Travel to Cuba from the U.S. requires some additional planning than if you are going to other parts of the Caribbean. For example, a U.S. resident can travel for up to six months to Barbados without needing a visa with no restrictions on how much money they bring into the country or take out. The same is not true for traveling to Cuba.
Important things to know before you travel to Cuba from the U.S.
If you wish to travel to Cuba from the U.S., there are a few things to be aware of before you set off on your trip.
Travel license to Cuba
There are 12 approved categories of travel for U.S. citizens wishing to visit Cuba. You may wish to visit family, undertake educational activities, or speak at an event. All are possible. You just can’t travel purely for tourist reasons to go and lie on a beach all day long. The Office for Foreign Assets Control allows travel on a general license for the 12 approved reasons, and if you have another reason for visiting you will need to apply for a special license to travel.
Travel itinerary
To meet the terms of the general travel license, you will need to provide a full-time travel itinerary which shows how you will be spending your days while you are in Cuba.
Passport
You must have a valid U.S. passport with at least 6 months unexpired after you return from your Cuban trip. If you are a dual U.S. and Cuban citizen, you will need to travel on your Cuban passport and may be subjected to the same restrictions as other Cuban citizens.
Cuba Tourist Card
Despite pure tourism being a banned reason for visiting Cuba, you are still required to have a document known as a Cuba Tourist Card. The card allows you to stay for a maximum of 30 days and it must be used within 6 months of the issue date. You can buy a card which costs up to US $85. Purchase your card online via a website such as EasyTouristCard, from your airline or travel agency along with your plane ticket, from your embassy or consulate, or you can even get it on arrival. But, it’s much easier to get it in advance of traveling.
Health insurance
You are required to have health travel insurance to travel to Cuba, which must cover you for health emergencies during your entire trip.
Customs and health declaration forms
To save time and frustration when you arrive in Cuba, make sure you have completed your Customs and Health Declaration form.
Internet access
Access to the internet can be patchy in Cuba. This means it’s a good idea to download any maps you need from Google before you travel, so you can navigate even if you can’t access internet service. To access the internet in Cuba, you will need to purchase a NAUTA card from an ETECSA outlet. This will enable you to get service at public Wifi hotspots, hotels, resorts and airports. Check here for more information about mobile communications.
Currency
There are restrictions on the amount of money you can take into and out of Cuba. If you plan to travel with more than US $5,000, you will need to make a declaration. U.S. credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba, not even to withdraw cash from an ATM, so you will need to bring U.S. dollars or Euros in cash to Cuba and exchange them for Cuban Pesos (CUP). Remember you can’t usually buy CUP before you travel, so you will need to exchange your currency on arrival.
For most things that you buy in Cuba, you will need CUP, but be aware that most car rental companies don’t accept cash, so the best way to manage these transactions is to get an MLC card, available from CADECA and BANDEC (Banco de Credito y Comercio)offices. MLC is a digital currency in Cuba that is accepted by some retail stores, hotels and car rental companies. The MLC card is a prepaid card that is available in $200, $500 and $1000 USD denominations.
Spending money while in Cuba
You must be careful not to spend money at any restricted businesses and keep your receipts from your trip for at least 5 years, as the U.S. Government can audit these. It’s a good idea to stick to spending money directly with small local businesses such as family run B&Bs and restaurants.
Visiting family in Cuba
If the reason for travel to Cuba is visiting close relatives and you are planning to gift them some money, you can bring cash in USD which they can exchange, or you could send money online in advance. Sending money ahead of your trip is a more secure way to send money because you aren’t at risk of losing or having your cash stolen while in transit.
There are currently three options for sending money to Cuban family members:
- Online money transfer service
- Money transfer app
- In-person transfers using Agent locations
You are restricted to sending no more than $2,000 USD per day. Your recipient must be over 18 and a close family relative with bank or debit card accounts at the following banks in Cuba: Banco Popular de Ahorro, Banco Metropolitano S.A. and Banco de Credito y Comercio (Bandec). In addition, the recipient must not be a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party or a prohibited official of the government of Cuba. You can also send money to be collected in cash at agent locations in Cuba.
Our Help Center provides support for any questions you might have about how to set up and manager your money transfer account.
