Re: Getting Married in Cuba - Help with the Process PLS
KellyTO said:
Hi
I am sure somewhere in this thread you already have this response but I was not able to find it. I hope to be able to marry my Cuban partner in Havana this February (there from 14 to 27) but am a bit worried about timelines for documents here and also getting an appointment with officials in Havana for the marriage.
Any feedback or advice would be appreciated, particularly on these questions.
I know I need:
- copy of my birth certificate - copied by a notary here & then translated & notarized by Cuban consulate - Do you know how long that takes and does the notary I get have to have any special status?
- where can I find a Single Status Affidavit? (once done I know I need to get it notarized 1st by a Canadian Notary, then translated and notarized by the Cuban consulate in Toronto).
I have never been married before so don't need any of those docs.
So, is there anything else I need to bring with me or get done prior to leaving?
Finally, what is involved in getting the marriage done in Havana - should I get my partner to make an appointment or is it easy enough to do it while we are together there?
Any info you have the time and would like to provide would be great - best place to get photos done so they are accepted, where my Cuban partner should go for the single status documents and police clearance and how much is the cost etc...
So exciting - glad to have found the forum and this thread.
Hello KellyTO, this is what I had to do, I am in PEI, so I dealt with the Consulate in Montreal, I don't know if it is different. But below you will find some links and information, I was married on March 14, 2012 in Cienfuegos Cuba. As for the Declaration of Single Status, I just googled on and changed my information.
http://www.immigroup.com/InternationalMarriage/MarriageToCuban.aspx#3
Marriage in Cuba
Residency Requirement:
Certain countries require that a person resides in that country for a certain amount of time before they are allowed to get married. There is no such requirement for a Cuban marriage, which means that your marriage to a Cuban citizen can happen immediately after your arrival as long as your paperwork is in order.
Basic Document Checklist for Marriage to a Cuban:
Affidavit of Single Status (original or certified copy)
Birth Certificate (original or certified copy)
Certificate of divorce or death certificate of previous spouse if applicable
These documents required for marriage to a Cuban must be legalized by a public notary and authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs. These documents must be translated into Spanish. If they are not translated at a Cuban embassy or consulate, a public notary should legalize the translation and the Department of Foreign Affairs should authenticate it as well before being sent to the Cuban Embassy or Consulate. Before traveling to Cuba, make sure that a Cuban diplomatic mission has legalized all your documents and their translations.
******I had mine translated at the embassy. It costs a bit but it was way easier!! and they were really fast.
Department of Foreign Affairs
http://international.gc.ca/about-a_propos/authentication-authentification_documents.aspx?view=d
Submitting documents in person
Simply come to the authentication of documents section (JLAC) at 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1J1, with your documents and valid photo ID . You do not need an appointment. The office is open Monday to Friday between 10:30 a.m. and noon and between 2 and 3 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and statutory holidays.
If you have 10 documents or fewer, we can process them while you wait. If you have more than 10 documents, leave them with us. If your documents are left, they could take up to five business days to process. You will be contacted when the documents have been authenticated and are ready to be picked up.
If you do not live in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, you can hire a process server in the area to bring your documents to the office in person. You can find process servers by searching the Internet.
http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/canada/EN/ConsularServices.aspx
Consular jurisdiction: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, Yukon, Northwest territories & Nunavut
Address: 5353 Dundas West, Square Kipling, Suite 205, Toronto, ON, M9B 6H8
Phone: (416) 234-8181
Fax: (416) 234-2754
e-mail: toronto@embacubacanada.net
Open to the public:
Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am. to 1:00 pm.
Phone calls: Monday to Friday from 2:00 pm. to 5:00 pm.
Closed on Cuban and Canadian Holidays
Marriage Certificate Transcript:
After the marriage ceremony before the authorities of the country, the marriage must be transcribed in the Consulate for its final acknowledgement in Cuba.
To such effect, the following documents are essential:
1. Photocopies of the birth certificates of both spouses.
2. Entire original marriage certificate, certified and legalized by competent authorities.
3. Application form for transcription of the marriage attached, duly filled out.
4. Photocopy of the Consular Registration Card of the Cuban citizen.
Payment of the consular fee for this service must be made with bank cheque or in cash, for legalization before the Consulate, translation of the entire document and all the formalities of transcription and registration. This service is always requested in person.
Legalization and certification of Documents
Documents to be used in Cuba for legal procedures must be legalized by the corresponding authorities of the country.
Documents must be translated by a notarized translator and legalized, both the original and the translation, by the competent authorities and then by the Cuban Consulate, or, having the originals legalized by the competent authorities and then having them translated at the Cuban Consulate along with the legalization of the original and the translation.
Payment of the consular fee must be made for this service.
NOTE: If the application is made by mail or via a third party, an extra consular fee will be charged for the pertinent Consular service.
All payments must be made in cash or by a bank certified cheque. All cash sent by mail will be refused and returned at the risk of the applicant.
FEES : http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/Portals/23/forms_english/aranceles_eng.pdf
I think this process costs about 800.00.
Hope this helps. Emily
