Cuba tourist card: What are the changes in eligibility?

Tourists looking to discover all that Cuba has to offer have the option of applying online for the Cuba Tourist Card. What is a Tourist Card? It’s the visa that all foreign citizens need to have in order to be granted access to the island.

There are two types of tourist cards for Cuba: the Standard and the Specific visa. The Specific visa is for those traveling to Cuba from the USA, whether they’re US citizens or just passing through on a layover. If you’re not a US citizen and you’re not stopping over in the US before arriving in Cuba, then you’ll need to apply for the Standard visa.

Keep reading to discover the recent changes in eligibility for citizens of certain countries.

Changes in eligibility for the Cuba tourist card

Cuba has introduced some changes regarding the countries eligible to apply online for the Cuban Tourist Card. 

Now, holders of the following passports will need to go through the corresponding Embassy or Consulate to be able to get their visa for Cuba:

Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Ukraine.

What do you do if your nationality is still eligible? 

If your passport was issued by a country eligible for the Cuba visa, you have the advantage of being able to apply online from the comfort of your own home, office or any place in which you can get a strong internet connection. 

If you apply online, you simply need to fill out the application form, pay the fees with a bank card and then await the approved visa. 

Another perk of applying online is that your approved visa will be mailed directly to your house, which will save you the time and effort of having to visit the Embassy in person.

Remember that it’s mandatory to have travel insurance for Cuba. It’s part of the Cuba travel requirements that all travelers must follow.