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I never thought I’d be writing about fuel shortages while trying to file foreign investment registration in Holguín. But here I am — 36, from Zhongxian, Chongqing, a城乡规划 grad who ended up selling hair extensions in a country that’s running out of diesel.

I came to Cuba last year to test a minimal viable product: natural-color human hair extensions for Afro-Caribbean women in Holguín. No warehouse. No staff. Just me, a local seamstress, and a fridge full of wig caps. My goal? To see if people would pay $15–$25 for a sew-in that lasts 8 weeks. Turns out, they will. But getting legally registered to accept payments? That’s another story.

The question I kept asking myself — and others — was: Can you do foreign investment registration in Holguín remotely?
Spoiler: Not yet.

The dream vs. the diesel blackout

I’ll be honest: I thought Cuba was just slow. I didn’t expect it to be out of fuel.

On May 13, I woke up to 18 hours without power. My phone died. My laptop died. My mini-fridge full of hair samples? Gone. The seamstress couldn’t come in. The local bank? Closed. The municipal office where I was supposed to submit my Registro de Inversión Extranjera? Also closed.

That’s when I realized: this isn’t bureaucracy. This is survival mode.

According to El País, Cuba’s energy minister confirmed: “We have absolutely nothing.” Diesel and fuel oil — the backbone of the electricity grid — are completely depleted. Blackouts now last up to 22 hours a day. Protests erupted in Havana. The government blames the U.S. embargo. The U.S. blames corruption and mismanagement. Either way, the lights go out.

And when the lights go out, so does everything else.

I spoke to a local lawyer — let’s call her Ana — who’s been helping foreign entrepreneurs since 2023. She told me: “We’ve been hoping for years that the foreign investment registration process would go digital. We prayed for it. But right now? You need to be physically present. You need to show your passport, your company documents, your bank letter, your tax ID from your home country… and you need to do it during business hours — when the generator is running.”

No remote submission. No email. No WhatsApp scan. No digital signature. Not even a PDF.

Why Holguín makes it harder

Holguín isn’t Havana. It’s a city of 1.5 million people — quiet, proud, and under-resourced. The provincial investment office is one room with three desks, one printer, and a generator that runs 4 hours a day.

I went there three times in April. First time: “Come back next week, the computer is broken.”
Second time: “We’re waiting for forms from Havana.”
Third time: “The fuel truck didn’t arrive. We’re closed until Friday.”

I asked Ana: “Is there any way to send documents through a proxy?”

She laughed. “You mean like a power of attorney? Technically, yes. But the office won’t accept it unless the original applicant is physically present for the initial registration. After that? Maybe. But even then, the notary won’t notarize unless they’ve seen your face.”

So the process looks like this:

  1. Prepare documents — passport, business plan, proof of capital, apostilled documents from your home country (yes, even for a $5,000 hair extension MVP).
  2. Fly to Cuba — visa is easy for Chinese citizens, but flights from China to Holguín? Nonexistent. You go through Havana or Santiago.
  3. Wait in line — at the Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation (MINVEC) in Holguín. No appointments. No queue system.
  4. Submit in person — with original documents. No copies accepted unless stamped by the notary — who also needs fuel to run his printer.
  5. Wait 3–6 months — for approval. No tracking. No email updates. No portal.

I heard rumors that in Havana, they’re testing a digital system for renewals. But for new registrations in Holguín? Still paper. Still power outages. Still hope.

What I learned (and what I’d do differently)

As someone who studied urban planning, I’m obsessed with systems. I like flowcharts. I like efficiency. Cuba taught me: some systems aren’t broken — they’re waiting.

Here’s what I’d tell my past self, standing in that office with no electricity and a $200 visa fee:

  1. Don’t start your business until you’ve visited in person — even if you think you can “test remotely.” You can’t. The system demands presence.
  2. Bring three copies of everything — and a power bank. And a USB drive. And a pen. And a notebook. And patience.
  3. Build relationships, not just contracts — the clerk who stamps your papers today might be the one who remembers you tomorrow.
  4. Assume everything takes 3x longer — and budget for 3x more fuel. (Yes, even your taxi runs on diesel.)

I still don’t have my official registration. But I’m still selling hair extensions. I take cash. I use WhatsApp for orders. I pay taxes informally through a local friend who runs a small tienda. It’s not clean. But it’s working.

❓ FAQ: Real questions, real answers

Q1: Can I submit my foreign investment registration documents by email or through a Cuban lawyer?
A: Not for initial registration in Holguín. You must appear in person at MINVEC. A lawyer can help prepare documents and accompany you, but they cannot replace your physical presence. The process requires your signature in front of a notary — who needs electricity to print the stamp.

Steps:

  • Get apostilled documents from your home country
  • Fly to Cuba (Havana or Santiago)
  • Travel to Holguín (3–5 hours by bus)
  • Go to MINVEC office on Calle 51, between 8:30–12:30 when power is on
  • Bring original + 3 copies of passport, business plan, bank letter

Key points:

  • No digital submission
  • No proxy for initial filing
  • Office hours are unpredictable — call ahead (if you can get a signal)

Q2: Is there a way to avoid flying to Cuba if I’m already in another country?
A: No. There is no “remote registration” option for foreign investors in Cuba, even in Havana. Some countries (like Spain or Canada) have consular services that can help with notarization, but Cuba’s system does not accept these as substitutes for in-person registration.

Path:

  • Apply for Cuban visa from your current country
  • Book flight to Havana
  • Arrange transport to Holguín (private taxi or Viazul bus)
  • Stay in Holguín for at least 10 business days (expect delays)

Key points:

  • No exceptions for digital nomads
  • No “fast track” for small investors
  • Your investment size doesn’t matter — the process is the same for $5,000 or $500,000

Q3: Can I use a Cuban friend to submit documents on my behalf?
A: Only after registration is complete. For renewal or updates, a power of attorney may work — but only if the office has power, paper, and a clerk who remembers your name.

Steps:

  • Once registered, get a notarized poder notarial
  • Give it to your Cuban contact
  • They can submit renewal forms — if the printer works

Key points:

  • Power of attorney ≠ registration
  • Only valid for post-registration actions
  • Always confirm with the office before sending anyone — rules change daily

Final thoughts: Slow is the new fast

I came to Cuba thinking I’d be building a business. I didn’t realize I’d be learning how to survive a system that moves at the speed of a dying generator.

But here’s the weird thing — I’m not leaving.

Because in this chaos, I’ve found something rare: people who show up. The seamstress who works even when the lights are out. The taxi driver who takes me to the bank even though his tank is empty. The lawyer who texts me, “Hoy sí hay luz, ven temprano.”

Cuba doesn’t run on apps. It runs on trust.

And if you’re thinking of starting something here — whether it’s hair, coffee, or solar panels — don’t look for efficiency. Look for resilience.

You won’t find a digital portal.
You won’t get a confirmation email.
You might not even get a receipt.

But you might find someone who remembers your name.

And in a country that’s running out of everything else?
That’s the only thing that still works.

🔸 延伸阅读

🔹 Cuba runs out of fuel; protests erupt in Havana amid rolling blackouts 🗞️ 来源: Seeking Alpha – 📅 2026-05-14
🔗 阅读原文

🔹 Cuba announces it has exhausted all its fuel reserves: ‘We have absolutely nothing’ 🗞️ 来源: El País – 📅 2026-05-14
🔗 阅读原文

🔹 Cuba confirma que no queda “absolutamente nada” de diésel y fuel oil en la isla por el bloqueo de EEUU 🗞️ 来源: Infobae – 📅 2026-05-14
🔗 阅读原文

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