Havana, March 19 (RHC)—The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced Thursday a set of measures for Cuban Consular offices worldwide, given the COVID-19 pandemics.

The procedures seek to protect Cuban nationals residing abroad and the staff of those offices from contracting the virus.

A press release posted on the Foreign Ministry website said that starting this March 19, all Cuban consular offices are being encouraged to provide service remotely.

The note advises Cuban citizens who are currently abroad in countries where biometric data capture is required that they will have until April 30 of this year to get their passports made without having to visit the consulates and consular offices.

To do so, they must use the application form available on the website of each Consulate or Consular Office and comply with the quality requirements established for the photo and signature. 

The date indicated will be subject to change, depending on the evolution of the international epidemiological situation.

Among other measures, the Foreign Ministry announced that Cuban citizens who are about to complete 24 months of uninterrupted presence abroad will not need to apply for extensions from March 19, 2020, and may remain outside Cuba until further notice, maintaining their status as Permanent Residents in the national territory.