Cuba Visa
Cuba is a country located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet. Cuba has a rich history, and also a beautiful culture, including Cuban music, dance and art. Visitors to Cuba must obtain a visa before travel or a tourist card from one of the Cuban diplomatic missions, travel agencies or authorized airlines unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
VISA EXEMPTION
Citizens of the following 19 countries can visit Cuba without a visa:
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia, China, Dominica, Grenada, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Mongolia, Namibia, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Serbia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Visa required for entry:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka
Tourist Card required for entry:
Everyone not on the above two lists, including the United States and Canada.
TYPES OF CUBA VISA
Different Cuba visa types are listed below:
This visa is valid for a maximum of 30 days and must be used within 180 days of when the visa's issue date. It can be extended for a further 30 days whilst in Cuba.
The A7 business visa is for a maximum stay of 30 days. Written confirmation of the purpose of the visit is required by the Cuban Consulate when applying for the visa.
The D7 business visa requires an invitation letter from a Cuban company or a Cuban institution. It is also valid for a maximum stay of 30 days.
The journalist visa cannot be authorized without first submitting a request to the Centro de Prensa Internacional del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba which usually takes about one month. For the visa to be authorized, planned work outlines, photographic equipment which will be brought and a confirmation letter from the publication or news agency are also required for the application. Upon arriving in Cuba, the journalist must register with the Centro de Prensa Internacional in person. A further fee should be paid to them and 2 passport photographs will be required.
This type of Cuba visa is available to people with direct family in the country whether they be parents, siblings, a married partner or children. Processing time is usually longer than for other visas as the Cuban Immigration Directorate have to authorize the visa. The visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended by applying to the Directorate whilst in Cuba for a maximum period of 90 days.
The student visa is for those who plan on staying in Cuba for study, research purposes or to learn Spanish in Cuba. An invitation letter from the study centre is required for the visa to be approved. Again, the visa is valid for a period of 30 days which can be extended once in Cuba.
CUBA VISA REQUIREMENTS
To apply for a Cuba tourist visa you should prepare the following documents:
- A copy of your passport – valid for at least 6 months after your departure date from Cuba.
- A completed and signed Cuba Visa application form.
- Your flight itinerary to and from Cuba.
- Visa processing fee.
- A stamped, self-addressed, pre-paid special delivery envelope (registered or express preferred).
- Each applicant must present copy of travel insurance for the entire trip.
For further information you should contact the nearest Cuba embassy/consulate in your country.
COST OF CUBA VISA
Costs range from $20 to $75 depending on the embassy / consulate.
CUBA VISA APPLICATION FORM
All applicants must download the visa application form, fill in the required details and submit it with mandatory documents to start the process for a Cuba visa.
You can download Cuba visa application form from internet or get directly from the embassy or consulate. It is recommended to contact nearest Cuba embassy or consulate before starting prepare all required documents for application process.