Yes, anyone visiting Cuba must have valid travel health insurance in order to enter the country. Purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Cuba is not only recommended, but also required. In addition to travel insurance, you should have a valid passport and a Cuba Visa or Tourist Card, depending on the visa requirements.
Can you enter Cuba without travel insurance?
Last year, the Cuban government announced that any visitor arriving by plane or seaport would be required to obtain health insurance that would cover them while in Cuba and be able to show proof of coverage. Visitors without such credentials would be required to purchase insurance from Cuban companies at the point of entry, despite the fact that several Canadian travelers have told us they were never asked to provide such proof during their trip.
Nonetheless, the criterion remains in place, and you don’t want to be the one who is picked out for failing to meet it.
The Cuban government specified in the instruction that border officials will accept documentation of provincial health insurance as proof of admission. The difficulty is that provincial insurance only covers a small portion of out-of-country medical expenditures, does not cover air repatriation if you need to return home for a major illness, and does not pay out-of-country health care providers directly (in most cases). They expect you to pay up front and then file a claim with your provincial health agency for reimbursement. This wait could last months, and it may only cover 10% of the submitted expenses.
We also looked at the insurance plans offered by Cuban companies, and the benefits are very limited compared to what Canadian travel insurers provide, and they don’t cover things like air ambulance repatriation, travel costs to bring a family member to your bedside, or even the costs of transporting you to another facility in Florida if you require specialty care. Even basic medical coverage is restricted, and medical bills in Cuba are not inexpensive.
Neither Mexico nor the Dominican Republic currently need proof of travel insurance, although this may change in the future. We’ll let you know as soon as we have more information.
What are the 12 requirements to travel to Cuba?
Tourist travel to Cuba is still illegal under Cuban law. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of Treasury, on the other hand, has issued general permits for 12 different types of travel. Individuals who meet the regulatory restrictions of the general license under which they wish to go to Cuba do not need to apply for a separate license from OFAC. Family visits; official government business; journalistic activity; professional research and meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or r
Please visit this Department of Treasury webpage on Cuba sanctions for more information on the regulations, including fact sheets on recent modifications and information on applying for an OFAC license. On its Cuba sanctions webpage, the Department of State also provides information on the country’s sanctions and travel restrictions.
The State Department also publishes a list of entities and subentities that are under the control of, or act for or on behalf of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel, and with which direct financial transactions would disproportionately benefit the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel, in accordance with the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba from June 2017. Certain direct financial transactions with entities and subentities on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List will now be forbidden for persons subject to US jurisdiction. Exceptions mentioned in the NSPM will allow some transactions to be exempt from this limitation.
Dual Citizens
All dual citizens of the United States and Cuba should be aware that the Cuban government recognizes U.S. citizens born in Cuba as Cuban citizens, subjecting them to a variety of limitations and obligations. The Cuban government requires dual citizens of the United States and Cuba who left Cuba on or after January 1, 1971 to use a Cuban passport to enter and exit the country. Using a Cuban passport for this purpose does not risk one’s US citizenship; nonetheless, such individuals must enter and exit the US using their US passports. Cuban-Americans who left the country before January 1, 1971 can travel to Cuba on a US passport, but they must apply for a HE-11 visa at the Cuban Embassy. Cuban authorities may not always notify the US Embassy of dual nationals’ arrests, and US consular staff may be denied access to them.
What documents do I need to travel to Cuba?
A valid passport, a return ticket, travel insurance with medical coverage, and a visa or tourist visa are required for all visitors to Cuba. Unlicensed U.S. citizens may be allowed to stay for up to 90 days if they enter the country without a visa. Upon entrance, British residents are given 30 days. Within Cuba, this can be extended for another 30 days. A 90-day visa is issued to Canadian nationals. This can only be extended for another 90 days.
For Australian residents, call 131-232 or go to www.passports.gov.au to contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
What do I need to travel to Cuba from Canada?
- Valid passport, tourist card (included and delivered on board), medical insurance that covers Covid 19, and proof of vaccination are all required for travel (digital or printed copy).
- For vaccinated visitors traveling from Canada to Cuba, no Covid PCR test is required prior to entry (this includes Cuban Citizens residing or visiting Canada)
- Before coming to Cuba, children under the age of 12 do not need to be vaccinated or undergo a PCR test.
- TO RE-ENTER CANADA – Beginning March 1, 2022, Canadians will be required to take an antigen test. This may be done straight at the hotel for about 30CAD, which can be paid with Debit/Visa or Visa credit cards issued by Canadian banks. Your trip operator’s agent will schedule the test for you. The antigen test can be done at the airport or at the nearest international clinic if the passenger is not staying in a hotel (before March 1, 2022 Canadian travelers need a 72 hrs pcr test before traveling back to Canada, which is approximately 40CAD and can be done at the hotel for hotel guests or at any international clinic if you are not staying at a hotel, by appointment only)
- Travelers will be required to disclose information in advance of entering Cuba beginning January 1, 2022. Passengers can use this updated form by logging in at https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/. (in the past, clients were given these forms on board). Before departing for Cuba, all travelers must furnish information online within 48 to 72 hours. After you submit it, you will receive an email with a QR code. When you arrive, you must present authorities an electronic or paper version of the QR code.
- The local currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). Convertible pesos have been phased out and are no longer accepted. In Cuba, US dollars are not accepted in cash, but Canadian currency is routinely accepted. Only Debit/Visa or Visa credit cards issued by Canadian banks are accepted at the hotels and resorts. Customers without a credit card can purchase a pre-paid card at the airport, exchange houses, and vacation areas in Cuba. Payments are made in local Cuban pesos (CUP) outside of tourist areas; we recommend turning Canadian dollars into pesos only as needed and only if you want to travel outside of the tourist zones, as you won’t be able to swap the leftover pesos back into Canadian at the end of the holidays. Canadian cash or the local peso are the finest currencies for tipping.
Why can’t Americans go to Cuba?
The restrictions that the US sets on Americans traveling to Cuba are something to be aware of they necessitate a bit more planning before you go but they’re nothing to be concerned about if you know what to expect.
Money in Cuba
Because of the nearly 60-year-old US Cuba embargo, American debit and credit cards will not work on the island as they do in other countries.
That means you’ll need to prepare ahead and pack all of the cash you’ll need for your vacation.
When you arrive in Cuba, you can bring American dollars and exchange them for Cuban pesos. We put together a price guide to help you figure out how much money to bring on your vacation, so check it out as you start preparing.
How cheap is Cuba?
Cuba is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to other Caribbean islands, but it is more expensive than other Latin American countries such as Mexico or Central America. You’ll be forced to pay tourist pricing most of the time because there’s a separate second currency only for tourists.
The Cuban Peso (CUP-) is the local currency of Cuba, and one dollar is worth 24 CUP. As a tourist, though, you’ll be paying in Cuba’s secondary currency, the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC – $), which is pegged to the US Dollar. As a result, $1 CUC is equal to $1 USD.
You’ll need to swap US dollars for CUC, but there’s a 10% penalty for doing so. As a result, exchanging Euros, Canadian Dollars, British Pounds, or Mexican Pesos for CUC is frequently cheaper.
You still can’t use your credit or ATM cards in Cuba if you’re an American. Because of the economic sanctions in place, they will not work.
Unless you’re on a pre-paid tour, you’ll need to exchange funds to fund your entire vacation. Another method is to get a foreign pre-paid debit card from a Canadian or Mexican bank.
In Havana, there is an official currency exchange booth located outside the airport. When you depart the nation, you can also convert your leftover CUC for US dollars (or whatever currency you like).
Can US residents go to Cuba?
Yes, Americans can visit Cuba; there are a variety of options. You can visit Cuba legally by acquiring a visa ahead of time, or you can do what many Americans do and fly in from another country, such as Mexico. Continue reading to learn how to visit Cuba lawfully if you have a US passport.
Can US citizens go to Cuba 2021?
Is it still possible for Americans to visit Cuba in 2022? Yes, to put it succinctly. Americans, unlike their Canadian and British counterparts, are subject to various restrictions. Because “tourism” is officially prohibited, your journey must fit within one of the recognized travel categories. While on the island, you’ll be bound by specific financial constraints.
Can US residents travel to Cuba?
You can fly directly from your home airport to Cuba on a major carrier with only two stops. From New York-JFK, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and a few other places, you can fly nonstop.
(You could also travel through Mexico or Canada, as Americans used to do when visiting Cuba was prohibited, but this is no longer necessary.)
Americans are welcome to visit Cuba, according to the Cuban authorities. All of the constraints on why you can go and where you can spend your money are American laws. As a result, your US passport is valid in Cuba, regardless of American rules.
Take a deep breath and feel enthusiastic about visiting Cuba because officials in both Cuba and the United States rarely ask many questions.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind About Your Passport
- To travel to Cuba, you’ll need a full-size passport. The Passport Card isn’t enough.
- You may or may not receive a passport stamp when entering or leaving Cuba. If you expressly want a stamp as a souvenir, don’t be concerned; in that case, if you don’t receive one, ask!
Continue reading to learn about the other actions you must take and the legalities you must consider while planning a trip to Cuba with a US passport.
What does a US citizen need to go to Cuba?
- In Cuba, credit and debit cards issued in the United States are not accepted. Make a detailed budget for your trip. While in Cuba, be aware of the cash requirements and standards.
- Americans are required by US regulations to keep records of their island activities and related expenses for five years.
- See the Ultimate Cuba Travel Guide for more information. A collection of almost two decades’ worth of Cuba travel advice.