How to get the visa for Cuba: Visa types and requirements

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. With an area of about 110,000 km2, the country is divided into three main regions: Western Cuba, Central Cuba and Eastern Cuba. The tropical climate has temperatures ranging from a low of 24°C and highs often reaching 34°C.

The cooler winter months are from November to April, and warm summers are from May through October. Cuba is famous for colourful streets, friendly people and a national love of music. Historic appeal oozes from everywhere you look in this gorgeous country.

Discover all the useful advice on how to get visa for Cuba: how to apply, types of visas and more. 

Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?

Yes. In order to travel to Cuba, most nationalities need to know how to get a visa for Cuba. A Cuba Tourist Card will then allow you to stay in Cuba for 30 days and travel for the purpose of tourism.

There are a few select nationalities which do not require a visa to travel to Cuba, which you can research using our eligibility checker. Tourist visas will not be issued to passport holders from 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. They will need to contact the Consulate directly.

Note that in addition to knowing how to get visa for Cuba, it is also mandatory to have travel insurance for Cuba.

Types of visas

Similar to most countries, Cuba has different types of visas depending on the reason for visiting the country. It is essential to be clear about where you are going to start your journey, how long you are going to stay in Cuba and the purpose of your visit to know how to get visa for Cuba correctly. There are 3 main visa categories when entering Cuba: A, D and E.

A category visa

A1 - Tourist Card

This is the most straightforward and common visa to obtain for entering Cuba and sufficient for leisure travel for almost all nationalities. This visa allows you to stay for up to 30 days in the country. However, it is possible to extend this visa for an additional 30 days, if the extension is applied and approved before the initial 30 days has elapsed. This can be done at the Cuban government offices.

The A1 visa (Tourist Card) can be obtained easily online through visagov.com. The Cuban government has approved third party operators to manage the issuance of Type A visas. Type A visas are further broken down into two classifications: Standard and Specific. There are three differences between these two cards; the colour, the price and the destination of departure from Cuba.

• Standard (green): This is the tourist card that must be applied for by all foreign citizens travelling to Cuba from a destination other than the United States. A stopover in the United States would cancel the ability to apply for this visa. There is a government fee of 22 Euros for the Standard (green) Tourist Card.
• Specific (pink): This is the Cuba visa for US citizens, that must also be requested by all foreign citizens travelling to Cuba from the United States, or whose flight or boat stops in the U.S. There is a government fee of £60 for the Specific (pink) Tourist Card. Note that if you transfer or stopover in the United States, regardless of the final destination, you will be required to apply and obtain an ESTA visa for the USA.

A2 - Visa for family visits

If the reason for your trip is to visit your family in Cuba, you must apply for a category A visa. This is the same procedure as with a tourist card. However, this visa does not allow you to stay in the country with a relative, but only to visit them, assuming your documentation is in order.

A3/A4 - Transit and transfer

A transit or transfer in Cuba requires an application for an A3/A4 transit and transfer visa. If you intend to travel within Cuba, then you will still be required to obtain an A1 Tourist Card.

A5 - Visa for Crew Members

All crew that land or dock in Cuba are required to obtain an A5 visa.

A6/A7 - Visa for events, business and services

As the other A category visas, the same tourist card is required; however, the A6/7 allows for the attendance at meetings and events, but not to work in Cuba.

Category D visas

The D category visa allows a person to stay in Cuba for a maximum of 30 days. However, it can be extended for a further 30 days from within the country if applied for before the initial 30 days elapses. This visa is specific to a profession and must be processed through the Cuban embassy.

D1/D2 - Visa for technicians, scientists and students

These visas allow a person to study or to participate in scientific research. To apply for this type of visa, you must present proof of the activity you are going to perform in the country.

D3/D4 - Visa for artists and sportsmen

These visas are applicable to people intending to perform with a foreign company in Cuba, or for those participating in sporting competitions. D category visas must be requested at the Cuban embassy and must be accompanied by the relevant documentation for the event.

D5 - Visa for political asylum seekers and refugees

This visa should always be applied for at the Cuban embassy nearest to your country of residence.

D6 - Visas for journalists

All journalists and reporters travelling to Cuba for occasional work purposes must first submit a request for a visit to the International Press Centre of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After that, they have to apply for the relevant visa. As part of the application, they must also attach an outline of their work plan, identify the equipment they will bring, and confirmation from an information agency.

D8/D10 - Religious and Medical Treatment Visas

Application for D8/D10 visas must be done through a Cuban embassy abroad and include documentation that proves what you are going to do in Cuba.

E-category or permanent visas

E/E2 - Apply for residence

Residence in Cuba must be applied for through a Cuban embassy or consulate.

• The E1 visa is for those people intending to reside in Cuba and have direct relatives living in the country.
• The E2 visa is for those people intending to reside in Cuba but do not have any relatives in the country. If you want to apply to stay in Cuba and work, then you must also apply for a work permit at the Cuban Ministry of Labour and Security.

How to apply for an Online Cuban Visa?

Holiday or leisure travel to Cuba requires knowing how to get visa for Cuba, which can be obtained through a Cuban embassy or a third party such as visagov.com. Applying through an embassy can be done only be an in-person visit. When applying with Visagov, you can file the whole application online, faster and easier, and we will send you your physical Tourist Card by a courier.

Travel to Cuba for any reason other than tourism requires the application for a visa at a Cuban embassy directly.

Who needs a visa for Cuba?

Practically all foreign tourists need to know how to get a visa to Cuba. There are some exceptions, such as Russia, which does not require any visa to enter Cuba. Conversely, countries such as India, Pakistan or Iran are not allowed to enter the country with a tourist card. They must obtain a visa through a Cuban embassy, even if travelling for tourist purposes. 

Tourist visas will not be issued to passport holders from 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. They will need to contact the consulate directly.

What are the requirements for applying for a visa to Cuba?

To apply for a visa or a tourist card to Cuba, you must not have a criminal record; not be linked to any attack against humanity or dignity; not be a member of any group hostile to the Cuban government; and not be considered persona non grata in the country.

In addition, you must have a valid passport, with a minimum validity of 6 months from the moment of entry to Cuba.

Can the visa be modified once it has been processed?

No. The Cuban visa or tourist card is a handwritten document, including personal data and cannot be changed once it has been processed. However, this visa does not have an entry or exit date. The date of your departure is marked on the day you enter the country. The only information on the visa is the full name (as in the passport), and the passport number.

If for any reason any of the details are incorrect, you will need to re-apply for a new visa. If a visa is damaged (stained, broken, etc.), you will need to re-apply for a new visa. If a visa is lost while you are inside the country, you must go to the relevant Cuban government office to report it the issue as the documentation will be required to leave Cuba.

How much does a Cuba tourist Card cost?

The price will depend on the type of visa required. The tourist card for Cuba has a government fee of 20 euros if you're travelling from outside the US, and a government fee of 110 euros if you're travelling from within the US. The cost is payable upon completion of the application, and no extra fee is payable upon entry into Cuba. For all other types of visas, you will need to talk to the nearest Cuban embassy.

How far in advance do I need to apply for a Cuban visa?

Since each type of visa has a specific processing time, this will vary depending on the visa you require. For example, if applying for residency in Cuba, you must provide for a minimum of 6 months, but if we are travelling to Cuba on holiday or any of the reasons that include class A visas, you can apply 15/20 days prior to your trip to Cuba.

It may be possible to obtain a tourist card for Cuba within 48 hours; however, it is risky to cut time this short and any visa delays will interfere with your travel plans.

What are the entry borders of Cuba?

Cuba has 10 international airports and a further 8 solely accepting flights from within Cuba. The busiest airport is the José Martí International Airport, also known as Rancho Boyeros airport, located 18 km away from Havana. It is also possible to enter Cuba by sea, in a cruise ship or a smaller vessel. Cuba has 7 cities with a port, and the port of Havana boasts an impressive 4 terminals.

Arrival to Cuba by the sea on board of a cruise ship, requires an A1 visa or tourist card, similar to air travel. In the same way, you will be required to select the colour of the visa differentiating whether you are leaving from a port in the United States or from a port in any other part of the world.

Do you need a transit visa in Cuba? 

If you're in transit, you don't need to know how to get a visa for Cuba. However, if you have a layover in the US to arrive in Cuba, you have apply for the pink visa card.