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A minor leaving Cuba with only one parent now needs a detailed notarised authorisation
The requirement took effect with the new migration rules on 1 November 2026: without that document, valid for no more than a year, departure can be blocked at the border, elTOQUE explains.
Since 1 November 2026, a father, mother or legal guardian planning to travel alone with a minor from Cuba, or to let the child travel with a third party, must present Cuban authorities with a detailed notarised authorisation valid for no more than a year from the date it was issued, according to elTOQUE. Before the new rules took effect, the requirement was only essential if the airline or the destination country asked for it, and in practice a valid passport worked most of the time as an exit permit.
The document differs from the notarised authorisation both parents must grant for a minor to apply for a passport at the Interior Ministry's processing offices. The notarised travel authorisation must state the destination country, the countries of transit or stopover, the length of time the minor is authorised to remain abroad and, where applicable, the identity details of the person authorised to accompany them.
The rule refers to countries of transit or stopover, not cities, so a connection within the destination country adds no further place to record, while a stop in a third country must be listed. elTOQUE recommends that the ticket's outbound and return dates match those authorised, because the immigration officer has only the ticket presented to check that the trip fits within the authorised period.
Article 237.3 establishes that, for immigration purposes, the notarised document is valid for one year from the date of authorisation, cannot be extended and must be issued in the province where the minor lives. After the year, a new one must be granted. Given the level of detail required, elTOQUE understands that each authorisation covers a specific trip, although the regulation does not say so explicitly, and advises confirming this with the notary.
Departure can also be blocked if the notarised permit was revoked by the parent not travelling, or if the person travelling with the minor holds neither the notarised authorisation nor a favourable court ruling authorising the departure.
Attempting to take children or adolescents out of Cuba without the corresponding documents is a serious infringement under article 272, subsection c, of the Regulation of the Migration Law. Article 266 lists ten immigration measures that may be imposed for infringements, among them a warning, re-embarkation, expulsion, deportation, restriction of movement, restriction on entering or leaving the country, and a fine; article 301 sets fines of 40 to 60 units for natural persons committing serious infringements, and article 267.2 makes clear that these measures apply without prejudice to criminal liability.
elTOQUE notes that the main uncertainties lie in how the rule will be applied: the regulation says nothing about notarised travel authorisations issued before it took effect, because the transitional provisions of Law 171 protect only the validity of passports, visas and immigration documents, and those of Decree 136 refer to procedures already under way.
Sources: elTOQUE
Data updated: 2026-11-10T04:15:00.000Z