How do you translate a Cuban police certificate for a US immigrant visa?
For an immigrant visa, the Department of State asks applicants aged 16 or older for a Cuban police certificate if Cuba is their country of nationality or current residence and they lived there for more than six months, or, for anyone else, if they lived in Cuba for 12 months or more. In Cuba that is the certificación de antecedentes penales from the Registro Central de Sancionados of the Ministry of Justice. We translate it in full, with the seal, the stamp or QR code, and the case code and PIN. A certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
What travel.state.gov says for Cuba
The Department of State’s page for Cuba (opens in a new tab) describes the certificate this way:
- Name: certificación de antecedentes penales.
- Issuer: the Registro Central de Sancionados (Central Registry of Criminals); the head of the registry in each municipality issues it. The fee is 5 CUP.
- How to get it: through a law office, in person at the registry’s offices, or online.
- Two versions, both on white letter-size paper. One has a five CUP stamp, the registry’s seal and the digitized signature of its head. The other has the seal, a case code and PIN, a QR code, an e-signature and a 13-digit alphanumeric code in the upper right, above the personal details.
- Validity: since November 30, 2023, a Cuban police certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- Records: courts send convictions to the registry automatically; a record can be canceled after a set time.
Who requests it
The registry belongs to the Ministry of Justice. Cuban citizens over 16 and foreigners living in Cuba can request a certificate. The type for immigration and other legal use outside Cuba is the Exterior Personal certificate, and it is obtained and legalized only through the provincial branches of the Consultoría Jurídica Internacional (MINJUS (opens in a new tab)).
Who needs a Cuban certificate for a visa
From age 16, you need a certificate from your country of nationality or residence after more than six months there, from any other country after 12 months, and from any place where you were arrested. Generally, a police certificate expires after two years (civil documents (opens in a new tab)); the Cuba page gives Cuban certificates one year.
What the translation includes
We translate the certificate in full, as USCIS requires (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)): the heading, every field with its answer, the stamp or 13-digit code, the case code and PIN as printed, the QR code and seal in brackets, the signature, and the legalization if your copy has one.
Where the translation goes
- NVC and US consulates: police certificates are among the civil documents for an immigrant visa, and since January 4, 2023, the US Embassy in Havana has processed immigrant visas for Cuban citizens (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). The Department of State doesn’t ask for a translation of a certificate in Spanish if you are applying for your visa in Cuba or another country where Spanish is an official language (civil documents (opens in a new tab)). What NVC accepts
- USCIS: for a green card, Form I-485 instructions ask for certified records of any arrest, charge or conviction, abroad included (Form I-485 instructions (opens in a new tab)). What USCIS accepts
- Immigration court: a typed certification with the translator’s address and phone. What the court accepts
Our Spanish documents are translated and certified by a native Spanish speaker. What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Questions
My certificate is more than a year old. Will you still translate it?
Yes, we translate the copy you send. The Department of State’s page for Cuba says a Cuban police certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue, so whether to request a new one is for you or your attorney to decide.
How much does it cost?
A certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so certificates for two family members are $45.
Do I need a notary?
Not for USCIS, NVC or immigration court: they ask for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.