Cuba (CU)

Cuba is a unique socialist island nation of 11 million people in the Caribbean — a country of vintage American cars, world-famous cigars, Havana salsa, colonial architecture, and extraordinary natural beauty.

Capital: Havana

Region: Americas

Language: Spanish

Currency: CUP ($)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)

Emergency: 106

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Cuba.

MTSS Labour Exchange

Bolsa de Trabajo — Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS)

Visit the provincial MTSS office in your area with your Carnet de Extranjería, work visa, NIT, and employment contract from your sponsoring Cuban entity. The MTSS registers formal employees and authorises TCP (self-employment) and MIPYMES registrations. For foreign nationals, most engagement with MTSS is through the sponsoring Cuban employer rather than direct registration.

Services offered:

✓Formal employment registration for state-sector and joint-venture workers
✓TCP (Trabajador por Cuenta Propia / self-employment) licence application and renewal
✓MIPYMES (small/medium private business) registration support
✓Labour dispute resolution
✓Work injury and disability benefit claims
✓Unemployment subsidy registration for eligible state workers

Expat eligibility: Foreign nationals with a valid Visa de Trabajo (work visa) can register through their sponsoring Cuban employer. Independent registration without a Cuban sponsor is not available to foreign nationals on tourist cards. TCP licences require a long-stay visa status. MIPYMES can include foreign partners in certain structures under Law 118 joint venture frameworks.

Visit MTSS Labour Exchange

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens require a Visa de Trabajo (work visa) sponsored by a Cuban entity — Cuba is not in the EU and no special EU work rights apply. Process: (1) Cuban employer obtains MTSS authorisation; (2) Employer applies to MINREX for work visa approval; (3) Employee applies at Cuban embassy in home country with employer's invitation letter. Processing: 4–12 weeks. Work visa is tied to the specific employer — changing employers requires a new visa process.

Non-EU Citizens

Non-EU citizens follow the same Visa de Trabajo process as EU citizens. The sponsoring Cuban employer must obtain prior MTSS authorisation. For US citizens: the US embargo restricts most commercial activities in Cuba, though travel for certain licensed categories (journalism, education, humanitarian work) is permitted. Consult both Cuban immigration and US OFAC regulations carefully. Processing: 4–12 weeks.

EU Blue Card

Cuba has no EU Blue Card equivalent.

Freelancer Visa

Cuba does not have a formal freelancer or digital nomad visa. Remote working for foreign employers while staying in Cuba on a tourist card is in a legal grey area — technically unauthorised but widely practised with low enforcement risk for short stays. TCP (self-employment) registration requires long-stay residency status — not available on a tourist card. TCP is restricted to certain regulated activity categories approved by MTSS.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours 8 hours/day, Monday–Friday (standard state sector). Some private businesses (paladares, casas, MIPYMES) operate longer hours including weekends.

Annual leave 15–30 working days per year depending on seniority and sector. State sector: minimum 15 days. Senior workers and hazardous occupations: up to 30 days.

Sick leave Medical certificates from Médico de la Familia (family doctor) required. State sector provides paid sick leave through MTSS benefit system. Private sector sick leave varies by employer agreement.

Trial period Typically 1–3 months for new employees. Formal contract must be signed at or before the start of employment.

Notice period State sector: typically 1 month notice. Private sector: as per employment contract — often 2–4 weeks. Verbal agreements are common but written contracts are the legal standard.

Salary range State sector Cuban workers: 2,500–10,000 CUP/month ($12–50 USD). Foreign employees at joint ventures/international organisations: $500–3,000 USD/month in hard currency stipends. MIPYMES and private sector: highly variable. Tourism sector workers: CUP salary + tips in foreign currency.

Pay frequency Monthly — the standard for all employment in Cuba.

Contract types

·Indefinite (contrato por tiempo indeterminado) — standard for permanent state sector employment
·Fixed-term (contrato por tiempo determinado) — project-based or temporary positions; maximum 6-month initial term
·TCP licence (Trabajador por Cuenta Propia) — self-employment licence; annual renewal with ONAT
·MIPYMES employment contract — for workers employed by registered small/medium private businesses

🔍 Job Boards

Revolico

Cuba's primary classifieds platform includes job listings, freelance work, and private sector opportunities since the 2021 MIPYMES reforms. Most useful for locally-based private sector work.

Limited usefulness inside Cuba due to internet restrictions, but foreign companies with Cuba operations post international roles here. Best used before travelling to Cuba. VPN required inside Cuba.

UN Jobs (UNDP Cuba)

United Nations and affiliated agency positions in Cuba. Havana hosts UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, and WHO offices. The strongest source for development sector roles in Cuba.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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Devex

International development job board. Lists Cuba-focused roles with NGOs, UN agencies, and international organisations. The primary resource for development sector expats seeking Cuba assignments.

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ReVista (Harvard Cuba Review)

Academic and research positions related to Cuba. Useful for scholars, researchers, and journalists seeking Cuba-focused academic roles.

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Your Home Country Embassy in Havana

Major embassies (UK, Germany, Canada, France, EU Delegation) maintain contact lists of approved Cuban entities and local hire positions. Register with your embassy immediately upon arrival.

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MINREX Cuba

Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Official source for international cooperation roles requiring Cuban government approval. Contact for journalist accreditation (essential for media expats).

📝 Application Tips

CV format: For international organisation roles: standard international CV (2 pages max, English or Spanish, chronological, measurable achievements). For Cuban state institutions or academic positions: detailed academic CV (Currículum Vitae Académico) expected — list all publications, conference presentations, distinctions, and academic credentials.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Spanish is the working language of Cuba. B2+ is required for professional roles; C1 is needed for academic, legal, or senior management positions. For international organisations (UN, NGOs), English proficiency is also required. Highlight your Spanish level prominently in all applications.

Interviews: Interviews in Cuba are formal and relationship-oriented. Dress conservatively. Expect detailed questions about your qualifications and motivation for working in Cuba. Personal connections and references carry significant weight — having been recommended by a trusted contact in the organisation makes a decisive difference. For state sector roles, interviews may include political/ideological screening. Be respectful, patient, and demonstrate genuine long-term commitment to Cuba.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Register with your home country embassy immediately — embassy staff know which organisations are hiring and can make introductions
→Attend UN and international development community events in Havana — the UNDP, UNESCO, and EU offices are active networking hubs
→Connect with the diplomatic community at embassy National Day events and cultural celebrations — much of the hiring intelligence circulates here
→The Foreign Press Association is the network for accredited journalists — contact MINREX for press accreditation if working in media
→For academic roles: contact Cuban university faculties directly with a letter of introduction — formal and informal academic relationships coexist
→WhatsApp groups in Havana's expat community are the fastest way to learn about openings — join "Expats in Havana" on Facebook (VPN required) and introduce yourself
→Cuban professionals value patient relationship-building over transactional networking — accept social invitations and invest in genuine human connections
→MIPYMES (private businesses) are increasingly active since 2021 — ask in expat groups which Cuban entrepreneurs are looking for international expertise or partnerships

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