Cuban Government Offers Visas to Foreigners Who Own, Rent Property in the Country Cuba Standard
go to original May 29, 2014

One-year visas for real estate owners: Planned villas at Carbonera Club

Following the example of countries such as the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic offering special visas to real estate investors from abroad, the government published long-awaited regulations that grant temporary residence to foreigners who own or rent residential property in Cuba.

Providing immigration status to potential home buyers in dozens of planned golf and marina luxury communities, Interior Ministry Resolution No. 4/2014, published in an extraordinary edition of the Gaceta Oficial on May 20, establishes a one-year, renewable visa for foreigners “who are owners or lessees of real estate, as well as their foreign relatives who may require it.”

The visa regulation comes as a new foreign investment law, effective June 28, grants foreigners the right to buy or rent real estate in Cuba. Dozens of luxury golf and marina communities have been in the planning stage; the most advanced project, the Carbonera golf club near Varadero by Britain’s Esencia Group, received a green light from the government last year. Foreign real estate buyers applying for a visa with the immigration office of the Interior Ministry must first get a referral from the administrators of their real estate project and the Tourism Ministry.

Real estate visa holders “may carry out activities related to tourism and business duly authorized by the existing legislation,” the resolution says, adding that other activities will require authorization first.

The visa, which sets no limit to one-year renewals, expires if its holder is no longer an owner or lessee of real estate in Cuba, if the holder is outside of Cuba for more than one year, or due to “behavior that violates the constitution, other laws or the conditions” of the visa. Real estate owners may apply for an extension to the one-year absence rule with Cuban consulates or embassies abroad.

In 2012, the government published a resolution regulating how foreign property owners may import, export or sell their personal belongings.

See the original at Cuba Standard

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