Before traveling to Cuba it is important to know the documentation and requirements. Depending on whether you are from Argentina, Chile, Spain or Colombia, the steps to follow may vary. Here are some tips for preparing for your trip.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Required Documentation
All foreign citizens who wish to enter Cuba must carry basic travel documents, such as a valid passport, visa, medical insurance, etc. These are the documents that you must have in order to travel to the country.
Passport Number
This document must have at least six months of validity from the date of entry and at least one blank page to be able to place the visa. If you are going to travel to Cuba for work, these are the cases in which you are not required to bring it:
- Under 16s from Germany with a Kinderausweiss
- Travelers with a Seaman Book o Maritime Book and are on duty
- Travelers with a Laissez-Passez issued by the United Nations and you are on duty
- People who have travel documents for refugees and people without nationality or citizenship, when the document guarantees the return to their country of origin
The rest of the people must present their passport.
Health Insurance
It is mandatory to have a Travel Insurance Policy that covers medical expenses and is issued by recognized insurance entities in Cuba.
It can be purchased at a travel agency in the country of origin, online or at the airport or port upon arrival in Cuba.
Visa
Most travelers must apply for a visa to enter Cuba. There are some exceptions to this duty, including the following:
- Citizens of Granada who do not stay in the country for more than 90 days
- Persons from Liechtenstein and Malaysia whose stay does not exceed 90 days
- Citizens of Ukraine staying for no more than 30 days and traveling for health reasons
- Nicaraguan people, provided they are on an official mission
Depending on the purpose for which the trip is made, there are the following types of visa:
Tourist visa
As in the rest of the cases, you must have the passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry and at least one blank page. However, it is not necessary to send it, since the visa is a tourist card that goes outside the passport.
A photocopy of the passport, the reservation of the roundtrip flights and the hotel reservation, or the full address of the private address where the person is going to stay is required.
This visa is valid for a single entry to the country for a maximum period of thirty days, extendable for another thirty days at the Immigration Authorities.
Remember that if you are from Venezuela, in addition to the visa, you must request the CADIVI traveler quota, presenting the necessary documentation between 30 and 5 business days prior to the date of travel.
Business visa
It must be requested at the Cuban Embassy to present it at the Consulate once approved. The documents that must be presented or sent are:
- Original passport
- Original photograph, printed on photographic paper, with a white background, passport size and less than six months old
- Cover letter from the company the applicant depends on
Family visa
For the spouses or children of Cuban citizens of other nationalities who travel to Cuba and want to stay with their relatives.
You will need a passport, a photo, a form and a photocopy of the marriage or birth certificate that guarantees the relationship with the Cuban citizen.
Other visas
There are other types of permits such as the Journalist Visa, the student visa or the event visa. Information about them can be requested at the Cuban Consulate. You can access their website by clicking this link.
Methods and cost of obtaining the visa
This document can be obtained at the Consulate. Previously, in the case of the business visa, an application must be made at the Cuban Embassy.
If it is done remotely, the necessary documents must be sent in an envelope with sufficient stamps and with the return address for the passport or visa.
The cost of each visa varies depending on its type and the country of origin from which it is requested. In the case of the tourist visa, it costs around U.S. dollar 20.
On the other hand, if the request is made by mail or through a third person, a consular fee is charged. Payment must be made in cash (if the visa is requested directly at the Consulate) or through a Bank Certificate (means of payment used to guarantee profitability and liquidity in the delivery of money in foreign currency).
Other requirements
There is no problem if you want to travel to the country with children. In that case, they will have to be part of their parents' passport or have their own.
Even if minors appear in their parents' passport, they must request his own tourist card or tourist visa.
On the other hand, if you want to travel with a pet, it is required to request an Official Export Certificate at the Consulate.
For this, the following documentation must be presented:
- Animal passport with up-to-date vaccinations
- Health certificate for the animal's travel carried out by a veterinarian
- Certificate of good health
- Photocopy of the passport of the person who will travel with the animal
The ways to request them are the same as in the case of the visa for the person. Similarly, you must pay a consular fee.
Transport
The most comfortable way to get to Cuba is the plane. Currently there are commercial and scheduled flights from most of the world's countries, including the United States. The most important airport in the country is the José Martí International Airport in Havana.
On the other hand, from Europe or America, you can go to Cuba on a cruise in which this country is one of the stops on the route. However, there are still no ships that travel directly there. However, in a short time you will have the option of arriving by ferry for residents of the United States.
Both the ports and the airports are well connected to the cities by roads and the most recommended method to move from one point to another on the island is by taxi. Also, don't forget that you will find customs agents in both places.
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