Cuba Visa Policy

Consult Cuba’s visa policy and discover if you need an entry permit of any kind to visit the country.

Visa Policy for Cuba

The Cuba visa policy is the framework of rules and regulations which determines who may enter the country and if they need a permit to do so.

The type of visa or entry permit for Cuba that an individual needs depends on various things. The traveler’s nationality, the reason for entering the country, and the length of time they plan to stay are all factors that affect the entry requirements.

According to the visa policy of Cuba, visitors from the majority of countries require a Cuba Tourist Card rather than a visa. This can be obtained quickly and easily by completing an online form.

The Tourist Card allows short-term visits for holidays and leisure.

Cuba’s visa policy dictates that certain nationalities need a visa instead for these types of trips.

Conversely, citizens of a select group of countries may enter Cuba without a Tourist Card or a visa.

Cuba visas can be obtained at an overseas diplomatic mission. It is generally necessary to go to a Cuban embassy or consulate and apply in person. This is a longer process than that of the online Tourist Card.

Travelers will need to get a visa for Cuba from an embassy in order to visit the country for non-tourist reasons. This includes business trips, medical treatment, and studying in Cuba, among other things.

The Cuban immigration policy means that foreign nationals who plan to stay in the country in the long term must first obtain a visa at an embassy. If they then plan to live there, they must apply for a residence permit while in Cuba.

Find more information about the Cuban visa policy in the guide below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Cuba

According to Cuba’s tourist visa policy, citizens of most countries can go on vacation to the country without a visa as long as they have a valid Tourist Card.

The Cuba Tourist Card is an entry permit that acts as a visa waiver for the purposes of tourism and leisure. It allows foreign nationals to go to Cuba on holiday for short stays.

Holders of passports issued by eligible countries can apply for the Tourist Card online. This makes it the most convenient way to get an entry permit for Cuba, as it avoids having to go to an embassy to submit a visa application.

International visitors need to make sure they get the correct color Tourist Card. This depends on whether or not they are flying to Cuba from the United States.

Visitors with a Tourist Card can stay up to 30 or 90 days, depending on their nationality. Those who wish to stay longer will need a visa.

Nationals of a small number of countries are not eligible for the Tourist Card unless they hold a valid visa or residence permit issued by certain other states. If not, they are required to apply for a Cuba tourist visa at an embassy or consulate.

Browse the map below to find out the entry requirements for Cuba for visitors from each country around the world.

Tourist Card for Cuba

The Cuba Tourist Card is an entry permit for foreign nationals to visit Cuba. It can be obtained online.

Holders of passports issued by the majority of countries are able to obtain a Tourist Card for Cuba.

The Tourist Card allows entry to Cuba exclusively for the purposes of tourism and leisure.

It is valid for 180 days and allows the visitor a single entry to Cuba within this time.

Most travelers with a Tourist Card can stay in Cuba for a maximum of 30 days.

Citizens of Canada with a Cuba Tourist Card, on the other hand, can stay for up to 90 days.

Foreign nationals who plan to stay longer or engage in other activities (such as business or work) cannot do so with the Tourist Card. They must apply for the relevant Cuban visa at an embassy.

Applying for the Tourist Card for Cuba is simple. Travelers must complete a quick online form. Required details include basic personal and passport information, as well as the date and point of departure on the journey to Cuba.

When applying, it is important to choose the correct color of Tourist Card. There are 2 options.

The Pink Cuba Tourist Card is exclusively for passengers flying from the United States of America

The Green Cuba Tourist Card is for passengers flying from all other locations or arriving on a cruise.

It is important to remember that the type required depends on the last airport the traveler departs from on their way to Cuba. If the last direct flight is from an airport in the US, a Pink Tourist Card will be required.

According to the visa policy of Cuba, it is necessary to have a Tourist Card of the correct color upon arrival.

See below a list of countries whose citizens may apply for a Tourist Card for Cuba.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required for Cuba

A Cuban embassy or consular visa is one that is issued by a diplomatic mission (i.e. an embassy or consulate) in another country.

Citizens of around 20 countries must apply for a visa for Cuba at an embassy in order to visit as a tourist. There are certain exceptions (see below).

Embassies and consulates are also responsible for issuing non-tourist visas. These include Cuba Business Visas, Work Visas (D-1), Student Visas (D-2), Medical Treatment Visas (D-10), and Family Visas (A-2), among others.

Foreign nationals must go to a Cuban diplomatic mission in person and submit their application along with all necessary supporting documents.

The processing time for Cuba visas varies depending on the type of visa applied for and the embassy or consulate in question. It is advisable to apply at least a month or two before the trip, since it often takes around 30 days to receive an approved visa.

Cuban embassies are typically located in foreign capital cities. There are also consulates in some other major cities around the globe. However, Cuba does not have a diplomatic mission in every country worldwide. In some cases, it may be necessary to visit a neighboring country to reach the nearest Cuban embassy.

Browse the list of countries below to find out which nationalities need to apply for a visa at an embassy to visit Cuba on holiday.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required for Cuba: Country list

  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Andorra
  • Angola
  • Anguilla
  • Antarctica
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bonaire
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Colombia
  • Comoros
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curacao
  • Czech Republic
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Denmark
  • Djibouti
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Guinea
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jersey
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Martinique
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Reunion
  • Romania
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sint Maarten
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • South Korea
  • South Sudan
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor Leste
  • Togo
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Wallis and Futuna
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Residents and holders of visa issued by other countries

Nationals of the countries listed above who usually require a visa to visit Cuba are exempted from this in certain circumstances.

They may instead apply online for a Tourist Card if they hold either a valid visa or permanent residence permit issued by one of the following countries:

  • Canada
  • USA
  • Any EU member state

Visa Not Required for Cuba

Certain travelers do not require a visa or entry permit of any type to enter Cuba. This applies to holders of passports issued by countries with visa exemption under the Cuban visa policy.

Nationals of around 20 countries may visit Cuba without any visa or Tourist Card.

These travelers need only a valid passport issued by one of these sovereign states to enter the Republic of Cuba.

The maximum period that can be spent in Cuba without a visa or Tourist Card is either 28, 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on the visitor’s nationality.

Those who wish to stay longer must either leave the country and return or apply for a long-term visa.

Find below the list of countries whose citizens may travel to Cuba without a visa or permit.

Visa Not Required for Cuba: Country list

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Kenya
  • Macedonia
  • Malaysia
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Namibia
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Serbia
  • Singapore

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Handyvisas.com is not owned by, or affiliated with any government agency. We are a private, online agency that provides assistance in submitting applications for tourist visits to different countries around the world. Applications can also be made directly through government websites.