Hi,
Hope this helps.
What the Cuban spouse must obtain before marriage:
1 - For the marriage, he will have to produce an original certificate of celibacy (solteria) if never married, or have the original certificate of divorce if divorced. The cost is low and in national currency. The delay is not long, he can obtain the document the same day or in a few days.
2 - He will also have to produce his birth certificate. The cost and time are similar to the solteria.
What the Canadian spouse must obtain before marriage:
3 - For the marriage, you will need to provide to the notary who will celebrate the marriage in Cuba:
a) your original birth certificate and translation in Spanish;
b) a sworn statement of celibacy (original in Spanish, or original in English and Spanish translation). The declaration of celibacy has a validity of 6 months and it must not be expired upon marriage;
c) If you are divorced, the original divorce certificate and translation in Spanish;
d) If you are divorced for more than 6 months, you must also provide a sworn statement of non-remarriage (instead of the sworn declaration of celibacy).
4 - The Montreal Cuban Consulate doesn’t offer translation services no more, in view of the lack of staff. It is not necessary to have the documents translated by a certified translator. Translations and the sworn statement must be certified by a Commissioner of oaths, or by a notary or a lawyer. There are Commissioners of oaths in the courthouses or the office of your member of Parliament.
5 - Then you need to authenticate the documents (originals and translations) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, in Ottawa. It's free. If you send your documents by mail, they are gonna return them by mail within a period of 7 weeks. You can also go in person or send someone else in your place. It is without appointment, but you can have to wait (go at the outset if possible). Your documents will be immediately authenticated. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:00. The address is 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
6 - You need finally to legalize all these documents at the Cuban Consulate in Montreal or Toronto (English and Spanish copy). This step cannot be completed before the previous: the Consulate must authenticate the signature of the official of Foreign Affairs. The cost is $ 176 per document. Example: If you have never been married, you have 4 documents to legalize: the original birth certificate, its translation, the original declaration of celibacy, and its translation (total $704). However, if you have the sworn declaration of celibacy directly in Spanish, you save $ 176 because you will not have to legalize the translation.
If you send it by mail to the Consulate you must pay $ 40 more, and send an envelope pre-paid and pre-addressed to your name. You can also send someone in your place at the Consulate, but in this case you need to pay the $ 40 extra also.
Opening hours in Montreal are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 (closed on Wednesday). The address is 4542 boul Décarie, Montreal, QC, H3X 2H5.
