How to Send Money to Cuba in 2026: Legal Options, Best Apps & What Actually Works

Sending money to Cuba isn’t like sending money anywhere else. You can’t just open your banking app, type in an IBAN, and hit transfer. Most mainstream financial platforms block Cuba automatically. Many international banks refuse to process transfers. And even when sending money is legal in your country, your bank may still decline the transaction.  That doesn’t mean it’s impossible or illegal.  It just means you need to use the right services — and understand how the system works before you send anything. In this guide on how to send money to Cuba, I’ll break down what’s legal, what doesn’t work, which companies operate in Cuba, and how to choose the safest and most reliable option in 2026.

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Legal Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only. Regulations around remittances to Cuba vary by country and can change due to sanctions and compliance updates. Always check your local laws and the remittance provider’s current terms before sending money. This article does not constitute legal or financial advice.

Why Sending Money to Cuba Is Difficult

Cuba is treated as a high-risk jurisdiction by most global financial institutions. This means that many banks block transfers automatically, and platforms like Wise block transactions to and from Cuba due to compliance restrictions.  PayPal does not operate in Cuba.  Standard international wire transfers are often rejected.

On the Cuban side, banking is tightly controlled, and payout systems are limited. That’s why only specialized remittance companies operate in this space — they’ve built their infrastructure specifically for Cuba.  The result? You must use a provider that explicitly supports Cuba. Your everyday bank almost certainly won’t help you.

Why send money to Cuba?

There are a variety of reasons to send money to Cuba from your home country.  I know that some of them are obvious, but the three main reasons to send money to Cuba?

1. You’re on vacation, and you run out of cash, and your bank cards don’t work in Cuba (for whatever reason).  So send it to yourself for pick up.
2. You have family in Cuba and want to provide them support
3. You wish to support the Cuban people, perhaps people that you’ve met in the past, or if you’re unable to travel right now, to support those that you were going to stay with.

Is It Legal to Send Money to Cuba?

In most countries, yes, it’s legal to send money to Cuba in some cases, but there are rules and important differences between countries.  Obviously, rules and laws change, so I refer you back to my note above to ALWAYS check with your local laws, regulations, and institutions.  Remember also that many financial institutions are today global and are subject to regulations in other countries.

Is it legal to send money from the United States to Cuba?

Yes, it’s legal but regulated. Remittances are permitted under specific categories (typically family or humanitarian). Rules fall under U.S. Treasury (OFAC) guidance and can change.  The OFAC rules are here.

Is it legal to send money from Canada to Cuba?

Yes, it’s legal to send money to Cuba from Canada. 

Is it legal to send money from the United Kingdom to Cuba?

Yes.  It is legal to send money to Cuba from the UK.  There are no general prohibitions.  However, there are only specific institutions that will allow you to send money to Cuba from the UK.

Is it legal to send money to Cuba from the European Union?

Yes.  It is legal in most member states.

Is it legal to send money to Cuba from Australia

Yes, it’s legal.

The important thing to remember is that “Legal does not mean your bank will process a payment”.  Most mainstream institutions do not handle Cuba-related transfers.

Best Apps Institutions for Sending Money to Cuba

I’ve already covered that many global financial institutions do NOT operate in Cuba and will not send remittances to Cuba, so here’s a breakdown of the main legal providers currently operating and sending money to Cuba.  Each of these apps and institutions can be used to send money to Cuba in 2026.  I’ll update the article with notes if this changes.

Using Supermarket23 to send money to Cuba

Supermarket23 has long been recommended for online ordering of food to be delivered to Cuban families and friends.  You can also send money to Cuba using Supermarket23.  It is very fast; sometimes your money will be there in a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours.  To pay for your order at Supermarket23 You can use Visa and MasterCard credit cards, as well as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Bizum, and TropiPay.

You can use this to send money if you are also making a food or goods order.  You can also buy Supermarket23 gift cards for people in Cuba.  Cash is delivered directly to the recipient in US Dollars; there’s no fee for the recipient to pay (you, as the sender, pay the fees, and they’re paid at the time of order.  Cash is handed to the recipient at the delivery address that you specify.  The cash delivery service is only available in certain locations and may be subject to availability.  When you place your order on Supermarket23, you’ll see if a cash delivery option is available for your recipient.

As of February 2026, Supermarket23 is ONLY delivering (cash and food) to Havana,  Isla de la Juventud, and Pinar del Rio provinces.

You can use Supermarket23 to send from the USA and from Australia too.

Using Fonmoney to send money to Cuba

Fonmoney works for sending money to Cuba from the UK, Canada, and other countries (here is a list of the countries that they support).  You can use Fonmoeny to send MLC bank transfers, AIS card top-ups, Tarjeta Clásica, and also use it for cash pickup across the country.  (That means it’s not just Havana, they also do cash pick up in  Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Camagüey.

Fonmoney does NOT work if you’re in the USA.

If you’re sending cash, you can send from the UK in GBP, and it’s converted to USD for the payout in Cuba.

You can pay using a bank transfer or using a debit or credit card.  You can pay in the following currencies:  euros, British pounds, US dollars (USD), Chilean pesos (CLP), Polish złoty (PLN), and Mexican pesos (MXN).   (There are others, including the Danish krone!)

It takes 5-7 working days for money transfers using Fonmoney to arrive in a Cuban bank account. 

Using Sendvalu to send money to Cuba

You can use Sendvalu to send cash to Cuba, or you can use it to top up a debit card or buy a prepaid card to be delivered in Cuba.  You can recharge a Tarjeta Clásica or a Bandec Tropical with Sendvalu.

For the sending cash to Cuba option from Sendvalu, money is delivered directly to someone’s door once your transfer has been made.

You can use Sendvalu to send cash from the USA to Cuba.  You can also pay in a variety of currencies and have your recipient get US dollars.

Using DUCApp (Dollars to Cuba) to send money to Cuba and Duales

DUCapp allows you to send money to Cuba.  You can send cash, prepaid cards, or top up existing cards with DUCApp.

DUCapp offers a variety of services that include sending effective Cuban pesos (CUP) to your home, cash delivery of USD to your home, cash delivery of euros to your home (only City of Havana), sending to USD-MLC Card – US dollars (card 9225, 9235 and 9245), sending to CUP Card (9204, 9205, 9206 and 9224) and recharging mobile phones.  You can transfer money to a recipient’s card, but it’s better to send USD, which can be delivered anywhere within Cuba.

It usually takes 48 hours or so for cash to get to Havana from the time that you make the order.

Although it’s part of the same organization, you’ll need a separate login to use Duales to send money to Cuba.  The principle is, though, the same.

Using Cuballama to send money to Cuba

You can use Cuballama to send money to Cuba.  Cash is delivered to your recipient’s door.  It takes between 1 and 5 days for delivery, and you’ll pay a fee of 10% for the service.  Cuballama works from the USA.

You can use Cuballam to send groceries, send cash, and top up internet and cell phones in Cuba.  You can buy “Cuballama Credit” so that you, your friends, or family can order what they want.  There are also stores in the USA and Madrid, Spain, where you can pay cash for the service, so you don’t need a bank payment for the service.

Using Katapulk to send money to Cuba

Katapulk allows you to send money, groceries, cell phone top-ups, and more to Cuba.  You can opt for delivery or, in some instances, pickup. The policy for this depends on the store.  This is a quick service, and you can get service the same day as the order.

Using Tropipay to send money to Cuba

Tropipay sends money to more than 130 countries, including Cuba.  You can send via bank transfer, and transfers usually arrive within 3 business days.  It’s an easy process, and their calculator allows you to work out what the fees are (read about it here).

If you have a Tropipay account and transfer to another Tropipay account, then there are no fees if your account is personal rather than business.   Funds are held in Euros (€) guaranteed by the Bank of Spain and the European Central Bank.  The only cost is the service fee for depositing funds into your TropiPay Wallet. Once the funds are credited, transfers between users with personal accounts are free.  And then your Tropipay Wallet works like a bank account. 

Using Tocopay to send money to Cuba

Tocopay allows you to send money to Cuba.  To make the transaction, the sender must have an international card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, or UnionPay), prepaid, credit, or debit card enabled for Secure Online Payments.   You can also use Bizum to make a payment.  Your recipient in Cuba must be the holder of an AIS, CLÁSICA, TROPICAL card from BANDEC or an MLC card from the Metropolitano, Popular de Ahorro (BPA), or de Crédito y Comercio (BANDEC) banks.

There’s a calculator on the website that shows the fees that you’ll pay, and it depends on where you’re sending the money to, but expect about 10-11%

Deposits into your recipient’s account take up to 5 business days, but they are often much quicker.

Other Apps and Sites to use to send money to Cuba

There are several other sites that you can use to send money to Cuba. I don’t have enough experience with their services to comment positively, but they are

• CubaMax
• VACuba
• ACuba
• EnvioDinero

If you have positive or negative experiences with any of the above, please do let me know.

Fees, Exchange Rates & Hidden Costs when sending money to Cuba

This is where many get caught out.  Sending money to Cuba should be a decision you make like any other financial decision, so you should look at a variety of different areas

Low Fees Don’t Always Mean Better Value

Some services advertise “low” or “zero” fees — but make their margin on the exchange rate instead. What matters is the final amount your recipient receives.

You should also compare

• Transfer fees
• The exchange rate used
• The final payout amount

Decide whether you want to send Cash vs Card Top-Up

Cash pickup gives the recipient flexibility — but requires travel to a payout location and ID verification, while card top-ups are convenient and reduce the risk of carrying cash — but may limit where funds can be spent or withdrawn.

The most important number isn’t what you send — it’s what they receive.

Safety Tips When Sending Money to Cuba

• Confirm the recipient’s full legal name exactly as on their ID
• Double-check payout locations
• Keep transaction confirmations
• Verify ID requirements in advance
• Never rush a transfer without reviewing the final payout amount

FAQs about sending money to Cuba

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about sending money to Cuba. 

What is the safest way to send money to Cuba?

Using a specialized remittance company that explicitly supports Cuba. I’ve listed out the best current options for sending cash to Cuba in this article.

Can I send money using Wise?

No. Wise does not work in Cuba, and most mainstream fintech platforms block Cuba-related transactions.

Can I send money to Cuba using PayPal?

No.  Paypal does not operate in Cuba.  That’s not to say that you won’t find someone in Cub who has a PayPal account who can give you cash in return for a transfer.

How long does it take to send money to Cuba?

It can take as little as minutes on the same day to 5 business days, depending on the provider and method.

Can I use Western Union to send money to Cuba?

No.  Western Union stopped serving Cuba in November 2020.

What currency will they receive?

Usually USD-equivalent or local currency via payout system, depending on the service used.

How much money can you send to Cuba?

If you’re sending money from the USA to Cuba, then you’re limited to US$1,000 per quarter (i.e., 3-month period).  This is a limit per person that you’re sending to, not per household.

Is it possible to send money to Cuba for a U.S. citizen who is visiting?

Yes. 

Can tourists to Cuba send money to Cuba for their own use?

Yes, if permitted under their country’s regulations and using a legal provider.

Final Thoughts on Sending Money to Cuba

Regardless of why you need to send money to Cuba, whether you ran out of cash on your vacation, you’re supporting family or friends, there are a myriad of ways to do this.  They’re just not the same as other countries.  Cuba is often a fast-moving situation, so I’ll update this with current information if and when things change.

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