Cuba to limit travel permissions for minors to one year
The new regulation takes effect November 1, 2026, and also addresses travel when one parent does not authorize the child's departure.
Beginning November 1, 2026, Cuba will apply a one-year limit to notarized authorizations for minors leaving the country for migration purposes. Families planning foreign travel with children must account for the effective date and confirm their permission complies with the new limit.
The twelve-month maximum concerns validity of the notarized authorization, not the trip's duration. The permit's issue date therefore becomes part of travel preparation. The rules also address earlier authorizations, which may matter to families holding an existing document.
The regulation covers situations where parents live in different countries, including when one parent travels with the child while the other remains in Cuba. It also addresses refusal by one parent and the possibility of a court replacing missing consent.
Its scope includes documents connected to a minor's departure and migration-control questions before reaching the airport. The change therefore extends beyond a simple validity period and covers preparation for children's international travel.
With implementation set for November 2026, families traveling with minors must consider both the new time limit and cases where a parent's authorization is disputed. Reviewing those elements before departure may prevent difficulties.