Easy Guide: How To Get A Tourist Card For Cuba 2023 – From A “Local”!

Wondering how to get a tourist card for Cuba (also called a Cuban tourist visa) for your once-in-a-lifetime Cuba holiday?

There are a variety of ways to go about getting a Cuba tourist visa, but rest assured, it is not at all difficult!

I have tried them all, as I have entered Cuba at least two dozen times, including from the United States, in the last four years.

Here is how!

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What Is A Cuban Tourist Card?

A Cuba tourist card, or tourist visa, is the document you need in order to be able to enter Cuban territory as a tourist or a visitor.

Getting a tourist card for Cuba is a formality and not something you need to apply for and get approved to obtain.

You simply buy it from one of the services that provide the document when you have decided to visit Cuba, as having a tourist card is one of the entry requirements set by the Cuban Government!

How To Get A Tourist Card For Cuba BLUF!

1. Buy from the Cuban Embassy or Cuban Consulate in your country, or
2. Buy the Cuban tourist card from your airline or travel agency, or
3. The easiest way is to buy your Cuban tourist card from a secure online provider.
4. Fill in the required information on the tourist card.
5. Show your tourist card when you check in to your flight.
6. Show your tourist card when requested when arriving in Cuba. Your Cuban tourist card is valid for one single entry.
7. Keep your tourist card with you in Cuba!
8. Passport control will collect your tourist card when you are leaving Cuba – SO DON’T LOSE IT!

Do I Need A Tourist Card For Cuba?

Yes, you probably do.

There are some nationalities that are exempt from having a visa to visit Cuba, but most nationalities, including US nationals and every Canadian citizen, need a Cuba tourist card to enter the island.

How Do I Get A Tourist Card For Cuba?

Getting a tourist card for Cuba is a formality, not an application process. Therefore you buy it, you do not need to be approved.

There are several trustworthy online providers that will send the Cuban visa to your mailbox in as little as 2-3 days.

I normally use Easy Tourist Card, which delivers the visa to my address within three days.

You will probably also be able to get a tourist card from the Cuban embassy in your country.

Contact the embassy or check out their home page and ask for an application form that you will need to fill out and return to them.

Then you need to have the payment for the tourist card registered before you can pick it up (if it is in your city), or they send it to your address for a charge.

Also read: Create Awesome Solo Holidays To Cuba In 2022!

Some airlines also provide you with a tourist card; check with yours to find out if that is an option for you.

You will receive the tourist card in a blank form and need to fill out the required information by hand.

While you are in Cuba, you need to keep your filled-out tourist card, as you will be required to show it again when you are leaving the country!

Also read: 18 Of The Unquestionably Best Beaches In Cuba 2022!

Tourist Card For Cuba Application Form

If you contact a Cuban embassy, they will send you a Cuba tourist card application form to complete and return to the embassy for approval.

It may also be available on the embassy home page.

An online provider like Easy Tourist Card will have the application form on the home page.

Just fill in the required fields and provide a photo of the required documentation, and the tourist card will be sent to your home address.

Pink Tourist Card Cuba For US Citizens

Most visitors to Cuba need the standard GREEN tourist card, but US citizens or visitors traveling via US territory as the last airport before entering Cuba can NOT use the green cards.

US citizens need the PINK tourist card for entry. The pink card is also, unfortunately, pricier than the green one.

When you order your tourist card, make sure you know your flight itinerary and get the correct one!

Americans are technically not allowed to visit Cuba for tourism purposes but can choose from a list of 11 pre-approved reasons to travel to Cuba without any further application or paperwork.

Most travelers choose “helping the Cuban people” as their reason for travel.

You will probably be asked to state your reason for visiting when you book your flight online as part of the booking process.

Apart from that, you just state your reason for visiting Cuba if anyone asks – it is not more difficult than that!

The restrictions also regulate what accommodations US travelers can use while in Cuba and what services they are not at liberty to use, as defined in the Cuba restricted list.

The short explanation is that Americans are not allowed to visit hotels, restaurants, or shops that are owned by (51% or over) or associated with the Cuban state.

How Long Does A Tourist Card For Cuba Last?

From November 1st, 2022 the regulations changed, and one tourist card for Cuba is valid for a 90-day entry to the island.

If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you are able to extend the tourist card for another 90 days while in Cuba.

Bring the required documents and go to an immigration office close to where you are staying.

You do not need an appointment to extend your Cuba tourist card; you just show up at the Cuban immigration office, stand in line, and present your mission.

To extend your Cuban tourist card, you need to bring your passport, documentation of valid travel insurance including health insurance.

Also bring the booking for and address of the hotel or casa particular you are staying, and documentation of your plane ticket out of the country.

You may extend your tourist card only once, for another 90 days, so you can stay for up to 180 days without leaving the island.

Also read: Ultimate Guide How To Extend Tourist Card For Cuba In Cuba 2023!

How Much Does A Tourist Card To Cuba Cost?

From online providers, a green tourist card for Cuba will start around $35, plus shipment.

This is the tourist card version most travelers to Cuba need.

The pink tourist card for US citizens card starts at around $100 (pricier due to the situation between the US and Cuba).

US citizens of Cuban origin will still be considered Cuban nationals upon entry to Cuba.

The price of the shipment will vary based on how fast you need the tourist card to arrive!

The most hassle-free option is to buy your tourist card from Easy Tourist Card and have it sent to your home address.

The cheapest option (and slowest with most work) would probably be to buy one from the Cuban embassy and have it sent in the normal post (or pick it up if the embassy is close to you).

Also read: Sensational 7 Days In Cuba Itinerary 2022!

What Airlines Sell Cuban Tourist Cards?

Some airlines with international flights to Cuba also offer passengers to buy a Cuban tourist card online before the flight or at certain airports.

The price normally is lower if you buy online in advance before your trip.

Also read: 10 Perfect Day Trips From Havana Cuba 2022!

American Airlines Cuba Tourist Card

American Airlines have daily flights from Miami (where 70% of the population is Cuban!) to Cuban airports.

At Miami International Airport, you can buy a tourist card for Cuba when you do check in with American Airlines or Delta. Both airlines have direct flights to Cuba.

The price at the American Airlines counter in Miami in September 2022 was $100, a bit pricier than online providers or most embassies, but also super convenient.

If you fly American Airlines from any other destination in the US, do not expect they are familiar with the Cuban tourist card everywhere.

There are still regulations in place for Americans traveling to Cuba, including that US citizens can not use US their credit card in Cuba. Some people, even staff in airports, are not always familiar with the tourist card layout, rules, online registration, or the 11 pre-approved reasons for travel.

So when you fly to Cuba from an American airport, the best way is to ensure you arrive early and have some extra time to allow any unenlightened staff to catch up with the current rules!

Air Canada Tourist Card For Cuba

With Air Canada, the Cuban tourist card is included in your flight ticket when you book your trip to Cuba.

The tourist card will be distributed to the passengers during the flight before arrival at your Cuban airport.

Delta Airlines Tourist Card For Cuba

Delta Airlines offers passengers the Cuban tourist card at the final airport you’ll stop at prior to departure for Cuba, including Miami, where you only get the pink Cuba tourist card.

Cuban Tourist Card from JetBlue

You can buy the Cuban Tourist Card from JetBlue at the airport for $50 when you check in.

You’ll need the following in order to buy the tourist card at the airport:

• Your boarding pass
• Valid passport at least six months ahead
• You need to pay with a credit or debit card

Other Visas For Cuba

If you have other plans than visiting Cuba as a tourist or traveler within one of the 12 US pre-approved reasons for travel to Cuba, you need to apply for an appropriate visa that suits your intentions.

There are a variety of special visas to apply for in order to visit Cuba.

The other types of visa you can apply for to travel to Cuba are:

• Family visa (A2)
• Journalist visa (D6)
• Business visa
• Work visa (D1)
• Student visa (D2)
• Medical treatment visa (D10)

Visa For Long Term Stays In Cuba

Different countries have different requirements for applying for a long-term visa to stay in Cuba in connection with studies, work, or other.

If you are planning a long-term stay in Cuba, you need to contact the nearest embassy or consulate and ask for information on how to go about this.

In order to apply for a long-term stay in Cuba, you normally will have to provide the following:

• A certificate of police clearance from your country, issued within the past three months and legalized
• Medical screening, including blood tests, AIDS tests, and radiographic examinations of the thorax. The results cannot be older than six months and must be legalized.
• A letter that states the reason for the application
• Any relevant documents connected to your application, such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc.
• A passport-size photo
• A photocopy of your passport

Also read: How To Easily Travel To Cuba From The US in 2022!

Do I Need A Passport To Go To Cuba?

Yes, you need a passport to enter Cuba. You must also make sure your passport is valid for at least another six months from the date of entry!

Pre-Arrival Online Registration

In 2023 you also need to register your entry to the country electronically online prior to arrival.

You will find the registration form here on the Dviajeros page; complete the registration before you go to the airport!

Some airlines will ask to see documentation on this registration in order to complete your check-in, so make sure you don’t forget!

Cuba Travel Insurance Requirement

First of all, yes, you need travel insurance to travel to Cuba.

If you are asked to show documentation of travel insurance at the passport control (random checking) and don’t have it, you will be required to buy Cuban travel insurance before you enter the country.

What travel insurance company you choose is up to you, but you need to choose one with COVID-19 coverage and health insurance, as that is mandatory for travel to Cuba.

Travelers to Cuba must provide proof of both medical health coverage and COVID-19 coverage if someone asks.

I use Medical Travel Insurance (IMG), but I have not yet needed their help.

IMG does have excellent reviews throughout from people who have been unlucky and needed their travel insurance provider to step up!

Also read: 10 Reasons To Spend Your Honeymoon In Cuba 2023!

No Covid Restrictions For Travel In Cuba

From September 2022, there are no longer any requirements for a PCR test or fully vaccinated status in order to enter Cuba.

You might be required to wear a face mask on your flight, dependent on your airline, and you might also be required to wear a face mask in some places in Cuba, like on the Viazul bus.

So remember to bring a packet to be sure!

Do I Need Vaccinations For Cuba?

You are not required to have specific vaccinations to enter Cuba – however.

The general recommendation is that there are some vaccines you should take before your holiday in Cuba.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccines for Cuba:

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza.

Check with the health authorities in your country whether these recommendations apply to you.

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Wrap-Up How To Get A Tourist Card For Cuba!

Now you should have all the information you need about how to get a Cuban tourist card to confidently get a hold of both the tourist card for Cuba and all the other documentation you need before your amazing Cuba holiday!

If there is any information missing here or something that is unclear, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will do my best to answer any questions you might have about your upcoming Cuba travels!