documents (3a & 3b) with copy of the 2 main pages of your passport to the Cuban Consulate (10:00 am to 1:00 pm only, closed Wednesdays) with a Bank money order or your Debit card (Cash and credit cards are NOT accepted). Their fee is CN$352.00 per set of Spanish/English document ($176.00/Language).
Depending on your luck, be prepared to stand in line for up to 2 two hours. Return 15 business days later (3 calendar weeks) and stand in line again to pickup the documents. Note: There is a postal mail in and return service (might take longer). Call the consulate for details.
This red tape is on you in the DIY option (4a), but included in the SMAT option (4b).
Warning: Don’t be surprised by some unscrupulous misinformation stating that for translations to be valid in Cuba, they must be done only by the consulate or certain “appointed” persons/agencies or by the destination hotels/resorts/operators. These are false allegations just to get your money.
- RED TAPE handling OPTIONS
- Do It Yourself option: Victor will deliver you the package of documents translated and certified by a Notary Public for you to take care of steps 3b & 3c.
- Save Money, Aggravation and Time option: In addition to translating your documents (3a), Victor also offers the service of taking care of the Canadian (3a) and Cuban (3b) red tapes. Contact Víctor toll free at 1-888-847-8906 or by e-mail.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CUBAN WEDDING OF CANADIAN COUPLES
- “Freshly” issued documents. Whichever documents might be required in your case (as per 1b) or 2a) & 2b above) must have been recently issued, (no more than 4 months) prior to their presentation to the Cuban Consulate in Canada for their legalization.
Confusing information: Used to be that Canadian couples marrying in Cuba required the same documents as a Canadian marrying a Cuban national. This is NOT the case anymore, but the old information still lingers in Cuban websites, hotels/resorts and tour operators.
- Prepare a sheet with the bride’s and groom’s full name names, home address, occupation, highest level of education, nationality, and the full names of the parents (alive or deceased).
- Fax or email the above sheet to your Cuban hotel/resort at least three (3) weeks prior to your arrival, including copy of the two main pages of your passports. If previously married, include copies of the corresponding documents (2b) with their translations certified by the Cuban Consulate (3c).
- Name match in all documents: Names in all documents must exactly match the name on the passport; else, an English sworn affidavit translated into Spanish explaining the discrepancies must be produced, and a copy must be included with the data sheet faxed (5c). Frequently (but not exclusively) happens with previously divorced brides.
- Take all your original documents to Cuba, even if you are taking certified copies.
- Your Cuban marriage certificate will be prepared (in Spanish) to the names on the passport, and will follow a lengthy Cuban red tape process of authentication (which in reality is not needed in Canada) to record your marriage upon your return. You will be told that, time permitting, the Marriage Certificate will be given to you before leaving Cuba (never happens!) or couriered to you in Canada at your hotel’s expense (usually 6+ months of aggravating follow ups on your part). Confirm this with the hotel/resort.
- Tips from clients who “have been there, done that”:
- “Do not leave Cuba without your marriage certificate”.
- Ask (pay) for an additional original copy of your marriage certificate bearing only the signature/seal the Officer or Notary of the Civil Registry, to bring with you to Canada, and let the other one follow the whole red tape and be sent to you, whenever…
- Make things easier by arranging for your wedding ceremony to take place as soon as possible after your arrival.
- Prenuptial Agreement (optional): When the spouse is Cuban and will be sponsored to reside in Canada, a prenup is highly recommendable. The contracting parties must sign an English and Spanish version in front of two witnesses in Cuba. Cuban notaries usually do not want to intervene. There are several types of prenups, with several opinions on their degree of enforceability.
- Official English Translation of your CUBAN marriage certificatE
I will gladly provide you with an official English translation of your marriage certificate to register your new marital status and change of wife’s surname name in her Social Insurance, Provincial Health Plan, Driver’s License, Passport, incorporate, etc. I am an accredited translator by the Ministries of Citizen and Immigration of Canada (CIC-IRB) and of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Contact Victor toll free: 1-888-847-8906 or by e-mail.
Warning Regardless of what you might have heard, even if it is from the Cuban Consulate, there is no need for the Cuban Consulate to intervene in the translation of the Cuban Marriage Certificate for it to be valid in Canada (no validation, legalization or certification is needed, for which they will charge you CN$ 352.00 ($176.00/page,) on top of the translation cost.
- permanent residenCE of CUBAn spouse and minor children in canada
Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not guarantee your spouse’s immediate access to Canadian residence, you must file a sponsorship application, and the decision will take 10+ months, and a rejection is always possible under certain circumstances.
- These are the Cuban documents needed for the sponsorship application:
- i) Cuban Marriage Certificate
- ii) Spouse’s Birth Certificate and
iii). Spouse’s Cuban Certificate/Clearance of Criminal (Police) Records
(iv) Spouse’s medical test report
- If the sponsored Cuban spouse has any minor children, also bring:
- i) The child(ren)’s Birth Certificate(s) even if not planning to bring them to Canada at the same time with the Cuban spouse; and
- ii) If there are plans for that, also need a notarized consent from of the other Cuban parent.
- Send the sponsorship application to Citizen & Immigration Canada (CIC) attaching the translated documents. No need for further legalizations because I am an accredited translator by CIC. Allow 10+ months for the decision. No need to retain the services of a lawyer at this stage, but highly recommended in case an appeal is necessary.
- WARNING: The application may be denied on the basis that the wedding was “not in good faith”. In that case you must initiate a lengthy appeal process (think 1+ years). Be prepared to produce documented proof (from the wedding day and earlier if possible) that the wedding was in good faith and in good standing (for example: frequent long distance calls in telephone bills (NOT CALLING CARDS), airline tickets for trips, correspondence with dated postal seals, proof of economic support, etc).
- Canadian certificates
a. Birth Certificates
· The long form containing all the data in the record of birth: name, date and place of birth, sex, weight, attending physician, parents’ info, registration and issuance dates. Spanish translation required
- The short form (wallet-credit card-size format) containing only your name, date of birth, sex, certificate number, dates of registration and issuance. Not Accepted in Cuba
- How to obtain a Canadian Certificates of Birth, Marriage or Death
Most provinces allow you to get it over the internet, but a few won’t. Get the information on how to obtain it, click on the flag of corresponding province or territory.
Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | New Fdlnd Lab |
NW Territories | Nova Scotia | Nunavut | Ontario | PEI |
Quebec | Saskatchewan | Yukon |
- How to obtain a Canadian Divorce Certificate
Call the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa (613)957-4519. This is a Canada-wide index of divorces begun after July 1968. Provide the names of the divorcing parties (including the wife’s maiden name if known) and get the number of the Courthouse where the divorce took place, the file number and year; then contact the Clerk of that court and ask for your divorce certificate. Spanish translation required
- Affidavit of Marital Status and/or Reason for Discrepancies in Name Between Documents
Must be drawn in English for each marrying person, signed and witnessed by a Notary Public (not just a Commissioner to take oaths or certify signatures) before I translate it. If I do your translations, I will provide you with the English format for your lawyer/notary to complete. Spanish translation required.
9. WAIVER
The information provided here, verbally or in any other way, is in good faith and believed to be true and accurate to the best of our knowledge. It is the client’s responsibility to confirm it with the Cuban Consulate, the Cuban Notary or Office of the Civil Registry, the resort/hotel where the wedding will take place and/or the travel agency arranging the trip. There will be no responsibility/liability of any kind on our part for the results of the decisions you make based on that information, and no money will be returned for any concept.