Important Information for Travel to Cuba

The policy for travel to Cuba was updated on September 9, 2022. Please visit the U.S. Department of Treasury for the latest details.

Travel from or through the U.S. to Cuba is restricted to certain individuals and is closely regulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Travel for tourist activities is strictly prohibited. All customers, including international travelers with non-U.S. passports, looking to travel to Cuba on a United flight must meet some special requirements pertaining to their reason for travel, health insurance, passport and visa, and proof of return or onward travel. Before planning your trip, be sure to familiarize yourself with the requirements below so you are fully prepared to travel.

Please note that U.S. credit and debit cards currently do not work in Cuba, so it's important that you bring enough cash to last for your entire trip. You can exchange U.S. dollars for Cuban convertible pesos at the airport, hotels or exchange houses.

Permitted reasons for travel

When you book or check in for your flight, you will be asked to certify the reason for your visit. There are currently two ways to gain permission to travel to Cuba: with a general license or with a specific license.

If you meet the regulations and conditions of a general license, you will not need to apply for a specific license. There are 12 categories of general licenses related to Cuba travel:

  • Family visits
  • Official government business
  • Journalistic activity
  • Professional research or meetings
  • Religious activities
  • Sports and public events
  • Support for the Cuban people
  • Humanitarian projects
  • Research
  • Informational materials
  • Authorized export activities
  • Non-immigrant Cuban National

You will not qualify for a general license if the reason for your travel is not listed above, and you will be required to apply for a specific license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). All license applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please see the U.S. Department of the Treasury's OFAC FAQ page for more information.

Health insurance requirements

All visitors are required to have health insurance that is accepted in Cuba. In most cases, health or travel insurance policies issued in the United States are not accepted at medical facilities in Cuba, so United has included Cuban health insurance ($25 per customer) in the total cost of your ticket. Cuban health insurance is provided by ESICUBA and is valid for 30 days. If you are staying in Cuba beyond 30 days, you’ll need to purchase additional insurance to cover the remainder of your stay.

Please note that while United Airlines is facilitating the purchase of this required Cuban health insurance, United Airlines bears no liability and all matters regarding the insurance policy’s terms and limits, and health care in Cuba, are solely between the traveler and ESICUBA.

Travel document requirements

If you have a valid Cuban passport, or if your passport reflects that you were born in Cuba, please review the Cuban Consulate website for details on the additional documents you must hold in addition to your passport. Please note it may take several weeks to obtain all the necessary documents from the Cuban Consulate.

All other customers will need to obtain a Cuban entry permit or Cuban visa before travel. Please contact the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C., well in advance of your flight to determine which type of visa you will need for your travel.

Cuban entry permit

Most customers traveling under a general license will only need a Cuban entry permit, available for purchase at the airport.

In Houston, we sell Cuban entry permits at the check-in counter and at the departure gate and collect payment before you board. You will need your passport, boarding pass and a major credit card to make your purchase. A Cuban entry permit costs $50.00 USD per person and is not included in the price of your airline ticket. An additional $35 USD service charge will also be collected per person by Cuba Travel Services (CTS), which administers the distribution of the entry permits.

Customers must purchase an entry permit issued in the United States. Any permits issued elsewhere may not be valid for travel.

An online option, known as eVisaCuba, is available in lieu of the paper permit. You can apply and submit payment through this link https://evisacuba.cu/en/solicitar/visa.

Customers who are eligible to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as administered through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be at risk if they travel to Cuba. If a traveler is found to have visited Cuba they will no longer be eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a visa to enter the U.S. ESTAs will be invalidated after traveling to Cuba. Before leaving the U.S. passengers should ensure they have the necessary documents to travel to or through the United States when planning a visit to Cuba. For more information, please visit the US Department of State website or ESTA website for more details.

Cuban visa issued by the Consulate

If the reason for your travel isn't covered by a Cuban entry permit, you will need a visa issued by the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. Please visit the Embassy of Cuba in USA website for more information.