Foreign nationals visiting the island of Cuba will generally need a valid passport (which must usually be valid as much as 6 months beyond the intended stay although for some nationalities it may be less) or proof of citizenship and a tourist card or visa in order to enter the country.

The visa will authorize people to stay for 30 days with the option of renewing it for an additional 30 days. This tourist visa is only appropriate for recreational purposes and will not cover other travel arrangements.

You will also need to show a return or onward ticket. Vaccinations against Yellow Fever are also required if you go to Cuba within 5 days of having been in an infected area.

Special authorization from Cuban immigration authorities is need if you plan staying outside a hotel or in other non-authorized accommodation (for example a “casa particular”). In this case you may have to enter Cuba with a document confirming that you have reserved and paid for a minimum of 3 nights in a hotel.

Visitors to the island are permitted to bring personal belongings to Cuba such as photo and video cameras, portable computers, portable radios/recorders, sports and fishing gear without duty or taxes. However all of these items (if taken to Cuba duty free) must be declared upon arrival and you must leave with them on your return. They cannot not be left behind in Cuba.

When leaving the country, tourists over the age of 14 are allowed to take the following products with them:

Tobacco: 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 200 cigarettes or 250 g of cut tobacco.

Alcohol: 1 liter of alcoholic beverage with more than 22% alcohol or 2 liters of beverages with less than 22% alcohol.

Coffee: up to 500 grams.

Products using animal parts from endangered species such as crocodile skins, tortoise shells and black corals are forbidden and cannot be taken through customs.

Departure tax for leaving Cuba is around 20 US dollars. In some cases this tax will have already been included in your flight ticket.