Consulates

Cuban passport for the first time from the US: gray or pre-2010 passports, $20 agency identity check

Left Cuba before 2014 with a lost, gray-cover or pre-2010 passport? The first-passport route: in person or by agency only, a $20 identity check if filed through an agency, then $180 or $140 plus $5. Verified 2026-10-19.

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Cuban passport for the first time from the US

A first Cuban passport is the route the Cuban consular office in Washington, DC assigns to people who left Cuba before January 1, 2014 and have lost their passport, hold an expired gray-cover passport, hold a blue ordinary passport issued before January 1, 2010, or have no expired Cuban passport to show. It is requested only in person or through a contracted agency, not by mail, and it is paid in two moments: a $20 identity verification when filed through an agency, then $180 (over 16) or $140 (under 16) plus $5 once the applicant is identified as a Cuban citizen (consular page read October 19, 2026).

This page covers only that route. If your passport was issued on or after January 1, 2010, the procedure is a renewal: see Cuba passport renewal in the United States.

Who the first-passport route covers

The consular-services page says, in its “Pasaporte por primera vez” section, that a first-passport application applies “en caso de pérdida del pasaporte, poseer un pasaporte vencido de carátula gris, o un pasaporte ordinario (de color azul) emitido antes del 1 de enero de 2010, o no poseer ningún pasaporte cubano vencido que mostrar, mientras haya salido de Cuba antes del 1 de enero del 2014”.

Situation on the consular page	Route the page assigns
Passport lost, left Cuba before Jan. 1, 2014	First passport
Expired gray-cover passport, left before Jan. 1, 2014	First passport
Blue ordinary passport issued before Jan. 1, 2010, left before Jan. 1, 2014	First passport
No expired Cuban passport to show, left before Jan. 1, 2014	First passport
Expired or expiring passport issued on or after Jan. 1, 2010	Renewal (renewal guide)

The renewal section of the same page says a passport must have “una fecha de emisión a partir del 1 de enero de 2010, para poder ser renovado”. The page does not say which route applies to someone who left Cuba on or after January 1, 2014 and has lost the passport or never had one; ask the office.

Channels: in person or agency, not mail

For a first passport the page names two channels:

In person at the Oficina Consular, 2639 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, open to the public Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Through “alguna de las Agencias que tienen contrato de trabajo con la Oficina Consular”. The office’s agency lists cover 18 states, DC and Puerto Rico: see the consulate’s contracted agencies by state.

Mail, which the consular page accepts for a renewal, is not among the channels that page lists for a first passport (read October 19, 2026).

Documents

The page asks the applicant to present:

Cuban birth certification (“Certificación de Nacimiento cubana”), original or legible photocopy. If you need one, see our Cuban birth certificate guide.
Two application forms (two copies of Anexo 2, Planilla para trámites consulares), completed legibly and signed inside the signature box. Applicants under 16 and people with disabilities do not sign. A renewal needs one form; a first passport needs two.
Two color passport photos, high resolution, light background, facing forward, face and head uncovered, no dark glasses.
Photocopies of any other identification you can provide, “como carné de identidad, licencia de conducción, etc.”

Fees (consular page read October 19, 2026)

Payment	When	Amount (USD)
Identity verification	First payment, applications through an agency	$20
Passport, over 16	Second payment, after identification	$180
Passport, under 16	Second payment, after identification	$140
Additional amount	With the second payment, paid separately	+$5

The page says the second payment “corresponde a las solicitudes presenciales y las que se efectúan a través de las Agencias”. It ties the $20 identity verification to applications “a través de Agencias” and does not list a separate identity-check charge for in-person applications.

Second official source. MINREX Resolution 38 of 2023 on the consular fee schedule, dated June 29, 2023 and posted on the same consular site, lists a passport “por primera vez, renovación o pérdida” at 180.00 for applicants over 16 (10-year validity) and 140.00 for those under 16 (5-year validity), the same figures the consular page uses.

Payment method. For personal procedures the page accepts only USPS Postal Money Orders, filled in legibly in black or blue ink without corrections; it says a request paid with another money order is returned.

Step by step

Confirm your case against the four situations above and the January 1, 2014 departure date.
Pick the channel: the consular office in Washington, DC, or a contracted agency in your state.
Gather the documents: Cuban birth certification, two signed Anexo 2 forms, two photos, copies of other ID.
First payment: through an agency, $20 for identity verification. In person, the page says to “dejar bien claros sus datos de contacto” so the office can reach you once you are identified.
Wait to be identified as a Cuban citizen. The page publishes no time frame for this step.
Second payment: $180 or $140, plus $5 in a separate payment. If you applied in person, the page says you can pay in person or send the payment by mail once identified.
Issuance: the page says the payment is made “para emitir su pasaporte en Cuba”.

Minors

A first passport for a minor also needs the parents’ authorization. The page says any passport procedure for a minor requires a notarial power authorizing it, done in person (Anexo 21) or through the contracted agencies. Details and fees: parental authorization for a minor’s Cuban passport. Applicants under 16 pay $140 and do not sign the form.

People born abroad to a Cuban mother or father who acquired Cuban citizenship by Resolution can request this service under the page’s passport-renewal section, presenting a photocopy of the Resolution and their Cuban birth certification.

Need to travel before the passport is ready?

The office issues a Documento de Viaje y Tránsito (DVT), a temporary document for a lost, stolen or expired passport, with its own conditions. See the Cuban emergency travel document. On entering Cuba with an expired passport (a December 6, 2024 MINREX statement set March 31, 2025 as the last day, and Cuba’s new Migration Law changes the rule again), see entering Cuba with an expired passport and the 24-month rule.

Questions

The page lists (202)-797-8518 and recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu for questions, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-19. This is general information, not legal advice. Consult an attorney for your specific situation. Fees and requirements are those published by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Cuba in Washington, DC, and change periodically. Verify directly with the consular office.

Frequently asked questions

When does a Cuban need a first passport instead of a renewal?

The consular page (read October 19, 2026) lists four cases for people who left Cuba before January 1, 2014: the passport was lost, the expired passport has a gray cover, the blue ordinary passport was issued before January 1, 2010, or there is no expired Cuban passport to show. Renewal is for passports issued on or after January 1, 2010.

How much does a first Cuban passport cost from the US?

It is paid in two moments. Through an agency, the first payment is $20 for identity verification. Once the applicant is identified as a Cuban citizen, the second payment is $180 for applicants over 16 or $140 for those under 16, plus $5, in separate payments (consular page read October 19, 2026).

Can I apply for a first Cuban passport by mail?

The page lists only two channels for a first passport: in person at the consular office in Washington, DC, or through an agency with a contract with the office. The consular page, read October 19, 2026, does not list mail for this procedure.

Is the $20 identity check charged if I apply in person?

The page ties the $20 identity-verification payment to applications made through agencies. It does not list a separate identity-check charge for in-person applications; the second payment of $180 or $140 plus $5 applies to both in-person and agency applications. Confirm with the office at (202)-797-8518.

What if I left Cuba after January 1, 2014?

The page describes the first-passport route for people who left Cuba before January 1, 2014. It does not say which route applies to someone who left later and lost the passport or has none. Ask the consular office before paying.

How long is the new passport valid?

Since the July 1, 2023 measures, the ordinary Cuban passport is valid 10 years for holders 16 and older and 5 years for minors. MINREX Resolution 38 of 2023 lists the same $180 and $140 fees for a passport for the first time, renewal or loss, with those validity periods.

Where is the first passport issued, and how long does it take?

The page says that, once identified, the applicant pays and the passport is issued in Cuba (para emitir su pasaporte en Cuba). It does not publish a processing time.

Does my US immigration status matter?

The documents list for a first passport on the consular page (read October 19, 2026) does not ask for any US immigration document.

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.