Cuba Travel Guide

Cuba — Passport and Visa Information

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Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Other EU	Yes	Yes	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes/1	Yes
Canadian	Yes	Yes	Yes
Australian	Yes	Yes	Yes
British	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passports must be valid for at least two months after the entry date to Cuba for those without diplomatic representation in Cuba.

Passport Notes

Persons of Cuban origin who are nationals of other countries must travel with a Cuban passport if they left Cuba after 1970.

Neither visa exemptions nor tourist visa card facilities are applicable to foreign passport holders born in Cuba, unless holding a document proving withdrawal of Cuban citizenship.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within 72 hours, provided they hold confirmed onward tickets and US$50 per day.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa Note

1. Nationals of the USA are subject to the Cuban assets control regulations enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC; www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/cuba.aspx). The regulations require that persons subject to US jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel related transactions to, from and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. The restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. US law enforcement authorities have increased enforcement of these regulations at US airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with the department of treasury regulations will face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the US.

Transit

Transit passengers continuing travel within 72 hours do not need a visa but may be required to show an onward ticket and $50CUC per day for the duration of their stay.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist Visa Card: £15. All other visas: £36 (plus a £15 processing fee.)

Validity

Tourist: valid for stays of up to 30 days, visas must be used within 180 days from date of issue, extensions of 30 days only are available in Cuba. The exception is Canadian tourists who can stay up to 90 days, renewable for another 90. Business: visa validity is dependent on purpose of visit.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy). Application forms for tourist visa cards can be obtained from certain tour operators and travel agents or downloaded from the website of the embassy of the Republic of Cuba in the UK.

Working Days Required

Tourist visa card: One day (seven days for postal applications). Business: 48 hours.

Entry Restrictions

Visitors entering on a tourist visa are prohibited from undertaking business or journalism activities.

Travel Warnings

Most visits to Cuba are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Travelers are warned that crime is on the increase. The most common problems are from opportunist theft and loss of travel bags, handbags, etc containing passports and funds. It is advisable to keep all your funds separated and to have a photocopy of your passport.

In view of serious accidents that have involved tourists, visitors are advised not to use mopeds or three-wheel Coco-Taxis for travel around Cuba.

The hurricane season in Cuba normally runs from June to November.

There are outbreaks of dengue fever in Havana and other parts of Cuba which the Cuban government is treating as a major health threat to the population. The Cuban authorities are taking extensive measures to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito which transmits the disease to humans.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Obtain adequate health insurance before traveling. Prior to treatment, visitors may need to show proof of ability to pay, though some emergency services are provided free of charge. Standards of care and training are excellent, but equipment and drugs are often in short supply.