The Cuban Visa for your Trip to Cuba
If you are considering of travelling to Cuba as a tourist or to meet a relative or on a business trip, then applying for a Cuban visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, a visitor can apply for the necessary Cuban visa online/ at the nearest Cuban embassy in the country where you live.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Cuban Visa
It is advisable to check the Cuban visa requirements, before applying for your visa to Cuba.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the visa for Cuba:
- You do not expect to undertake unpaid job that can otherwise be carried out by a paid employee in Cuba.
- You do not intend to participate in an employment relationship in Cuba.
- You do not intend to give services to Cuban organisations (this is allowed with a Cuban work visa or business visa).
- You do not intend to offer or sell product or services to consumers in Cuba.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the Cuba Government.
- You do not pose a risk to the health or safety of residents of Cuba.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to finance your stay and return from Cuba.
Do I require a Cuban visa?
It depends upon your citizenship and also the kind of travel document you are using to travel to Cuba.Please click here to verify if you need a Cuban visa.
Exactly who can request a Cuban visa?
Any person hoping to go on vacation to Cuba can apply for a Cuban visa.
There are many kinds of visa for Cuba which you can use as a traveller to Cuba. If you are unsure which type of Cuban visa you require to apply, please get in touch with the local Cuban visa office to get more information as goal of this page is to give you basic guide when applying for Cuban visa.
What type of Cuban visa do I need?
This depends upon 3 points:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to Cuba or eligible to apply for a visa on arrival in Cuba, then you may not need to obtain a Cuban visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please click here to find out if you require a Cuban visa.
- The duration of your visit in Cuba – If you wish to remain in Cuba for a shorter duration no more than 90 days, then you can obtain the Cuban visa. If you wish to stay much longer, then contact the nearest Cuban visa office to secure the appropriate visa for your trip.
- The activities you hope to execute in Cuba – If your main purpose of taking a trip is for vacation, then you can make an application for all types of Cuban visas talked about on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Apply for Cuban Visitor Visa
- Holiday visa Form for Cuba – Completed Cuban visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months before going into Cuba and three months after leaving Cuba. It needs to contain at least two spare visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo must be no older than 6 months and ought to be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Cuban visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Cuba – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some instances the Cuban visa office might request prepaid flight tickets to Cuba.
- Travel insurance – Evidence of travel insurance with a minimum cover set by the Cuban consular office provided with the Certification of Insurance coverage and the table of benefits. The travel insurance policy should cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency need to be issued by an insurer. If you are considering utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Cuba, please call Cuban embassy to learn more and travel insurance coverage requirements for the Cuban visa.
- Original bank statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover your visit in Cuba. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Confirmed (stamped) by the financial institution representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in Cuba – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, duration of stay. In the majority of situations, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly salary and yearly leave. Additionally, please supply your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: offer certified copies of business registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please supply the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming on-going enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University– Offer a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance for the whole journey along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
Generally, visa applications for Cuban visa should be sent for an optimum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the trip.