The Cuban Government announced a new platform in May 2024, that would provide electronic visas for visitors to the country. The new eVisaCuba platform allows visitors to Cuba to apply online for a visa, to (in some cases) pay online for the visa, and also to check the progress of their visa application. Replacing the green Cuban Tourist Card and the pink Cuban Tourist Card, the system is live and is expected to fully replace all tourist cards by January 2025. Here’s what you need to know about the Cuba eVisa, how to apply for it, how to pay for it, and how to check your eVisa status.
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The Cuban eVisa was announced on May 2nd, 2024, and since then has been undergoing a pilot scheme with travelers from several countries able to use the system. It’s only in recent weeks that all countries with direct flights to Cuba have been added to the system. Paper-based Tourist Cards (my guide to them is here) can be used alongside the eVisa and in place of it until January 2025.
EASIEST WAY TO GET AN EVISA
Easiest Way to Get a Cuba eVISA
Buy online, get your Cuban eVisa without needing to visit a Cuban consulate, send money to the embassy. Buy from EasyTouristCard – an approved Cuban evisa vendor. It’s quick, easy and safe. Choose standard or expedited delivery!
Entry Requirements for Cuba
There are currently simple entry requirements to Cuba.
- You must have at least 6 months validity on your passport after you plan to leave Cuba (this depends on your nationality)
- You need a Cuban eVisa or a paper Cuban Tourist Card. (Note the Paper-based Pink and Green Cuban Tourist Cards are only valid until January 2025).
- You *must* have medical Insurance when traveling to Cuba – read my guide to Cuban Medical Insurance.
- If you are traveling from a Yellow Fever area to Cuba you must have a yellow fever certificate.
- You also need to complete a D’Viajeros form for the Cuban Government, this must be done in the 3 days prior to your arrival in the country. You can find the form for this here. I’ve detailed this step-by-step guide on completing the D’Viajeros form.
What is a Cuba eVisa?
The Cuban eVisa is essentially your entry card to Cuba. It replaces what’s long been known as the Cuban Tourist Card. Cuban Tourist Cards, in place since 1993, were either pink or green physical pieces of paper that you were required to purchase to board a flight to Cuba. The Cuban eVisa is available at the Cuban government site https://evisacuba.cu/
You do not need to use a visa agent to get a Cuban eVisa. You can apply directly.
Who needs a Cuban eVisa?
- Anyone who visits Cuba as a non-Cuban will need a Cuban eVisa. Most visitors to Cuba have traveled there using a paper-based Cuban Tourist Card. You will now need a Cuban eVisa if you are traveling from Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City.
- Countries that previously were able to travel to Cuba WITHOUT either a Cuban Visa or a Cuban Tourist card now must apply for a Cuban eVisa. Those countries are Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda, Belarus, Mongolia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Barbados, Dominica and Namibia.
- Visitors from countries who were required to receive a full Cuban Visa must also now apply for a Cuban eVisa as the Cuban eVisa is replacing the necessity to apply for a full visa for those traveling from the following countries (they were not able to use the Tourist Card scheme and had to apply for a full visa at an embassy or consulate of Cuba) Those countries are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Natives of the Fujian Province in China.
How long is the Cuba eVisa Valid For?
The Cuba eVisa is valid (for everyone) for a single entry to Cuba and a stay of up to 90 days. You may extend the Cuba eVisa for a further 90 days at a local Cuban immigration office.
When you have purchased the Cuban eVisa it is valid for travel for 12 months from the date of issue.
What is the cost of the Cuban eVisa?
As was with the Cuban Tourist Cards, there is a cost to buying the eVisa directly from a Cuban embassy or consulate, and there are also resellers. The costs referenced below are the stated costs if you are buying directly from the Cuban embassy or consulate. They do not include any money order or checking charges.
Note that if you’re flying from Canada, your airline is likely, as with the Tourist Card, to include the cost of the eVisa in your flight. Check with your airline before purchasing an eVisa.
The official cost of the Cuban eVisa depends on which Cuban consulate you are buying your eVisa from. Not your nationality. You can see all the costs for each country at the official site here, by simply selecting the country of departure.
- USA: US$50
- Canada: CAD$24
- EU: 22 Euros
- Mexico: 575 MXN
- Türkiye: 22 Euros
- Panama 25 PAB
- Brazil: 90 BRL
- Russia: 3,000 RUB
- China 123 CNY
There are NO guidelines form the Cuban government stating that if you are flying from the USA you need to buy an eVisa from the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. The eVisa is an electronic document. It can be issued anywhere. Note if you are flying home via the USA and rely on an ESTA, then you MUST read this before you leave home.
Is this likely to change? Who knows. It seems (as of September 2024) a wee bit messed up with all the different pricing, but I suspect it will end up being EXACTLY the same as the Tourist Card situation – as in you can buy them from the Cuban embassy or you can buy them from a reseller, which is generally speaking a heck of a lot easier.
We work with and recommend EasyTouristCard for this. Their process is easy, streamlined and it doesn’t involved sending money orders or checks to Cuban consulates. They do all of that for you. They’re also a heck of a lot quicker.
The Cuban embassy takes on average 5 days to deliver eVisa codes after receiving the payment. If you’re applying via the Washington DC embassy, and need to send money orders or checks, then the total time frame is around 10-14 days. EasyTourist Card are a Cuban approved eVisa vendor and provide visas in 12 -72 hours. Get your eVisa for Cuba here.
The Cuba eVisa versus the Cuban Tourist Card
The Cuban eVisa is replacing the following entry methods to Cuba
- The Green Cuban Tourist Card
- The Pink Cuban Tourist Card
- The Cuban Visa
- Entry to the country for those who do NOT require a visa or a tourist card.
EASIEST WAY TO GET AN EVISA
Easiest Way to Get a Cuba eVISA
Buy online, get your Cuban eVisa without needing to visit a Cuban consulate, send money to the embassy. Buy from EasyTouristCard – an approved Cuban evisa vendor. It’s quick, easy and safe. Choose standard or expedited delivery!
How to Apply for a Cuba eVisa
The process to apply for a Cuban eVisa is simple via the Cuban government, but the response you will get is NOT instant. You will get a response (usually) within 72 hours of your payment. Note that application and payment are two separate processes, and the response (approval or denial) happens only after payment.
For a quicker response, and an easier experience, we recommend and work with EasyTouristCard (they’ve provided Tourist Cards for Cuba for years now). They regularly get FIVE STAR reviews and their service is excellent. Their process is simple. You can see it here.
What you need to apply for a Cuba eVisa
You’ll need your passport number and an email address to apply for an eVisa to Cuba. Your eVisa for Cuba will be associated with your passport number. If you change passports you will need to apply for a new Cuban eVisa.
There is a downloadable help file available in Spanish and English.
How long does it take for a Cuba eVisa to come through?
Once you have completed the online form, you will need to make your payment. Payment is transacted through the Cuban consulate or embassy in the country from which you are traveling to Cuba. After payment, the timescale in which you can expect a response is 72 hours. Or thereabouts.
If you’d like an easier process, then apply for your eVisa through EasyTourist Card here.
How to pay for a Cuba eVisa
Payment through most other countries apart from the United States can be made online via credit or debit card, via a money order to the local embassy or consulate, or by cash at the local embassy. (note payment types depend on the country in which you’re applying). If you want to check a particular country, then go to the online form here, as the online form for the Cuban eVisa states the payment requirements.
Paying for a Cuban eVisa in the USA
If you’re buying an eVisa from the USA, then you can apply online at the eVisa platform, but the payment is somewhat different from other countries. You will need to mail a check or a money order to the Cuban embassy in Washington D.C. The US economic sanctions do not permit credit card payments. Note that as the applications are not processed until payments are received, you will need to allow longer if you are applying from the USA, to enable the payment to get to the embassy.
It is much easier to buy online from EasyTouristCard. The eVisa is NOT like the previous Pink and Green Tourist cards. There’s no differentiation between the evisa that’s issued in different countries. It’s just a visa number that appends to both your passport and the D’Viajeros form
Apply for up to 10 Cuban eVisas as part of the same procedure.
If you are traveling with friends or family you can include them in the same application. Up to 10 applications can be made in the same group. However, each traveler requires their own eVisa.
I’ve detailed the process below, which is how it works if you want to apply directly at the Cuban embassy or consulate.
EASIEST WAY TO GET AN EVISA
Easiest Way to Get a Cuba eVISA
Buy online, get your Cuban eVisa without needing to visit a Cuban consulate, send money to the embassy. Buy from EasyTouristCard – an approved Cuban evisa vendor. It’s quick, easy and safe. Choose standard or expedited delivery!
Cuba eVisa Application Process
Here’s what the Cuban eVisa application looks like.
- First, go to the official online form
- Click on the button for New Visa Application
- Select the country and consulate from where you will apply. I’ve selected Spain and Madrid as my example.
- Select the payment type of choice. Make a note of the cost (for Spain it is 22 euros) and how the payment will be made. Note that currently, even if you have opted to see this form in English, the instructions are in Spanish
Complete the required fields
- Country of Nationality
- Passport Number
- First (and any subsequent) name
- Last name
- Birthdate
- Email address (repeat it)
- Sex
- Phone Number (not required)
- If you applying for visas for other travellers, then click add another, and complete their details.
- Make your payment using the payment details on the form (or send the money order/check/take the cash to the consulate if allowed).
- Upload an electronic receipt for the payment to the form.
- Review your application complete the CAPTCHA and click SEND.
That’s it.
Check your Cuban eVisa Application
Checking your Cuban eVisa application is simple. Use the Right-hand button on the main visa application form or go directly to the visa verification form. Type in your email address, complete the CAPTCHA, check the box, and click SEND. An email will be sent to you with the results of your application (at the time of sending). The emails are instantaneous and updated with content that is in the system.
If you have not completed your visa application you will still get an email and the attached PDF file, but the content will be empty.
Costs of a Cuba eVisa
The cost of the Cuban eVisa depends on where you obtain the eVisa (i.e. which country). It does not depend on the passport on which you are traveling.
There are different prices for obtaining the eVisa in different countries. Here are some examples of the pricing of the Cuban eVisa. And note that these are the prices for Cuban eVisas if you’re departing from that country. The cost in (most countries) for the Cuban eVisa is applied in local currency. A notable difference is Türkiye, which is charged in Euros.
- USA: US$50
- Canada: CAD$24
- EU: 22 Euros
- Mexico: 575 MXN
- Türkiye: 22 Euros
- Panama 25 PAB
- Brazil: 90 BRL
- Russia: 3,000 RUB
- China 123 CNY
You pay for the visa via the local Cuban consulate. This can be online in most cases, or via cash or money order in person at the consulate/embassy. The eVisa platform indicates how you pay for the eVisa in each country.
FAQs
If you’ve got questions about the Cuban eVisa then check below. If we don’t have the answer to a question, then ask us in the comments, or send us an email at [email protected]
When is the Cuba eVisa valid from?
The Cuban eVisa was announced in May 2024 and is live as of now (August 2024). It is expected that ALL tourist cards will be replaced by the eVisa by January 2025. The Cuban eVisa is valid for entry to Cuba for one year from the date of issue, it allows you to spend 90 days in Cuba.
Who can use a Cuba eVisa?
Anyone can use a Cuban eVisa. You simply need to select the country from which you are flying into Cuba as your country of application on the official form here.
Does the Cuba eVisa replace the green tourist card?
Until January 2025 you can use either the paper green tourist card or the Cuban eVisa. From January 2025 the Cuban eVisa will replace the Green Cuban Tourist Card.
Does the Cuba eVisa replace the pink tourist card?
Until January 2025 you can use either the paper pink tourist card or the Cuban eVisa. From January 2025 the Cuban eVisa will replace the Pink Cuban Tourist Card.
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR EXPLORING CUBA INDEPENDENTLY
These are the resources and booking sites that we use when traveling to Cuba.
-Get a Cuba Travel and Medical Insurance Quote from Visitors Coverage here –
Alternatively, Civitatis Insurance is a great option for the required insurance for Cuba.
Read about the Cuba eVisa, and buy your Cuban eVisa here.
Flying via the USA and relying on entry with an ESTA? Read this.
Book your Viazul Bus tickets here
Use Daytrip to book transport between cities AND to sightsee along the way
Pre-book and prepay shared & private shuttles here
Book the best FREE Walking Tours in Cuba
Reserve attractions, day trips, and activities in Cuba here
Get online in Cuba EASILY with a Cuba eSIM Card here, or read my guide to Cuba physical SIMs here.
Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Cuba > discount coupon here
Book Accommodation in Cuba’s Casa Particular here
Final Words on Using the Cuban eVisa
The somewhat streamlined process (except if you’re traveling from the United States) of the Cuban visa process is a welcome change. The process is easy to complete and assuming the full implementation continues and goes well, it looks to be an easy process for entering Cuba. I’d love your feedback on your experiences.
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2 thoughts on “How to Get a Cuba eVisa”
If I am a Canadian, leaving from Canada with a scheduled stopover in USA, do I pay Cdn or USA fee for this visa?
The guidelines from the Cuban government are NOT clear. They don’t specifically say (at this time) if you’re flying from the USA you need to pay in USD (and with all the rigamarole that is involved in that with paying NOT by credit card, ie money order or check at the Cuban Embassy in D.C.). I would buy from Canada and pay in CDN$ – I’ll update this post if and when I get clarification.