Cuba (CU)

Valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Cuba requires a passport valid throughout your visit. Cuban immigration will stamp a separate loose insert — not your passport — so your passport remains unstamped (important for US citizens re-entering the US).

Required for most nationalities visiting Cuba as tourists. A pink (for most nationalities) or green (for US citizens) card costing approximately $25–30 USD. Can be purchased at Cuban embassies, airline check-in desks, or at the airport. Grants 30-day stay, extendable once for another 30 days at immigration offices (Inmigración).

For stays beyond 60 days or for specific purposes (work, study, research). Types include: Prorroga de Estancia (extension), Visa de Estudios, Visa de Trabajo. Apply through Cuban embassy or consulate before travel or at Inmigración in Cuba. Processing: 10–20 business days.

Mandatory for all tourists entering Cuba since November 2010. Must provide medical coverage valid in Cuba. Cuban immigration may verify at entry. Foreign travel insurance is accepted if it covers Cuba — Asistur Cuba and Servimed offer policies locally.

Required for residency applications, marriage in Cuba, school enrolment, and any family-related bureaucratic processes. Obtain certified copy with apostille from your home country.

Required for spouse/partner visa, joint residency, name changes, or inheritance claims. Must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

Required for school enrolment, travel authorisation for minors (Cuba requires notarised parental authorisation), and family residency applications.

Required for professional licence recognition (convalidación), study visa applications, or employment with Cuban institutions. Must be translated and authenticated through Cuban educational authorities (MES — Ministerio de Educación Superior).

For work visas or researcher/academic visas. Must come from a Cuban state entity, joint venture company, or embassy. Self-employment for foreigners is extremely limited in Cuba.

Your home country driving licence is valid in Cuba for up to 90 days for tourists. An International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your home licence is recommended. For longer stays, a Cuban driving licence must be obtained through the Dirección de Tránsito (DTRAFICO), the traffic authority under the PNR (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria).

No mandatory vaccinations for entry to Cuba (as of 2026) but Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and routine vaccines recommended. Yellow fever certificate required if travelling from endemic countries. Medical records useful for Servimed clinic registration.

Required for bringing pets into Cuba. Includes: health certificate issued by a licensed vet within 10 days of travel, official vaccination records (rabies, distemper), official import permit from Cuban CENSA (Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria). Process takes 30–60 days. Consult Cuban embassy in advance.

May be required for long-stay visa applications as proof of financial means. Cuba has no credit reference system for foreigners — cash proof of funds is the standard.

Required for residency applications, work permits with Cuban entities, and adoption processes. Obtain from your home country police authority with apostille and Spanish translation.

Cuban immigration may ask for confirmed accommodation details on arrival. For casas particulares, the host registers you with local police (PNR) within 24 hours — a legal requirement.