Cuba entry requirements: how to sort your tourist card and eVisa
Planning a trip to Cuba is exciting, and the entry process is more straightforward than its reputation suggests once you know the moving parts. This guide walks you through how to navigate the steps, from the traveller information form to proof of insurance, so you arrive in Havana ready to enjoy the island rather than untangle paperwork at the airport.
For the precise, up-to-date status for your nationality, always check the Cuba corridor page and the official Cuban government portal before you book. This article explains how the process works; it does not replace official guidance, and nothing here is immigration advice.
What you need to enter Cuba
Most visitors to Cuba travel on a short tourist stay and need a small set of documents lined up before departure. In broad terms, that means a valid passport, a tourist card (often called the tarjeta del turista), an online traveller information form, and proof of travel medical insurance. Airlines can and do check these at the gate, so the goal is to have everything sorted well before you reach the airport.
Because requirements vary by nationality and change from time to time, treat the Cuba corridor page as your starting point. It reflects the current entry status for travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries, and links straight to the official source.
The Cuban tourist card explained
The tourist card is the document that permits a short leisure stay. It is tied to your trip rather than printed in your passport, and travellers commonly obtain it before departure through an authorised provider, a Cuban consulate, or in some cases the airline. Which route applies to you depends on where you are flying from and which airline you use, so confirm the method with your carrier when you book.
Fill in the card carefully. The details should match your passport exactly, and you keep part of the card to hand back when you leave the country, so look after it during your stay. If you are routing through the United States, the rules can differ from a direct journey, which is another reason to verify your specific path on the official portal rather than relying on a friend's experience from a different route.
How the traveller information process works
Cuba operates an online traveller information system, D'Viajeros, which gathers your travel, health, and customs details before arrival. You complete it shortly before you fly and receive a QR code to show on entry. Submitting it early, using a reliable connection, saves time and stress at the airport.
Start at the official portal: dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu. Enter your details accurately, keep the QR code accessible offline as well as online, and screenshot it in case the venue Wi-Fi is patchy when you land. For the current eVisa and form requirements for your nationality, the Cuba corridor page links through to the same official source.
Passport validity and onward travel
Check that your passport has enough validity for the whole trip and a little beyond. Many destinations expect several months of remaining validity, and carriers may turn you away at check-in if your passport is close to expiry. Our guide to passport validity rules explains how these windows are usually calculated and how to avoid a nasty surprise at the gate.
It also helps to be able to show onward or return travel and an address for your first nights on the island. These are common expectations across many countries, and having the details ready makes the arrival conversation quick and friendly.
Travel insurance and health entry rules
Cuba expects visitors to hold travel medical insurance that covers treatment while in the country, and you may be asked to show evidence of it on arrival. Arrange a policy that clearly covers medical care and, ideally, medical evacuation, and carry the documentation with you rather than buried in an email inbox.
For health preparation more broadly, check the latest vaccine guidance for Cuba at least eight weeks before you travel, and confirm your policy details before you fly. The Cuban emergency number for an ambulance is 104. None of this is medical advice; it is a prompt to prepare early and travel covered.
Getting connected when you land
Sorted your entry paperwork? The next thing most travellers want is to get online, both to show that QR code smoothly and to find their way around once they arrive. Connectivity in Cuba has historically been limited and concentrated around public hotspots, so planning ahead matters more here than in many destinations.
An eSIM lets you set up a data plan before you leave home and switch it on when you land, with no hunting for a local shop. Saily offers eSIM data plans that cover Cuba, so you can arrive connected and keep your home number active for messages. You can get a Saily eSIM here and install it in a few minutes before departure. If eSIMs are new to you, our explainer on what an eSIM is covers the basics, and our connectivity checklist walks through everything to sort before you fly.
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What to do once you are in
Cuba rewards slow, curious travel. Havana, the capital, pairs the UNESCO-listed streets of Old Havana with the sea-sprayed Malecon and the grand El Capitolio. West of the city, the Viñales Valley unfolds into limestone mogotes and tobacco farms, while Trinidad preserves pastel colonial lanes near the sugar-rich Valle de los Ingenios. Beach-focused travellers gravitate to Varadero on the Hicacos peninsula, and music lovers head east to Santiago de Cuba.
Spanish is the main language, the currency is the Cuban peso, and traffic drives on the right. A few phrases of Spanish go a long way, and a relaxed pace suits the island far better than a packed itinerary.
A note on safety and conditions: travel advisories for Cuba have at times urged extra care, and the situation can shift, so read your government's current advisory alongside this guide before you commit to dates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Cuba as a tourist?
Most short-stay visitors travel on a tourist card rather than a traditional visa, and complete the online traveller information form before arrival. The exact requirement depends on your nationality, so confirm your status on the Cuba corridor page and the official portal before booking.
What is the D'Viajeros form and when do I complete it?
D'Viajeros is Cuba's online system for submitting your travel, health, and customs information before you arrive. You usually complete it in the days just before departure and receive a QR code to present on entry.
How do I get a Cuban tourist card?
Travellers typically obtain the tourist card before departure through an authorised provider, a Cuban consulate, or sometimes the airline, depending on the departure country and carrier. Confirm the method with your airline when you book.
Does Cuba require travel insurance?
Cuba expects visitors to hold travel medical insurance valid for their stay, and you may be asked to show proof on arrival. Arrange a policy that covers medical treatment, and carry the documentation with you.
How long can I stay in Cuba as a tourist?
Permitted stay lengths vary by nationality and can sometimes be extended in country. Check the current allowance for your passport on the official portal linked from the Cuba corridor page.
Is the entry process different if I travel via the United States?
Routing through the United States can change which rules apply to your journey, so verify your specific path on the official Cuban portal rather than assuming it matches a direct flight.
Will my phone work in Cuba?
Coverage and public Wi-Fi have historically been limited in Cuba. Setting up an eSIM such as Saily before you travel means you can arrive with a data plan ready, rather than relying on finding connectivity locally.
What documents should I have ready at the airport?
Have your passport, your tourist card, your D'Viajeros QR code, proof of travel medical insurance, and details of your accommodation and onward travel accessible, including offline copies in case of patchy signal.
Where is the official source for Cuba entry requirements?
The official traveller portal is dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu. For a plain-language summary and the current status for your nationality, start at the Cuba corridor page.