Spain is set to launch a new digital visa appointment system in Cuba soon in an effort to curb fraud and address delays that applicants have been facing.
The news on the implementation of the system was shared by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Xavier Martí, following reports that appointments for a Spanish visa are being sold on the black market by intermediaries for up to €500, Schengen.News reports.
Speaking for FACUA, a nongovernmental organisation that fights corporate and government abuses, Martí said that the new appointment and scheduling system is under development. The same shared that the system is expected to launch soon, but did not provide a specific date on when this could happen.
A new appointment and scheduling system is currently under development and will be implemented soon.
The new system, according to the Ministry’s statement, aims to target the current system’s flaws as well as improve access and transparency, while putting an end to illegal activities, such as blocking appointments.
Spain’s Plan Announced Following Warning From FACUA
Spain’s Foreign Ministry plan for the new system was announced following a warning issued by FACUA. The latter reached out to the Ministry, informing them that intermediaries are taking advantage of the current system and exploiting appointments.
According to the organisation, multiple people have complained about processing delays and being unable to secure an appointment for a Spanish visa. As explained, due ot the delays and difficulties in securing an appointment, applicants are resorting to intermediaries and paying large amounts of money for a slot.
This raised concerns as the appointments for a Schengen visa are free of charge via the official channels, with applicants only needing to pay the processing fee.
The association has learned through complaints from several users that, given the slow and cumbersome process, some people are taking advantage of the trickery to profit from scheduling appointments for a procedure that is completely free.
Passport holders of Cuba file a high number of Spanish visa applications every year. Statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo show that Cubans submitted 28,261 Spanish visa applications in 2024. Of the applicants, 22,642 were granted a Spanish visa, whereas 3,258 of them had their applications rejected.