Stranded in Serbia: Cuban Nationals Face Deportation Risks Without Passports

Over 70 Cuban nationals residing in Serbia find themselves ensnared in an immigration limbo, their lives on hold due to the absence of their passports. These crucial documents, requested from the Cuban Embassy in Belgrade since late 2025, have yet to be delivered, as reported by 14ymedio.

Some of these applications date back to November and December of last year, leaving many individuals waiting over ten months without a definitive response. They have met all legal requirements and paid fees exceeding $200 for their document processing, yet remain in uncertainty.

The root cause has been identified as a technical glitch within the embassy's computer system, preventing the proper transmission of biometric data to Cuban authorities responsible for passport production. This issue was acknowledged by the diplomatic mission following consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IT specialists.

Conflicting Information Adds to the Chaos

Conflicting reports between institutions exacerbate the ordeal: while family members in Cuba received word that biometric data were missing from national systems, the embassy insisted that the procedures had been correctly submitted.

The effect on the daily lives of those impacted is profound. In Serbia, a passport is essential for maintaining residence permits, employment contracts, bank accounts, and access to public services. Serbian law additionally requires that the document used for applying or renewing temporary residence must be valid for at least three months beyond the requested period, turning each week of delay into a direct threat to their legal status.

Embassy Attempts to Mitigate Deportation Threats

Cuban Ambassador to Serbia, Pavel Orenicio Díaz Hernández, acknowledged that some citizens have faced deportation threats due to the lack of valid passports and has reached out to Serbian authorities to attempt to prevent any penalties. Milexy Pérez Reyes, the embassy's first secretary, informed those affected that cases would be prioritized based on their submission date, with new passports expected to arrive in September via diplomatic pouch.

This situation unfolds amid mounting migration tensions between the Cuban community and Serbia. Until April 2023, Serbia was among the few European countries that allowed Cubans to enter without a visa, making it a gateway to the European Union. However, in that year, Serbia revoked the visa-free entry for ordinary Cuban passport holders following a 170% surge in irregular migrants entering Europe through the Balkans. Just months earlier, at least 35 Cubans were detained at Belgrade Airport under reportedly inhumane conditions.

Currently, over 100 Cubans remain in Serbia with legal residency, many having established roots over several years. In May this year, Spanish police dismantled a network that smuggled Cubans from Serbia to Spain, charging around €3,000 per person.

Demand for Accountability and Immediate Action

The affected community is demanding transparency regarding the status of each case, accountability for administrative failures, and urgent measures to safeguard their immigration status. Their plea concludes with a poignant warning that underscores the crux of the issue: "The issuance of a passport is not an administrative favor. It is a state's obligation to its citizens. When delays stretch into months, it undermines fundamental rights and jeopardizes the stability of entire families, transforming a bureaucratic issue into one of institutional responsibility and respect for citizens' dignity."