Cuba - Obtain Single Status Certificate

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Procedure

Applying in person

1. Go to the consulate of Cuba and fill in the application form.
2. Submit form and pay all necessary fees.

Applying through mail

1. Fill in and mail the application form along with the payment in the form of a bank certified cheque.
2. You must also include the self-addressed stamped envelope for the document to be sent back.
3. For more information about this procedure, please contact the Cuban Consulate in your country.

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.

It is advisable to follow the guidelines that certain authorities deem necessary. Those wishing to marry overseas will need special documentation. First, couples will have to present a declaration that is processed by your local office where marriage documents are produced. This must be from the state where you live in the Cuba. On this statement will be recorded the fact that there has not be any marriage in recent years.

Due to the fact that these types of documents are sought for foreign involvement one will need the local or state registrars account or declaration to be authenticated to work abroad.

• Go to the Civil Registry office where marriages are registered.
• Present and submit required documents.
• Complete a form and declare.
• Pay the fee.

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Required Documents

• Completed application form.
• Self-addressed stamped envelope (for request sent via mail)
• National identity card or Passport.
• Proof of address.
• If divorced, Decree Absolute.
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate).
• If your name has been changed by Deed Poll, proof is necessary.
• The relevant fee.

Office Locations & Contacts

Locate Cuban Missions Abroad

MINREX Website

Yellow Pages - Cuba Portal

Missions

Diplomatic Directory

Eligibility

In order for non-nationals to marry in a foreign country you will most likely be required to produce legal documentation from your country of citizenship verifying single status and that you are free to marry. This is known as a 'Certificate of No Impediment', 'Certificate de Coutume', 'Certificate of Nulla Osta' or a 'Certificate of Freedom to Marry'.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

It takes about 6 months for the certificate to be released.

Related Videos

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Instructions

Applications to obtain a single status certificate from Cuba may be submitted in person or by mail.

Please also be aware that a standard Single Status Certificate or Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. You may be required by the foreign authorities to comply with the following, so please ensure that you allow sufficient time for processing.

• Certificates may need to be translated.
• Certificates may need to be endorsed or exchanged for a locally acceptable version issued by your Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry.
• Certificates may need to be legalized i.e. stamped with an official stamp known as an Apostille.
• Certificates may require that witnesses swear an Affidavit stating that you are free to marry and that this is appended.

Required Information

• Full Name
• Passport or ID number
• Place and Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Statement
• Date
• Signature of the person who declares
• Signature of the witnesses

Need for the Document

A Single Status Certificate also referred to as a No Marriage Affidavit, Certificate of Freedom to Marry or Certificate of No Impediment, is a sworn statement saying that you are eligible to marry.

Some overseas countries would require a "Single Status Certificate" to be submitted before you can proceed with the actual marriage ceremony. This certificate proves that you are not already legally married or in a civil union in your country of citizenship or residence.

Following are procedures on how to obtain a single status certificate from abroad.

Information which might help

All requests to Cuba are to follow the same procedure

In person at the Consulate, the following must be presented:

• Duly filled out form
• Payment of Consular fee for this service for the application
• Payment of Consular fee when the document is received

In applications by mail, the following must be sent:

• Duly filled out form
• Payment of Consular fee for this service for the application
• Payment of Consular fee when the document is received
• Self-addressed stamped envelope for the document to be sent back.

If all the information requested cannot be supplied, payment must be made of the Consular fee for this service at the price of the service of the costs of seeking this information in Cuba.

This certification takes a minimum of 6 months, except for the certificate of criminal records, which can be obtained in 2 months.

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.

Through a sworn affidavit the applicant confirms that they are who they claim to be. The Single Status Letter or Affidavit says that they are able and free to marry among other things. Bear in mind that one fact about the Single Status Affidavit is that it is not a government document; rather, it is a letter from the affiant signed in front of a notary public. An interesting fact about this type of document is that there are many names given for it. For example look at this list: "Single Status Statutory Declaration" or a "Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" or a "Single Status Certificate" or "Free-to-marry statement".

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

The Bride & Groom to be married must provide from their country of Citizenship, individual Certificates of non impediment or Certificate of Single Status/Sworn Affidavit, as proof that they are both indeed single and eligible to marry. This is also called an affidavit of single status or negative statement of marriage. This document can be obtained at the Bureau of Vital statistics in their city they reside.

External Links

• Cuban Consular Services:

http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/sicw/EN/ConsularServices.aspx#DocsAbroad

Official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba

Site of the Government of the Republic of Cuba

Others

If you are planning to marry in another country, you may be required to obtain a Certificate of Non-Impediment. This document has many different names such as Declaration of Non-Impediment to Marry, Statutory Declaration of Single Status, Affidavit of Intended Marriage, Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad, Certificate de Coutume, a Certificate of No Impediment, Certificate of Nulla Osta, Certificate of Freedom to Marry or just free to marry.

Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage

This can be obtained from your local department of foreign affairs or your embassy in the country in which you are getting married.

Certificate of Single Status/Sworn Affidavit that you are free to marry

These are similar to a Certificate of No Impediment, but instead you have to swear you are single in front of a legal representative.