Required documents for a Cuba visa

Every traveler who goes to Cuba needs to have a visa to show at the border. With the exception of 20 visa-exempt countries whose citizens can enter Cuba without a visa, the rest of the people need a consular visa or a Cuba Tourist Card. To find out which one you qualify for, you can use iVisa’s Visa Checker. The tool will inform you on what you need to know. Just choose your nationality from the drag-down menu and Cuba as your destination. As for the documents you need to apply for a Cuba Tourist Card, you will be happy to know that you do not need much. You are required to have a passport, travel insurance, and a flight itinerary.

Passport

The first thing you need to cross off the list is the passport. You will need it before you apply for the Tourist Card. In fact, apart from your personal and travel information, the passport is the only document you need before you get to Cuba. Generally, the Cuba Visa application form requires some info about your passport, such as expiry date. Even so, a passport is easy to obtain.

Furthermore, your passport needs to maintain its validity for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival in Cuba. This is a general requirement that applies no matter which method you use to obtain your visa.

Travel insurance

All travelers who go to Cuba need medical coverage the entire trip. The rule took effect in 2010, and entering Cuba without travel insurance is not possible. If your insurance company does not provide coverage overseas, you can purchase travel insurance before your trip. You can also get one at the airport before you leave. If you leave the country without one, when you arrive in Cuba, you can purchase travel insurance from a company called ASISTUR SA. It is generally not expensive, but even if it would be, you are not allowed to enter Cuba without it.

Even with insurance, we recommend that you take the necessary precautions so that you do not need medical attention. The doctors in Cuba are competent, but the hospital lacks both supplies and medical personnel.

Flight itinerary

When you arrive in Cuba, the immigration officer will ask you to show a travel itinerary. The document must disclose where you are coming from, and where you are going next.

Traveling with minors

Many countries in the world allow children to travel on their parents’/legal guardians’ visas, but Cuba does not. If you have children who accompany you on your trip to Cuba, you should know that you have to apply for a Tourist Card for each of them.

When you arrive in Cuba, you will be asked to present all the document above, along with the Tourist Card or visa you are sent by the online service provider or given by a diplomatic mission. However, things move smoother when you apply online, and the required documents are the same. So, do yourself a favor and avoid the Cuban embassy if you are eligible for a Tourist Card. You will be very happy with your choice.