Cuba e-Visa for citizens of the United States: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of the United States apply online before departure, for stays up to 90 days.
Data updated on
Mandatory arrival form: D'Viajeros. Up to 7 days before arrival. Only fill it in on the official website.
Fill it in on the official website (dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu)
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Allowed stay
90 days
Our guide to the Cuba visa from the United States
U.S. nationals travelling to Cuba (Havana, Varadero or Trinidad) must obtain a tourist card before their trip. This document is issued through the airline, a travel agency, or a Cuban consulate. U.S. travellers are also subject to their own government's rules on authorised categories of travel to Cuba.
Do you need a visa?
Cuba does not require a standard consular visa for a tourist stay, but rather a tourist card (tarjeta de turista). It is mandatory for U.S. citizens and must be obtained before boarding. Your passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.
How much does an e-visa for Cuba cost from the United States?
The official fee for an e-visa for Cuba is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for Cuba really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for an e-visa for Cuba?
Documents required for an e-visa for Cuba:
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stay
- Online application (no paper form)
- Digital photo (recent)
- Passport scan (data page)
- Proof of accommodation
- Visa fee payment
Documents and fees
You will need a valid U.S. passport, the completed tourist card and, depending on the case, proof of travel insurance and funds. The card fee varies by channel (airline, agency, consulate): confirm the exact amount and payment method with the official source, as we do not state it here.
How to apply for an e-visa for Cuba from the United States
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How and where to apply
The tourist card is usually obtained from the airline on departure from the United States, from a specialised travel agency, or from a Cuban consulate. Travellers leaving from the U.S. should also check which category of travel is authorised under U.S. regulations before booking.
Where do you apply for a visa for Cuba from the United States?
An e-visa for Cuba is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
You live in the United States on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United States but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for Cuba take?
No verified processing time is published for this route. Apply as early as your travel dates allow, and never book non-refundable travel before the e-visa is granted.
Processing and tips
Get the tourist card well before departure, especially if you go through a consulate. Keep it safe: it is presented on both entry and exit. Also check the health-insurance requirement and the documents supporting your authorised purpose of travel.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is arriving at the airport without having arranged the tourist card, or choosing the wrong card colour/type for the departure country. Overlooking U.S. rules on authorised travel categories can also cause problems.
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Other visa types for Cuba
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
- Consular Missions of Cuba (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores)
- Embassy of Cuba in the United States
- U.S. Department of State: Cuba International Travel Information
Guide generated automatically on July 22, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Duration
90 days
Official websiteTo confirm
Work visa
Work visa
Duration
1 year
Price
105 USD
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Business visa (D-7)
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Price
105 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa (D-2)
Student visa
Duration
1 year
Price
0–105 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Family visa (A-2)
Family reunification
Duration
1 year
Price
105 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Tips to extend your stay in Cuba
- Request the extension of your tourist visa from Cuban authorities before your initial stay expires.
- Keep all official documents related to your extension to avoid issues when leaving the country.
- Comply with the travel categories authorized by OFAC for US citizens to avoid sanctions.
- Buy your tourist card before departure to avoid complications upon arrival.
An American traveler wishing to stay 60 days in Cuba must first obtain the 30-day tourist card, then request a 30-day extension from local authorities before the end of the initial stay.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Cuba from the United States?▾
Yes, an e-visa (electronic visa) is required. It is applied for online before departure and allows a stay of 90 days.
What documents are required for a visa to Cuba?▾
For the tourist visa application, you will need: Passport valid 6 months beyond stay, Online application (no paper form), Digital photo (recent), Passport scan (data page), Proof of accommodation, Visa fee payment.
How do you apply for a visa for Cuba from the United States?▾
The application is fully online and made before departure: form on the official portal, documents uploaded, card payment, then the authorisation arrives by email. In most cases no consular visit is needed.
How long can you stay in Cuba?▾
The tourist visa allows a stay of 90 days.
What other visa types exist for Cuba?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Cuba offers among others: Business visa (D-7), Work visa, Student visa (D-2), Family visa (A-2).
Data verified on 28/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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