Cuba Relaxes Rules for All International Travelers with New Electronic Visa

Cuba, a cultural center in the Caribbean and one of the tightest countries in the world for tourists is now loosening its admission requirements for visitors from other countries. This May, the nation will introduce a new electronic visa, or eVisa, to greatly facilitate travel, even for Americans.

For many years, Cuba has been notorious for its stringent immigration laws. Only a few nations’ citizens are allowed to enter the country without a visa, while other tourists must apply for either a tourist entry permit or a visa issued by a consulate. Now, however, as Cuba is ready to usher in a new era of free borders—well, sort of—all of this changes:

About Cuba

Known for its rich colonial heritage, delectable food, crystal-clear waters, and, well, its socialist ideas, Cuba is one of the most popular Caribbean travel destinations. It is the location of Havana, a stunning national capital full of treasures from the Spanish era, such as the 16th-century Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the Baroque San Cristóbal Cathedral, and Plaza Vieja, often known as Old Square.

Beyond its physical appeal, Havana’s retro charm is enhanced by classic automobiles and timeless memorabilia that remains true to its 1960s appearance. You’ll quickly fall in love with the city’s vibrant music scene and cuisine. Unfortunately, ties between Washington and Havana have been tenuous at best.

Simply put, the United States and Cuba have been at odds about which ideological route to pursue for decades. After the former imposed many embargoes and economic penalties, it’s safe to say that bilateral relations are less than cordial.

Cuba is now essentially isolated as a result of the U.S.-Cuban crisis, which has also affected its relations with many Latin American countries and friends. At this point, you might be asking why we’re discussing the geopolitics of it when our main issue is travel.

To be precise, Cuba has enforced stringent entrance requirements for decades up until this point due to its reputation as a pariah.

Cuba Launches Easy-To-Apply eVisas

In the past, only travelers with a valid passport from 19 nations have been able to enter Cuba. These travelers are mostly from nations that share Marxist principles or that were formerly members of the former Eastern Bloc, such as China, Belarus, and Russia.

Although local authorities have just revealed that starting this month, Cuba will introduce a new eVisa that is meant to facilitate travel for Americans and Europeans, the country is still standing by its ideals and is not doing away with visas for the Western world.

Regular visas usually require a lengthy application process, interviews at consulates, the surrender of personal documents, and the payment of hefty nonreimbursable fees if the application is denied. eVisas, on the other hand, are becoming a more and more popular substitute for regular visas.

Depending on the nation that uses them, these permits—also known as travel authorization or eVisas—can be obtained online, from the comfort of your home, by completing a streamlined application form. An email containing the visa is then delivered to you.

Many of the world’s most popular travel destinations, like Australia, New Zealand, and Vietnam, require US citizens to apply online for a permit before they may travel there. The European Union will shortly implement a similar requirement. Cuba is not just facilitating travel; it is also announcing a major shift in its tourism strategy:

Does the dreaded pink tourist card have an end in sight?

You see, the requirement for a Tourist Card, also known as a Tarjeta de Turista, had applied to Americans, Europeans, and a large portion of the global population. It can only be obtained through Cuban consular posts, which, depending on your home country, may be quite difficult to deal with; alternatively, airlines and travel businesses licensed by the Cuban government may be able to provide it.

There are two different kinds of tourist cards: pink and green. Although we haven’t been able to confirm which is which, it’s been generally reported that all American travelers traveling to Cuba from the United States need to get a pink card. Well, at least it fits in with the Barbiemania craze from the previous year, I guess.

Either way, whether it was pink or green, a tourist card allowed for a 90-day initial stay, which could be extended for an additional 90 days once the holder was in Cuba. The cost for Americans was $100, and if you’re traveling with family, you quickly realize that the Pearl of the Antilles is not as cheap a vacation destination as Mexico.

How does the eVisa work?

We’ll keep you updated on the eVisa’s launch, which is scheduled for May 2024. According to the information that is now available, it will “simplify” the visa application procedure and do away with the requirement for submitting hard copies of documentation.

Since Cuba is still an island nation under intense surveillance, we anticipate the application form to be thorough but not very distinct from other eVisa forms: Typically, you have to provide authorities with your full name and passport information, let them know when you’re coming into and going out of the country, check a few boxes about security questions (which, because this is Cuba, we’ll encourage you to carefully study), and then pay a fee.

The question of whether the eVisa will still cost $100 for Americans is undoubtedly on your mind. Although the eVisa application managers have not yet disclosed pricing, we wouldn’t anticipate a cheaper rate until specifically mentioned.

Like the soon-to-be-canceled Tourist Card, the eVisa is anticipated to have a 90-day validity period; however, this has not been confirmed.

Additionally, it is unknown at this time if travelers who were unable to apply for Tourist Cards due to formal visa criteria imposed by Cuba—such as Indians, Haitians, Filipinos, Sri Lankans, and Iranians—will be able to use eVisas. Cuban consular officials will oversee the eVisa system, according to local news sources.