How to get a visa for Cuba?

What are the formalities for obtaining a visa for Cuba? Documents, prices, validity periods, GV tells you everything!

You decided to cross the Atlantic to discover Havana, its history and its colorful buildings? Are you looking for nature and want to go through the valley of Viñales or make snorkeling on the Isla de la Juventud? Take your plane tickets to Cuba without delay and enjoy a stay out of time. But before that, you will have to get a visa for Cuba.

Let's take stock of the documents needed to cross the Cuban border.

Is a visa required to travel to Cuba?

Yes, as soon as you enter Cuban territory, a visa is mandatory . Whatever the length of your stay, you must submit a document. Here the tourist visa has a specific name, it is a tourist map. It allows to go to Cuba during 30 days maximum . However, it is possible to request an extension of 30 days. Beyond 60 days, if you wish to stay, you must apply for a long-term visa or leave the territory to make a new request for a tourist map.

While some visas, as is the case in Egypt, can be obtained upon arrival, visa tourist map for Cuba can only be requested before leaving. The request is made at the Cuban Consulate in Paris or online.

Good to know: if you come by a flight from the USA (after a visit to this country or because you have made a stopover in the United States), the request for a tourist map must be made with the airline that takes charge of the flight from the USA.

What type of visa to choose for Cuba?

For tourism, there is only one visa for Cuba The tourist map. If you come for professional reasons, even for a short period of time, you have to apply for a business visa.

Note that the tourist map appears a little like an e-Visa. Indeed, this card is not displayed on your passport, it is a flying visa. It is divided into two parts. When you arrive in Cuba, an immigration officer detaches a part of it. The other will be present at the time of your departure from Cuban territory.

What is the validity of a visa for Cuba?

If the tourist map allows you to stay 30 or 60 days on Cuban territory, it is valid for a period of time. 6 months a validity that takes effect on the day the card is issued.

What is the visa price for Cuba?

The visa for Cuba costs 22€ . You will pay a service fee if you pass by a provider who performs all the steps for you. This is not mandatory, but it is a solution to avoid any mistakes and to be sure to receive your tourist map for Cuba on time.

What are the documents for a tourist visa in Cuba?

The obtaining of the visa for Cuba is conditioned on a full application. However, to get your tourist map for this country, you actually have very little formalities to do. Here are the necessary documents to make your request:

A passport

You must provide a photocopy or scan of your passport. This is the page with your photo, your identity and your signature that interests the Consulate of Cuba. This passport must be valid at least until the end of your stay in Cuba . The tourist map being a flying visa, it is not mandatory to provide the original passport. The request can be made entirely online.

A copy of your flight confirmation

For your request for a tourist map for Cuba, it is mandatory to present a return flight confirmation.

How to complete the visa application form for Cuba?

The tourist Visa application for Cuba is very simple. You do not need to complete a complex form as is the case for many countries that require an official document to enter their territory.

The passport provides all necessary information since your tourist card will only include the following information:

• The visa number;
• Name and surname;
• The date of birth;
• Passport number;
• Nationality.

When do you apply for a visa for Cuba?

The request can be made at any time, you can even take it in advance as the tourist map for Cuba is valid for 6 months.

However, this visa is granted 1 to 3 working days (attention if you make an application on a holiday approach). We advise you to make your request at least 2 weeks before your departure.

Do you need insurance to travel to Cuba?

Yes, Cuba is one of the countries requesting a travel insurance certificate who will be present upon arrival in the country. Since the health crisis linked to the Covid-19, more and more countries are seeking travel insurance. However, Cuba was one of the 4 countries that demanded that protection well before the crisis, in the same way as China, Algeria and Russia. Since May 2010, Cuba has imposed travel insurance.

This insurance must include minimum guarantees imposed by the country:

• Coverage of medical expenses and hospitalization: the costs are high enough in Cuba, we invite you to find travel insurance adapted in terms of guarantees to be sure to get full coverage;
• Repatriated assistance: If you are sick or injured and it becomes necessary to return to France, you must still be covered. Repatriation is also expensive, make sure to find a guarantee with a high ceiling.

To find travel insurance for Cuba, it’s simple: compare. A comparison of travel insurance allows you to find the best value for money. Your goal is to find a contract that preserves your travel budget, but also that will ensure your financial security in the event of an accident or illness.

Compare also allows to find guarantees that meet all needs without ruining you. Also, if the care for health and repatriation expenses are imposed, do not forget the other guarantees: cancellation or modification insurance, baggage insurance, etc. If you are going to make a trek at the end of the Cuban campaign, the search and rescue guarantee can be considered.

The e-Visa in Cuba: how does it work?

There is no e-Visa itself to speak for Cuba. Indeed, whether you go directly to the consulate or make your request online, you will receive by mail a tourist card that you will present on arrival.

Do we need a visa for Cuba for a stopover?

If the tourist map is mandatory for all stays of 30 days maximum in Cuba, know that as part of a stopover or transit, it is not necessary to present it . You can stay to the maximum 72 hours in Cuban territory without a visa.