Married to a Cuban and living in Cuba

Hi. That’s a great question, but I wonder if the wealthy would even want to live among the less fortunate. Finding a job in Cuba would be extremely difficult, but if you really want to experience life there, the best solution might be to volunteer with an NGO or a charitable organization. You wouldn’t pay rent, just a little for food, and you’d get the chance to discover the country. Otherwise, you’d have to rely on your own means by doing business.

Later!

Hi, I worked there for 4 years, the only solution is to have an expat contract with a foreign company, and even then it's complicated because you have to "Cubanize" yourself, and that's not easy at all.

For an expat: Rent for a house (mandatory from the Cuban state) starts at $1,500 a month up to $5,000+, plus maintenance fees, security, etc. If you have expat status with a residence and work permit, you can't live with a Cuban.

For food, budget around $800 a month for two people, unless you eat rice and beans every day.

A car, like a used Peugeot 206 (a very small car), costs over $20,000, and you're required to buy it locally. Maintenance is exorbitantly expensive, and you'll constantly have problems.

So, your salary plus expenses needs to be over $5,000 a month; otherwise, you won't make it—don't forget travel costs.

As for the possibility of working for the Cuban state, it's practically impossible unless you're in very specific fields like security, and even then, you'll never earn much. A Cuban engineer makes a maximum of $80 a month, including all motivational bonuses.

However, if you're married to a Cuban and have income from abroad (e.g., as a retiree) in a Cuban bank account, the conditions are completely different. In that case, you can live with her family, and I'd say with $1,500 a month, you can get by because if you live with your Cuban family, you'll be the one covering daily living expenses. Of course, it all depends on how many people live with you and your own lifestyle—you can't imagine how big Cuban families are!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck

Hi rochoa, Business is forbidden in Cuba. Before you leave, you need to apply for a visa (A4, I think) which is usually granted for a maximum of 30 days. You must be invited by a ministry to obtain it from the Cuban consulate. It’s very risky to try working with a tourist visa. Anyway, in many ministries, you won’t even be allowed to enter without a work visa. Oh, and in Cuba, all business is handled directly at the relevant ministry—for example, sugar and derivatives at MINAZ, potatoes at MINAGRI, etc.

Hi Liniaz. Of course, it’s obvious—just take a trip to Cuba without any prior knowledge to see that everything is a real big deal. My message was aimed at the forum user who wanted information; I was speaking in general terms. It’s clear that if they want to do business, they’ll need to get authorization.

Let’s talk about that—would you like to increase your income? If so, send me a private message, and I’ll tell you what it’s like. You can think it over while I’m away, and when I get back from Cuba, we can talk on the phone for more details. See you later!

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply!

Regarding wealth, I don’t consider myself rich—I’m 25 and just starting out in life! And I’m not materialistic either (well, maybe to some extent since we live in the abundance of industrialized countries, I won’t deny that, but at least not too much). So, the shift from wealth here to Cuban poverty doesn’t scare me at all! The only thing is, I don’t want to be a burden on the family if I immigrate there. I want to work and contribute my share to daily life—that’s what I’m asking if it’s feasible. I’m not married yet, so I know that causes issues with jobs, which is why I’m looking for solutions!

Cloclooo whether you're married or not, you can't work in Cuba except under the conditions I explain, or illegally—but then you risk being deported from Cuba at any moment and becoming persona non grata. During my last trip, I saw someone who had to take the return flight without even being allowed into the country. no solution

Hey. You didn’t understand my point—I was talking about wealth and countries because Canada is an industrialized, therefore wealthy, country, while Cuba is underdeveloped and poor. That’s what I meant, and in people’s eyes, Canada is a land of milk and honey. But we know that’s not the case.

So if you really want to live an enriching experience, go online and look for NGOs or organizations that work in Cuba to apply as a volunteer or something similar. But finding a job in Cuba is extremely difficult because everything is centralized.

I hope this time you’ve understood my point. A+

Hey Cloclooo, no offense, but before making such a big decision, I’d advise you to think carefully about what you’re planning to do: you’re swimming against the current, and you’re not a salmon...

What I mean is, before making this kind of decision, think about your future husband: how long have you known him, do you know him well enough, isn’t there a "cousin" hanging around, etc.? It’s really hard to ask yourself these questions when you’re in love—we all know love is blind—but be careful, the devil is seductive and strangely alluring...

Have you talked about what you’re planning to do? Is this your decision alone, or one you’ve made together? Think it through...

Anyway, to answer your question, I confirm what Liniaz said. That said, if you’re married to a Cuban, you can live at his place—marital duty and all... But be warned, living at his place means living with him AND his family, because in Cuba, you can’t just move out to leave your parents and live together as a couple... You’ll have to put up with them every day, even if things aren’t going well. But it’ll save you a ton of money compared to renting an apartment like Liniaz described.

On the other hand, unless you become Cuban yourself, you’ll struggle to find a decent job—and even then, the only "interesting" jobs are in tourism, which are highly sought after and super hard to get...

You should also know that Cuba isn’t a very wealthy country, and they don’t hand out Cuban citizenship to just anyone. When there isn’t much to go around, the fewer people there are, the more there is for everyone... so the state keeps a close eye on that. There’s no such thing as foreign freeloaders in Cuba, unlike in France, for example...

Anyway, all this to say you’re about to leave a world where you were lucky enough to be born to go to one where no one wants to be. All for love—and who knows if it’ll last once you’re living together?

Hi zorro x, You write with so much sensitivity and a lot of realism—even a touch of something more. You really know this country well. What can be done to open the eyes of the blind?

And are you really sure your husband wants to stay and live in Cuba, continuing to live frugally? You clearly aren’t wealthy since you dream of working in Cuba (foreigners working in Cuba—that’s a dream...).

Your plan is swimming against the current because Cubans who’ve managed to charm a tourist are usually looking for a way out...

Maybe try living there for a month first on a tourist visa in a *casa particular*?

Good luck to you anyway—keep your eyes wide open!

how to illuminate blind eyes

That's why I'm asking questions! Let me move forward in my own journey—it's me who'll live with my decisions and the consequences that come with them, not you! This forum exists for a reason: to ask questions, get answers, respect others' decisions, and draw your own conclusions! 😛

Have a good day

Hello, Of course, you’ll live by your own ideas and decisions, and no one’s contesting that. But if you ask a question, you’ve got to be open to the answers, whether they seem positive or negative to you. If you ask a question, it’s either because you’re unsure or because you need reassurance about a decision you’ve already made. We’re not trying to talk you out of anything—we’re just answering your question honestly, based on our experience in this country. Between Zorro, ViageCuba, and myself, our only goal is to inform you about the dangers and the really bad behaviors of many Cubans.

Hey Cloclooo again, Far be it from me to dictate your decision, I’m just trying to provide some insights, as you asked, to help you understand what your decision entails and the risks you might be facing. I’d recommend reading other discussions on this forum where this kind of topic has already been covered from every angle: to sum up, a well-established fact is that around 95% of Cubans "in love" with a foreigner have one and only one goal—leaving the country. That said, maybe you’re hoping to "test" your future husband by living in Cuba to confirm your feelings and make sure his love is genuine. But if you’re looking to test him, it’ll probably be simpler and quicker to go the usual route: bring him to your place and see how he reacts... Still, you’ve got a 5% chance of having met a "good" Cuban who’s honest and sincere... But they’re rare, and those guys don’t necessarily seek out contact with foreigners... Just out of fear of what their friends might think of them... Which shrinks your odds even more (sorry about that)...

In any case, the experience of living in Cuba can only be enriching for you. But keep a return ticket or something that lets you come back "if things don’t go as you’d hoped."

Finally, I can only repeat that you’re trying to impose such objectivity on yourself that your reason might override your heart (tough, right!). Make sure you’re asking yourself the right questions and answering them as objectively as possible, setting feelings aside...

A little story, among no doubt thousands of others: I have a childhood friend (Cuban) who had a pretty comfortable position thanks to his parents' jobs. He still went to university (studied law or something like that) and ended up working in so-called "mixed" companies (in relation with foreign businesses), which meant his situation was rather enviable by Cuban standards.

My buddy in question is a cool guy, really nice, and we have a great laugh together. But when it comes to girls, he’s not like me—he’s like all Cubans: he hooks up as much as he can. It didn’t bother him to have 3 or 4 in different neighborhoods. If two of them ever ran into each other, he’d lose both, but he didn’t care—he knew he’d find others. Yet he wasn’t exactly a Greek god: he’s chubby, has dark skin, and a big nose (gotta call it like it is!). But he learned from God himself how to dance salsa… and he had that "thing" you girls call "charm," which is really just an extremely macho attitude with a touch of "cute" intentions toward women.

Anyway, over time, a lot of his friends gradually left the country, mostly for Spain, and he wanted to leave too—kind of on a whim, since he didn’t really *need* to. No sooner said than done: he hooked up with a tourist who was head over heels in love with his dark complexion, his "little macho-tropical vibe," and his swagger. He wanted a flight ticket, and he paid for it in sex… and he got it. Once he arrived in Spain and sorted out his papers, he left his wife’s house for new conquests and to party with his expat friends. I don’t know what happened to his "wife," but she was just a means to get out—he never really loved her, even if she must’ve believed he did. He was actually quite cultured and normally pretty thoughtful, just not *enough*.

From my point of view, he’s still my buddy, and even if I can’t help thinking about the women he makes unhappy and calling him out on it, there’s nothing more I can do—and I can’t lecture all Cubans either…

So yeah, it’s not the same for everyone, but to leave Cuba, you’ve got to flirt with tourists and marry them… That’s well known, and it’s a reality.

Hello, You have to remember that when you marry someone, you marry their country too—especially when family is involved. When you're married to a Cuban, get ready!!!!!! You travel to Cuba loaded like a mule with gifts (necessities), and once there, you end up financially supporting the whole family (food, travel, various purchases—like a washing machine, fridge, sound system, etc.). There’s always something missing, and if by any chance their parents are divorced, you’ve got double of everything! Before heading back, you visit everyone, and of course, there’s always the hope that you’ll leave a little money behind!!!!!!! What do you do?! Of course, it’s not an obligation!!! But they’re there, looking at you—the *juma* (the rich one)—and they really do need so much, and that’s the truth. That’s when the saying in Cuba is spot-on: "When you love someone, you don’t count the cost." A trip to Cuba to visit family ends up costing more than 30 days in a five-star resort on the world’s best beach. When you’re back home (Canada or Europe), a Cuban partner will call—let’s say two or three times a month for 15 minutes each—and apart from the phone bill, there are often problems, and almost always requests for money, health issues (medication), and again, the complexity and high cost of sending things, with no guarantee they’ll arrive. Meanwhile, your partner is naturally and logically worried, stressed, crying, etc., etc., etc. And this is for the 10 to 15% of Cubans who *haven’t* left as soon as they arrived in your country. Think carefully before taking the big leap in Cuba—especially not after just two or three 15-day trips there.

Vacations and family stays in Cuba, in the real world, are actually more expensive than on the French Riviera in 5-star hotels: restaurants quickly run you 10 instead of 3... gifts, etc.

It’s a choice—we’ve been owning it for 40 years for some family members!!

Hey clocloo,

I went through the same path as you, and if I could give you one piece of advice, listen to your heart and keep going with your relationship. If you can, don’t hesitate to visit often to make sure the person you’re with is sincere, and don’t listen to the frustrated people or those who know nothing—those venomous tongues will do anything to ruin your story.

For my part, I’ve been married to a Cuban woman for 6 years, and I’ve had all my "friends," relatives, and other people from my country (France) tell me that Cuban women are all prostitutes just looking to marry for a visa, and that Cubans are nothing but dishonest people who only think about fleeing by any means possible. Sure, that exists—I’ve seen plenty of 25-year-old Cubans marry women over 50—but who’s the idiot in that situation? What I wanted to say to those people on the forum is that they should stop making generalizations. Dishonest people, opportunists, jerks—whatever you want to call them—there are just as many in Cuba as in France, Thailand, or anywhere else.

As for me, I didn’t listen to anyone, and since I got married, those same people have completely changed their tune and even claim there’s no one better than her. Pfft!!

Since then, I’ve met a lot of Franco-Cuban couples who’ve been married for years, started families in France, and are very happy.

What’s certain is that when you marry a Cuban, you have to think about helping their family, but it’s up to you to set boundaries. That bothers a lot of people in the West because, unfortunately, the word "family" barely exists here, and giving a little of your money to help people in need really stings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, even if you only go there once every two years. And generally, Cubans are happy with little and show their gratitude and joy, unlike here, where people almost frown when you give them a gift because they’re so jaded.

What’s for sure is that the warmth, sense of family, values, and non-aggressiveness I’ve gained from the Cuban people have given me more than just living for material things, money, and selfishness.

Anyway, I wish you lots of happiness.

Hasta luego

Hello, It's that they stop making generalizations. You're the one making generalizations by implying that everyone is good, everyone is kind. You're not the only one who's succeeded in a mixed marriage (we don't know the details of your story). My wife is Cuban, and we've been married for eight years. From my experience, my recommendations are always the same: before getting married, take precautions to avoid falling into the hands of dishonest Cubans (the famous "getting out of the country at all costs" types). How can you really know a person after two or three 10-day tourist trips to Cuba or anywhere else? That's often the case on this forum! Plus, on a forum, we don’t know the person asking the question—their social background, intellectual level, family environment, stability, age, etc.—so we always end up talking in generalities. You mention the fifty-something woman who marries a young stud—do you know the circumstances of the people asking the questions?????? If you married a Cuban, you must have had to deal with a set of costs and things that are explained on this forum. Maybe 5,000 or 10,000 euros mean nothing to you, but what about for most people?????????????????????????? The goal here is to inform, after all.

Regarding your comment, "And generally, Cubans are content with little," That also depends. If you met the Cuban under normal circumstances, in a normal family, and especially if they married for love, then yes, that’s true. But if you had the bad luck (more than 80% of cases for people who marry after meeting their spouse on a tourist trip) to meet one of those "getting out of the country at all costs" candidates, get ready ??????????????????????????????

What’s certain is that the warmth, the sense of family, and the values— It’s the same phenomenon as the previous topic. I’m 57 years old, with right-wing ideology, in favor of limiting illegal immigrants in our countries. My meat supplier (the worker, not the boss) is Arab. He comes to my house, and we have tea together every time he can—simply because this guy came here to work and live with us.

In our family (with 40 years of experience among the oldest members) and our close circle, we’ve seen successful Franco-Cuban marriages, but we’ve also encountered a few gold-diggers (desperate to leave at any cost). Ironically, while we’re in France, the free ticket out in both cases was... a Canadian woman.

We also know a lovely Cuban woman who married a Frenchman; it didn’t last, but that was more due to lifestyle differences between Cuba and here (homesickness) than anything else.

The more Cubans know about the "Canadian woman or the shark" exit strategy, the more it thrives... easy, it costs nothing, and it can pay off big—just gotta catch the right fish.

The real challenge is finding an honest Cuban... at first, they all seem to be.

Here, thanks to social proximity and diversity, we tend to deal more with this kind of issue in the Maghreb, but that’s a whole other topic.

One thing needs to be made clear... yes, your advice to this girl is legitimate. You have to be careful in this kind of relationship, that's for sure. You can never be certain—another certainty (!lol!)—except after some time.

But Viaje, I don’t understand your insistence on making it seem like only Canadian women fall into the trap. According to the latest Canadian census, in Quebec and Ontario, there were about 22,000 citizens (out of roughly 17 million people in these two provinces) who said they were from Central America and the Caribbean (unfortunately, Cuba isn’t counted separately). If we assume—let’s think big—that half of them are Cuban, we’re left with a huge total of 11,000 people. From that number, if we say, as Liniaz does, that 80% are liars and opportunists, we end up with a HUGE figure of 8 or 9 thousand Cubans who left their country as opportunists to settle in Canada over the last 30 years or so!

How many people leave the island each year already? I think we’re way off the mark. Yes, some Cubans take advantage of tourists’ naivety in all-inclusive resorts, but I believe the majority aren’t Canadian at all... At least, that’s what the stats suggest. You know Cuba really well, but sometimes, you should hold back a bit when talking about our country. Just because you have a cousin out West doesn’t mean you know everything about our ‘bestest country in the world,’ as a former PM once said 😉

It's a shame to ruin this conversation that was going so well. For once, we were avoiding sarcastic comments! Frustrating (or frustrated?), backstabbers... where did that come from?

Congrats Feriados, your post really brightened my morning...

I think Jessy wasn’t criticizing the people commenting on this post, but rather some people in everyday life who sometimes make awful or inappropriate comments about relationships with ‘foreigners.’ 😐

yeah, Feriados, you're right...

There’s still that sad but very true statistic: today, most requests to leave Cuba for marriage involve Cubans and Canadian women. There’s nothing I can do about that... We have a neighbor in Havana (Miramar, on 5th Avenue near the Minint museum) who works in the big building in Revolution Square with the stylized Che portrait on the facade... and he talks. It’s not just a rumor—based on his lifestyle, he must have a significant job..... even if he drives a Lada.

And he’s definitely not going to tell me about the many Cubans who leave the country by swimming, you’re absolutely right about that!!!

The thing is, those who apply to leave for marriage fit exactly my description—I can only observe it!

I’m convinced our sweet cousins are perfectly honest and sincere. The Cubans???

Those who’ve been taken advantage of keep quiet about it... they hide in a mouse hole...

Hi there, You're absolutely right—every now and then, I remind our friend viajecuba about that. I don’t say "Canadian," I say "foreigner," including the few of my own nationality. In Cuba, when it comes to marriage, it’s been the Spanish first, then the Italians, the French, Germans, Swiss, and of course, Canadians.

And of course, there are honest Cubans—you just have to take the time to get to know them and weed out the opportunists.

As for this new forum member’s comments, they’re definitely out of line.

You know, everything that's been said on this forum is really interesting! I've gotten answers and sometimes more questions. But what I noticed is that no women have replied or shared their experiences with me. Of course, there's Lapuce, but her comment was quite general. What I took from it was... you're so young!!! Despite that, you're all men, most of whom are married to Cuban women or have family there!

I'm not criticizing, far from it! I actually thank you for taking the time to respond! I also thank those who messaged me privately—it was more constructive for me than the main thread. But where are the women who live or have lived the experience of living there instead of having their husbands immigrate here? There must be some.

If you didn't understand my question, it was that my boyfriend doesn't want to immigrate; he wants to stay on the island. He has a lot to lose and not much to gain by coming here, according to him. There must be someone out there who can share this experience with me!!

Have a great day!

I think it’s been mentioned earlier, but let’s just say that saying "I don’t want to immigrate" MIGHT be a new trick to help the relationship settle in properly. And after that...

I don’t want to burst your bubble, because I’m a guy too, with a Cuban girlfriend. To be honest... she left the country by marrying a Québécois, then divorced him after a year. So I know a bit about the struggle you’re getting into. I’ve heard horror stories about Cuban-foreigner marriages, as well as foreigner-wealthy Westerner marriages. What I can say is that 100% of Cubans who date foreigners do it to leave the country—or at least get financial benefits! ($$$). No matter what they tell you. If we consider that most (let’s say 80% to be generous!) Cubans aren’t faithful... even if you manage to go live there, I can guess how it’d end!! You’d eventually realize that the "cousin" isn’t actually a cousin, or something like that. Anyway, everyone here who knows Cuba will confirm it—you’ve got little chance of finding "true" love with a Cuban. I know Cubans here who have a wife and kids back home... and even MULTIPLE wives and kids... and no one knows! Pretty wild situation!

I don’t want to discourage you, because, honestly, if you meet a guy here in Quebec, there’s still an 80% chance you won’t be with him in 3 to 5 years. So, do what feels right... live your life if you dare... Just be aware of the risks. It *might* work out, just like it could with a Québécois!

As for living there, start with a month or two—preferably without spending your own money. You’ll see what it’s like to eat beans twice a day, 7 days a week.

Good luck!

Just adding something...

Actually, I’m talking nonsense, but the most important thing left to say is that even if 100% (or even 110%, to be more precise) of Cubans who fall for foreigners do it to leave the country, that doesn’t mean it can’t work!

I’m 5’8’’, and how many times have I heard girls here say they want a guy who’s 6’ or taller!!! Or guys who prefer girls with big busts! For Cubans, let’s just say the first criterion is being Canadian or European! Basically, what I’m saying is that it’s no different here. The only difference is that over there, they’re pretty focused on the wallet... and for good reason!

I might end up spending the night replying to you, but hey, whatever it takes!

About the idea of working there—well, forget it! Everyone keeps saying it, and I’ll say it again: it’s impossible for you to work in state-owned companies or even mixed enterprises unless you have a specific degree (like engineering).

If you manage to save up some money, say $5,000 CAD, you can easily support your family there for a year. You’ll eat a lot of beans and very little meat, but hey, that’s Cuban life! The ideal situation would be having regular income coming from here, but I don’t know your situation, so… good luck anyway!

Hi, Even in joint ventures, if you don’t have a specific degree (like engineering), it’s not even worth it. A joint venture or cooperative production company can’t hire locally—they *must* go through a Cuban company, which then offers them two or three Cuban candidates, all carefully pre-selected by them???????????????? The only possibility is for a foreign company to send you as an expat with a contract from the company’s headquarters, which then has to be approved by Cuban authorities after obtaining a work and residency permit.

To work in Cuba, there must be no qualified Cuban available for the same job who is looking for employment... given that there are qualified Cubans in every field, with the island's very high education level, there's no hope.

There are thousands of Cubans who speak three languages, and in the medical or academic fields, there are no openings. As for companies sending expats to Cuba in cutting-edge technology fields... there must be only a few hundred cases across the entire island, journalists included!!

NO CHANCE!!

Hey Clodooo, After reading the different comments, I’ll go ahead and share mine. Just remember one thing: a relationship between a man and a woman isn’t simple from the start—but you already know that😉. When you add different cultures, it gets even trickier, and if you throw in language barriers and different country cultures, you’re multiplying the risk factor. We’re talking statistics here. Of course, that doesn’t mean it won’t work out. For me, it happened, but not with a Cuban, and it wasn’t easy—but you’ve got to believe in it without putting yourself in emotional danger. What I mean is, don’t risk being devastated if the relationship doesn’t work out. Make sure you’ve got as many advantages on your side as possible, but even then, you can’t predict everything. I’ll admit that Cuba is a very appealing country that plays a lot on our emotions, and I love the country and the people who live there. I understand your desire to try the experience, and as they say, *it’s your ears*... good luck

Hey cloclooo and everyone else...

You wanted a woman’s testimony, so here it is! I should clarify that my opinions are just my own...

Of course, I agree with some of the posts warning you—yes, like in many other countries, marriages of convenience exist and are common in Cuba. (But no, it’s not 100%!!). That said, just because you’re 25 doesn’t mean you don’t know anything about life... It really depends on what you’ve seen and experienced...

I actually think moving to Cuba is the best thing you can do to start off on the right foot with your Cuban partner, "test" his sincerity, and, like any normal couple in the world, see if you click.... Especially since there’s an extra challenge (beyond the money difference): the cultural gap, even if it’s not huge, it’s still there. You’ll figure out later if you still want to live in Cuba or if you’d prefer to move to Canada. It seems like a lot of "rich" people don’t want to go to "poor" countries (as I saw in a post), but there *are* some cases where people live—or want to live—in Cuba despite everything! (My case, to be clear!!!) Because yes, it’s sometimes tough—not so much materially (when you don’t need much), but more mentally... Everything is complicated, slow, forbidden, and illegal... You clearly need a particular mindset: be super zen and patient (you’ll learn that in Cuba!!!), optimistic, motivated, but above all, very adaptable. You have to accept the rules of the game, etc... There are amazing days and really hard ones... Plus, you can feel lonely sometimes! It’s not easy to make real friends (especially as a woman, I think... Cubans can be a bit macho, and many don’t believe in friendships between men and women.... And women, despite the revolution making them "free," in reality, I find they’re less so... It probably depends on the environment, but I feel like there’s still too much "what will people say" weighing on them: for example, it’s weird for a Cuban if a girl goes horseback riding alone or with other girls... or goes swimming (at the beach or elsewhere) without her boyfriend...) It’s a long process... Acquaintances are easy, but friends are something else... Luckily, we have the internet now, which lets you stay in touch with family and friends outside Cuba.

That said, the hardest part is knowing under what conditions to move there: Working is tough, and the options are:

* If you get married, you can apply for residency and therefore a job. Obviously, finding work isn’t always easy (even volunteer work!!!), and it’ll be very poorly paid (average 15 CUC/month). You’ll need outside income (a few months of work in Canada per year or some kind of pension...). Personally, I don’t need much (food, nothing else... no or few outings, restaurants, or travel within Cuba, no car, etc...), and we have to live on roughly 300-400 euros/month for two. Be careful, too—if you help your in-laws (and your boyfriend/husband), it should really be the bare minimum so you’re not a financial burden! Don’t try to make them live like you do in Canada; *you* have to adapt to their standard of living (if you want a sincere relationship). You’ll be eating rice and red beans every day, little meat, and when there is some, it’s either mortadella or canned meat (sometimes it’s even "pork or beef by-products," etc...). Say goodbye to good beef steaks—actually, say goodbye to beef altogether (or almost!!!).

* Get hired by a foreign company and sent to Cuba. It’s tough because you need specific skills—maybe the easiest is in tourism. But be careful: it seems there are quite a few constraints if you want to live with your boyfriend (see Linaz’s post), and you’ll have to pay very high taxes...

Or, depending on where you are, why not enroll in university? There are student visas that let you stay for several months/years, and there’s surely a subject that interests you, even if it’s not useful for your job. It could be fun: meeting "real" Cubans, living like a Cuban, keeping yourself busy part of the day, etc... (I’d love to take a course on Cuban dances, of course, but that’ll be for my next life—this one’s already packed!!!)

In any case, you should try!

Otherwise, you can just come without working. As a Canadian, you’re lucky—you can stay in Cuba for 6 months without leaving. After that, you can either leave for just one night and come back (to Cancun, for example) or find a short-term job abroad that lets you return for another 6 months...

I wish you good luck and lots of courage! Don’t give up! Keep your eyes open—you’ll probably see if your husband is sincere or not (harder to tell from 5,000 km away)... Pay attention to who his friends are (are they all abroad? Are they *jineteros* or *luchadores*? Or do they seem uncomfortable talking to you...). Don’t give (many) gifts, no matter your financial situation. You need to make him understand that you’re making sacrifices for him (that the little money you have goes toward travel and shared household expenses). It’s important that everyone contributes, that they’re not relying on you to pay the bills... Remember, they were living without you before... I also recommend planning activities to fill your days without spending too much... Because if your boyfriend works, you’ll need to keep yourself busy...

Even if you can only spend a few months or years there, it’ll be a guarantee for a successful marriage and an unforgettable experience (for better or worse!). You’ll never see the world the same way again...

Hi Syrius, I find your email thorough and informative, and it matches Cloclooo’s question. Could I ask you to clarify whether you’ve actually lived in Cuba, and if so, for how long? As another member recently mentioned, I feel that—unlike your well-detailed and helpful post—some people jump at the chance, no matter the question, to dish out advice and warnings that are often laced with prejudice and disdain toward those simply looking for the best way to live out their love. I love this site and applaud members like you who show generosity by taking the time to provide objective information and refrain from negatively judging others. 🏴‍☠️ This strikes me as much more constructive. 🙂 Thanks

thanks...😊😊😊

To make a long story short: Between 2000 (when I met my current husband) and now, I’ve spent a total of nearly 4 years there... Currently, I spend 6 months a year, and I really hope to spend more... Maybe try to cut back on work a bit next year... that’s it!

Hi Syrius, can I ask what field you work in and if you live with your husband’s family when you go there?

Up until 1.5 years ago, yes, we were living with my husband’s family. It went well—they’re very kind and welcomed me with open arms. Of course, living with the whole family can be a bit restrictive at times, especially for us since we’re used to living alone and independently! But the house was getting too small (my brother-in-law’s kids were growing, and they didn’t have their own room. Until the oldest was 13, they slept in their parents’ room...). So we moved out, which, paradoxically, was tough for the family to accept... We thought giving the kids their own room would be a good thing, but they saw it differently. It was like we were telling them we weren’t happy with them. Once the step was taken, everyone quickly realized it was obviously much better this way, and we’re only a few blocks away! There you go!

Hi syrius, glad to hear from you, it’s been a while.

Your post is, of course, completely accurate and realistic. I can confirm everything and add a small detail: if you opt for permanent residency in Cuba (I did it for two years), you get Cuban status (a Cuban ID card for foreigners). That means that to leave the country (even as a foreigner), you have to request and obtain permission from the Cuban authorities, and depending on the case, it can take 15 days to get it (or even longer). In case of a health emergency in your family abroad, you’ll likely end up visiting their grave at the cemetery.

You’re absolutely right about shared housing, and I’d add the lack of privacy (having privacy in their presence is frustrating). I know Cuban families where the kids, even as adults, sleep in the same room as their parents.

Oh yeah, that's right!!! With the residency, you not only have to apply for an exit permit (relatively quick now, usually a little under 2 weeks), but you also have to pay 150 CUC for each exit!!!

Well, I'm back, and work is suuuuuuuuuper slow!!!! See you soon!!!

So I’ve got a quick question—with this residency permit, do you also get a "libreta," free access to hospitals and a family doctor, etc., or is it just the right to stay in Cuba longer than with a tourist visa?

hey don diego!

With residency, you have all the rights and duties of a Cuban (in theory...). So yeah, you get the libreta, healthcare, etc... Just to be clear, I'm talking about permanent residency, not temporary residency, which I don’t know much about... If I’m not mistaken, Linaz, you had temporary residency, right? Laterrrrrrrrrr!

The question might seem totally silly coming from us since we know Cuba well, but we’ve never seen any family member use it... Is it because Cubans have some kind of desire not to show this system to foreigners, even family, or simply because we weren’t with them when they got products like that?

In everyday life, what products are bought in government stores using the libreta?

I’ve seen things bought in MN often, in free or street markets, purchases in foreign currency too, but the libreta—I’m stumped!!

Hey...

Well, you probably weren’t there at the time... Every day, there’s bread. Otherwise, depending on deliveries, it’s the usual stuff: red beans and/or other legumes (lentils, chickpeas, etc.), rice, sugar, salt, cigarettes, eggs, soy picadillo, oil, powdered milk for kids, etc... Some products are more or less well-stocked, and it also depends on the region... You can get oil on the *libreta*—if it doesn’t arrive, well, there just isn’t any!!! Later P.S.: Since you sometimes have to queue, and it’s even worse in Havana, some "well-off" families don’t always bother going...

Hi there, not at all, my friend—you only get to pay for the perks, ha ha ha ha! It’s not like back home where foreigners (legal ones) have access to all social services as soon as they get their residency card, including income without working. During my stay as a resident, I had to be hospitalized for 4 days, and the bill at discharge was over $1,000. If you don’t pay, say goodbye to your exit permit. Only Venezuelan nationals get that perk????????????? (Thanks, Chavez.) The only real advantage is being able to stay in the country.

Hi there, that’s totally correct regarding the temporary residency. For permanent residency, I’m not too sure, but I think at that point you’re in the same legal situation as a Cuban, meaning if you want to leave??????????????????????????????check all the procedures

I’ve seen people buying all kinds of products in MN left and right in free-trade shops without ever seeing the famous "libreta" in use, but it’s true that we live in Havana and in a rather privileged environment.

True, Cubans who 'have money' don’t always bother with the ration book (though I do find the bread tastier there! LOL)... but you can still get cigarettes, bread, beans, rice—especially rice—oil, and other stuff. Basically the essentials.

Conclusion: The "temporal" residency (residency you get when a foreign company sends you to work in Cuba, for example) means no *libreta* and no free healthcare. However, with permanent residency, you get the *libreta*, free healthcare, and prices in Cuban pesos (like for museums, *astro*, etc.), but to leave the country, you need to request an exit permit. (Still 150 CUC, though!).

Hello,

I’m a young Swiss woman—but Swiss-Canadian, blonde on top of that, and a dance fanatic... The temptation when I go to South America is always very strong. It’s so easy to meet someone, so easy to charm them (for all sorts of reasons, from my sense of humor to my pretty blue eyes... 😉 ). Plus, because of my passion for dance, I’m pretty sociable... I’ll admit I’ve had relationships (not 8,170,471 of them, don’t worry!) that I genuinely wanted to be serious with Latin men (even considering moving in together after 6 months of unofficial cohabitation, etc.), but after a while...

Someone smart (the Nicaraguan Consul in Switzerland, a Nicaraguan woman married to a Swiss man) pointed out to me that a European man with a Latina woman is always more manageable than a European woman with a Latino man—you see what I mean...?

And honestly, from my experience, she’s absolutely right... in terms of upbringing, values, etc. I don’t like generalizations, but let’s not kid ourselves: most Latina women are devoted to their husbands and children, they take care of the house, etc... Meanwhile, men tend to work a little and have a lot of fun (I lived in South America and rarely saw a man in the kitchen or doing housework). Not to mention the machismo and obsessive jealousy... Good luck to you, and as someone said earlier, I hope you meet that 5% (which is still a small number) who’s sincere with you and flexible enough to adapt to your upbringing and values (and vice versa, because you’ll have to make some serious efforts too for it to work!).

Result: I now just go to South America to see my friends and dance. I’m single, and it’s not so bad for me right now (at least for the moment... 😉 ).

Good luck!