Cuba Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Cuba for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
A plain-English guide to the birth, police, and marriage records Cuban applicants need for a U.S. marriage green card, where they come from, and how to get them legalized.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Cuban spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. Cuba is not an apostille country, and USCIS generally does not require legalization anyway. Non-English documents need a certified English translation, which you can self-certify.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy plus an English translation.
- Translate it yourself
Any bilingual person can certify the English translation. No licensed translator required.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: Required for the sponsored spouse in every marriage green card case, whether you adjust status inside the U.S. or go through consular processing.
How to get it: In Cuba, request it at any Civil Registry office (there is one in each of the 168 municipalities) or online. From abroad, request it through a Cuban consulate, a family member or legal representative in Cuba, or an online service. A valid certificate carries the Civil Registry seal, a stamp, and the registrar's signature.
- Issued by
- Registro del Estado Civil (under the Ministry of Justice)
- Cost
- Approx. 5 CUP for residents in Cuba; higher when requested from abroad, plus consular and legalization fees
- Timing
- Days to a few weeks in Cuba; several weeks to a few months when requested through a consulate abroad
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Needed for consular processing (the immigrant visa route), where the National Visa Center and the interviewing embassy require a police certificate for applicants age 16 and older. If you adjust status inside the U.S., USCIS relies on its own FBI biometrics check and generally does not require a Cuban police certificate.
How to get it: Cubans living abroad request it through a Cuban consulate or through the Consultoría Jurídica Internacional; those in Cuba can apply in person in Havana (Línea y D, Vedado) or through a legal representative with a notarized power of attorney. It then needs Cuban legalization to be used abroad.
- Issued by
- Ministry of Justice (Registro Central de Sancionados / Oficina de Antecedentes Penales)
- Cost
- Approx. 52 USD to obtain plus approx. 16 USD for legalization when requested from abroad (roughly 1,250 CUP plus 375 CUP for residents in Cuba)
- Timing
- Often slow: wait times can exceed 6 months when requested through an embassy or consulate
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: Proves the marriage that the petition is based on. If either spouse was previously married, you also need proof that every earlier marriage legally ended (a divorce or death certificate).
How to get it: Request it at the Civil Registry where the marriage was registered or in your municipality of residence, or online. From abroad, request it through a Cuban consulate, a legal representative or family member in Cuba, or an online service. If you were never married, you do not file this; be ready to state your single status where the marriage green card forms ask.
- Issued by
- Registro del Estado Civil (under the Ministry of Justice)
- Cost
- Approx. 5 CUP for residents in Cuba; higher from abroad, plus any consular and legalization fees
- Timing
- Days to a few weeks in Cuba; several weeks to a few months through a consulate abroad
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Cuba is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so its documents cannot be apostilled. For use abroad they go through full legalization by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), a process the government has been moving toward the Ministry of Justice, followed by consular legalization. Note that USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization on foreign civil documents submitted for its filings; a certified copy with a certified English translation is what it asks for. |
| How records are kept | Civil records are held by the Registro del Estado Civil, part of the Ministry of Justice, with an office in each of Cuba's 168 municipalities. Cubans abroad most often obtain records through a Cuban consulate, a relative or legal representative in Cuba, or an online service. Records are generally reliable but access from outside Cuba can be slow. |
| Typical time to gather | Civil registry documents take days to a few weeks in Cuba and several weeks to a few months from abroad; police certificates requested through a consulate can take 6 months or more. |
| Translation | Documents are in Spanish and need a certified English translation for USCIS. A competent bilingual person may translate and self-certify accuracy; a professional translator is not required. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Cuba. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
Full document reference
Every civil record from Cuba that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Registro del Estado Civil (Ministry of Justice) | Approx. 5 CUP (residents); more from abroad | Any Civil Registry office in Cuba, online, or via a Cuban consulate abroad |
| Marriage Certificate | Registro del Estado Civil (Ministry of Justice) | Approx. 5 CUP (residents); more from abroad | Civil Registry where the marriage was recorded, online, or via a Cuban consulate |
| Divorce Certificate | Civil Registry, notaries, or courts (Certificación de divorcio, escritura notarial, or sentencia de divorcio) | Approx. 5 CUP for residents; approx. 125 CUP from abroad | Civil Registry, the notary, or the court that handled the divorce; or via a Cuban consulate |
| Death Certificate | Registro del Estado Civil (Ministry of Justice) | Approx. 5 CUP for residents; approx. 125 CUP from abroad | Civil Registry office, online, or via a Cuban consulate abroad |
| Police Certificate | Ministry of Justice (Antecedentes Penales office) | Approx. 52 USD plus 16 USD legalization from abroad; approx. 1,250 CUP plus 375 CUP for residents | Cuban consulate abroad, Consultoría Jurídica Internacional, or in person in Havana |
What applicants report
“Cuban applicants consistently report that the police certificate obtained through a Cuban consulate is the slowest piece, sometimes taking half a year or more, so filers who start it early and keep the consular receipt tend to avoid last-minute scrambles. Many also note that having the exact tomo and folio numbers from the registry entry makes requesting birth and marriage certificates far smoother.”
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See how it worksFrequently asked questions
Do my Cuban documents need an apostille?
No. Cuba is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so apostilles are not available for Cuban documents. Even so, USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization on foreign civil documents for its filings. What it wants is a certified copy of the record plus a full English translation. Legalization through MINREX and a Cuban consulate matters mainly when a document is used before other authorities, not for a standard USCIS filing.
Where do Cubans living abroad get these documents?
Most obtain them through a Cuban consulate, through a relative or a legal representative in Cuba holding a notarized power of attorney, or through an online civil registry service. Birth, marriage, divorce, and death records come from the Registro del Estado Civil; the police certificate comes from the Ministry of Justice.
Do I need a Cuban police certificate if I am adjusting status inside the U.S.?
Generally no. For adjustment of status, USCIS uses its own FBI background and biometrics check and does not ask for a foreign police certificate. The Cuban police certificate is primarily required for consular processing, where the immigrant visa applicant age 16 or older must provide one.
My documents are in Spanish. Do I need a professional translator?
No. USCIS accepts a certified English translation from any person competent in both Spanish and English. That person signs a short statement certifying the translation is complete and accurate. You do not have to hire a licensed or professional translator.
What if I was married before?
You must show that every prior marriage legally ended. Include a Cuban divorce certificate (or a court divorce decree or notarial deed of divorce) or, if a former spouse died, a death certificate. These come from the Civil Registry, the court, or the notary that handled the matter.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Cuban applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Cuba is not an Apostille Convention member, and USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization for its filings anyway.
- ✓
You do not need a licensed translator: any competent bilingual person can translate a document and self-certify it for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies close to when you file, since older originals and short-form copies are common causes of delay.
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