It is important to note that the General License you will travel under pertains to U.S. laws, not Cuban ones.  This means you may be asked about your license upon boarding your flight to Cuba from the U.S., or upon reentry, but not when you are in Cuba.  Cuba requires all travelers (not just U.S. citizens) to have a valid passport that will not expire sooner than six months beyond your dates of travel.  You also need a Cuban Tourist Visa and travel medical insurance

No.  Under current U.S. regulations, U.S. citizens who wish to travel to Cuba must qualify under one of the several license categories set by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  Our company follows the guidelines that govern the General License under the Support for the Cuban People category.  This does not require any application, although there is documentation you are required to keep records of for five years.  Our company provides you with that documentation upon final booking with us.  For more information about the different license categories and the documentation you are required to keep, please visit the OFAC website directly here. 

It may be the easiest and most affordable option to purchase your Cuban Visa (also called Tourist Card) directly from the airline you fly from the U.S.  Many major carriers may sell you a blank visa for between $50-$100 at the airport.  We encourage you to check directly with the airline prior to counting on this option as processes and procedures can change without warning. 

We can also send you a Cuban visa directly to your U.S. address in advance of your travel for $85.  Just indicate you want a visa included when you book with us and we will mail it directly to you.

All U.S. airlines traveling to Cuba from the U.S. bundle the mandatory Cuban travel insurance into the price of your airline ticket.  While it’s not readily seen on the itemized bill, it is indeed included.  You do not need to purchase this separately.  We will provide you with the necessary documentation for proof of insurance as well as procedures in case you need to use it upon final booking with us.  We do still recommend you purchase travel insurance within 20 days of booking your trip to cover trip cancellation, interruption etc.  Please see our Cuba Travel Guide for more information.

You are welcome to travel to and from Cuba however is most convenient to you.  Because you are traveling on a licensed tour, all you need is a way to access your paperwork upon reentry to the U.S.

Under current regulations, there are not limits on the amount of money Americans can spend in Cuba.  The Cuban government does require all travelers including U.S. citizens to declare amounts in excess of $5,000.  Please check with us if you plan to spend amounts in excess of $5,000 per person after all tour expenses and we can guide you on how to properly report this.

Yes.  In November 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a “List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated With Cuba as of November 9, 2017” that the U.S. government believes maintain direct links to Cuban military intelligence, and security services.  As a result, U.S. citizens are not permitted to conduct any business with these entities.  The list includes some travel agencies, stores, transportation companies, and hotels.  We will make sure your itinerary does not include any of these restricted entities. 

Not at this time.  Under current U.S. regulations, U.S. citizens must “engage in a full-time schedule of activities that result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba and that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities.”  Additionally, each traveler’s schedule must not “include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule.”  Please consult with us about ways to customize your itinerary to be compliant with U.S. travel restrictions.

Remember that you will never actually hold or apply for a physical license.  All you need is the paperwork our company will send you and provide guidance on upon final booking.  We have found that it is very unpredictable when or if travelers are asked for their documentation.  The most common time this happens is when travelers that traveled with us years ago then decide to apply for TSA pre-check or Global Entry status.  As part of that application process, the travelers are asked for their documentation related to their Cuba travel.  Once supplied, all the travelers we have worked with have then proceeded with the application process without incident. 

Occasionally, travelers may be asked which license they are traveling under when booking airfare online or with a travel agent.  The answer is “Support for the Cuban People (515.574)”.  It is rare, but possible to be asked for paperwork when reentering the U.S. from Cuba.  This depends largely on the port of entry, person reviewing your passport, and a myriad of other factors.  We advise you to be open and honest about having traveled to Cuba because you went legally and are fully compliant with U.S. regulations.