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Cuba travel Important information and answers to
frequently asked questions
about travel to Cuba.
U.S. travel restrictions make it difficult for all U.S. residents to travel to Cuba. The following questions and answers are a good place to start to understand the restrictions, and who may travel and when. An important first step is to read the U.S. Treasury Department regulations yourself to ensure that you know what is and is not permitted. From there, we at Common Ground will help you to the best of our ability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to travel to Cuba? |
| Many Americans are permitted to travel to Cuba. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department administers the Travel Restrictions. If you are subject to U.S. jurisdiction or you do not consider yourself to be but reside in the United States or are planning to leave from and/or reenter the United States, regardless of citizenship, residency, or immigration status, or point of departure from Cuba, you must travel under one of the categories of people permitted to travel to Cuba. Common Ground is a licensed service provider, meaning the agency has a special license from the Treasury Department to make travel for Cuba. As such, we may work only with those who fall into one of the permitted categories of travelers to Cuba. Working with Common Ground is a convenience but does not change or guarantee your compliance with the U.S. regulations |
Who can travel to Cuba? |
Those who fall under the following categories are permitted to travel to Cuba under existing U.S. regulations:
- Official government travelers
- Journalists
- Persons visiting close relatives once in 3 years
- Full-time professionals conducting research
- Full-time professionals attending certain international conferences
- Persons who have received a specific license
More info on Travel Restrictions
provided by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control
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How do I know if I qualify? |
| If you are Cuban American, please click here. All travelers should review the Travel Restrictions to see if one of the categories applies to you. If you are still uncertain, feel free to call one of the Common Ground staff members. Bear in mind, though, that we are not legal advisers and that we may advise you to contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control or a lawyer. Once you commit to travel, you sign a Travel Affidavit which Common Ground collects for their records. If you are traveling under specific license, you will provide us with a copy of the license and an original signed authorization if it is an institution that holds the license rather than you personally. There is no waiting or approval period. You are responsible for providing further information about your qualifications to the Treasury Department if asked. |
I am Cuban American, how can I visit my family in Cuba? |
| Unfortunately, the U.S. Treasury Department permits citizens or residents of the United States to travel only once every 3 years and only when visiting husband/wife, mother/father, sister/brother or grandparents. You must obtain a specific license directly from the U.S. Treasury Department. You can fill out the form and mail it to OFAC or you may fill it out at the OFAC website. Once you have obtained the license, Common Ground will be happy to assist you with your travel arrangements. Please also be sure that you have an up to date Cuban passport with entry permit plus valid U.S. passport or U.S. residency permit. If you arrived in the U.S. prior to 1971, you may travel with a valid U.S. passport and visa from the Cuban consulate. Go to the Cuban Consulate website for more information. Please go to our page en
espaņol for forms and more
information. |
What do I have to do to be able to travel to Cuba? |
| Common Ground requires that each traveler fill out
an application and
Travel
Affidavit. If you plan to fly directly from the U.S. on a charter flight you
must also fill out a reservation
form for the charter company. Common Ground requires a Travel Affidavit
and reservation form with original signatures to confirm reservations. You will
also need a visa to enter
Cuba. Common Ground is authorized by the Cuban Interests Section in Washington
to issue visas for all passengers entering on a "tourist card" and assist
with press visas, academic visas, cultural visas, and visas
for Cubans and Cuban Americans (family reunification visits). |
How can I take a group to Cuba? |
| If you are interested in taking a group
of students, colleagues, church or synagogue members, or other kind of licensed
group to Cuba, Common Ground can organize
your group trip. We can provide pre-paid flights, ground and air transportation
in Cuba, a program of activities, academic courses and seminars, visits to sites
and institutions, guide service, meals, medical/evacuation insurance and any other
services you may need. Common Ground has created customized programs for many
different kinds of groups. Visit our Plan
a Group Trip page for sample itineraries and more information. |
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How do I get to Cuba? Do I have to go through a 3rd country? |
| There are direct flights from New York/JFK, Miami International
Airport, and Los Angeles (LAX). If you prefer you may also travel through a third
country; often the price or flight schedule is convenient. Some of the most common
routes are through Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Canada. See our flight
schedules for details on both direct flights and flights through a third country. |
What's the difference between "professional research" and a "professional attending a conference"? |
| Those who plan to attend a professional meeting or conference may travel under this category if the meeting or conference is organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries. The organization sponsoring the meeting must not be headquartered in the United States. If headquarted in Cuba, the international organization will need to establish that it is indeed international and not a Cuban organization with an international focus. Common Ground works with several professional organizations sponsoring meetings, such as for lawyers, health workers, teachers and social workers, and we invite you to review the upcoming schedule to determine if one of those might be appropriate for you. Those who are conducting full-time, academic research in their professional field, whether at a conference or on their own, may qualify to travel under the "professional research" category. |
I'm invited to a conference in Cuba. What do I need to do? |
| For a complete list of conferences, please see our list of upcoming conferences and professional events. We can provide a complete package for your trip to Cuba, including conference details, registration, special hotel rates, visas, flights and any other services you might need. Please read the Travel Restrictions, fill out a Travel Affidavit and application, and contact us to arrange your trip. |
How do I apply for a specific license? |
| First read the U.S.
Treasury Department guidelines for application for a specific license. Common
Ground can help you obtain information and answer questions. We have helped many
institutions successfully through the application process. If you are visiting
family more than once in a 12-month period and need to apply for a specific license
for that purpose, download a form here or apply for the license on line at the OFAC website. |
How do I bring someone from Cuba? |
| Common Ground is authorized to arrange travel to the United States for Cubans coming for research, educational and cultural exchanges, including conferences. Those coming for such exchanges will need a letter of invitation from the sponsoring U.S. organization to initiate the arrangements in Cuba; they need to make arrangements for their visit in conjunction with their Cuban work center or institution, including application for visa to the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. The process can take 3-6 months and we do not recommend beginning the actual travel planning at least until the visitor has some certainty that the visa will be granted. When you are ready, Common Ground can book a flight for the person you would like to bring, which is pre-paid by cash, check, or credit card. Travel for those emigrating from Cuba to join their families, or for visits to families in the United States must be arranged in Cuba by the person traveling. |
I am a student, how can I travel to Cuba? |
| Students are among those most affected by the 2004 U.S. regulation change. Undergraduates may travel to Cuba only if participating in a 10 week or more academic program that will be accepted for credit by their U.S. institution. See our Casa de las Américas Caribbean Studies program. All students must travel under license from the U.S. Treasury Department OFAC. Graduate students participating in a 10 week or more program or researching their thesis or other qualifying work towards their advanced degree may travel to Cuba under academic license held by their University or College or can apply for their own license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). If traveling under institutional license, your school provide you with a copy of the license (all pages) and authorization on letterhead to use the license, including your name, dates of travel, license number, and certification that they will accept the work you do in Cuba for credit. If you have applied and received a license from OFAC you must send us a copy of all pages of the license. Common Ground must receive all this information, including the original letter of authorization to confirm flight arrangements. Please see the Plan an Individual Trip page to start planning your trip. |
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