Havanna  - Spain on Thursday issued its first passport to a Cuban of Spanish heritage under a law that recognizes the citizenship of descendants of immigrants and has attracted thousands of applicants on the communist island.

The Spanish law in effect since December 29 allows the children and grandchildren of Spaniards who fled the country during the Spanish Civil War and the beginning of the Franco dictatorship to apply for citizenship.

The Spanish embassy in Havanna has received 25,000 applications.

The first Cuban to receive a passport was a 38-year-old doctor who plans to leave for Spain on Sunday.

Cubans are only allowed to leave the island with special permission, but those with Spanish passports would be allowed to travel freely. (dpa)