Legal Travel To Cuba
Many people ask, “Can Americans legally travel to Cuba?” Despite what you may have heard the answer is, yes. It is “very” legal for US citizens and residents to travel to Cuba. Hundreds of Americans visit Cuba everyday (currently there are nearly 15 daily non stop flights to 5 Cuban cities departing from Miami, Tampa and Houston). And when it comes to the travel excursions Bespoke Cuba Travel offers, they all strictly adhere to the US State Department and the US Treasury Department’s Cuba travel policies.
The governmental organization responsible for regulating travel to Cuba for Americans is the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC requires that your Cuba trip be booked and guided by an authorized tour company based in the United States (like Bespoke Cuba Travel). Under OFAC regulations, any individual may travel to Cuba without any government documentation or permission in advance if the purpose of their travel falls under one of the twelve legal licenses. There is no actual paper license issued. It works on an honor system. If the purpose of your Cuba travel falls under any of the twelve pre-approved Cuba travel licenses then you can visit Cuba. It’s that simple. You will also require a visa to enter Cuba. No need to worry however, all of our tours include the cost and the processing of your Visa. Visas can be processed within a few hours of their request.
The 12 licensed categories are:
1. Family Visits
2. Journalistic Activity
3. Official Business of Governments or Certain Intergovernmental Organizations
4. Religious Activities
5. Support for the Cuban People
6. Academic Educational Activities
7. Activities of Private Foundations, Research or Educational Institutes
8. Public Performances, Clinics, Workshops, Athletic Competitions and Exhibitions
9. Humanitarian Projects
10. Professional Research and Professional Meetings
11. Exportation, Importation, or Transmission of Informational Materials
12. Certain Authorized Export Transactions Special Category.
Most of these categories are very narrow in scope, meaning few Americans qualify for them. However, the Support for the Cuban People category permits any American to legally travel to Cuba. Travelers must engage in a full-time schedule of activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people and support civil society in Cuba. Activities that provide “Support for the Cuban People” can range from eating in privately-owned restaurants (paladars) and visiting local artists to spending money at private businesses owned by Cubans and staying at a casa particulares (Bed &Breakfast) instead of military owned hotels.
US Travelers are still able to spend unlimited amounts of money throughout the island and bring back nearly anything they wish (provided they do not exceed State Department and US customs limitations) except tobacco and alcohol products.
Shortlyt after you return home, you will receive a report from us including copies of all the receipts associated with your trip. The report also includes the schedule of your respective activities, proof that you patronized businesses owned by Cubans, etc. OFAC requires you to keep this information for 5 years. We are the only Cuba travel provider that provides guests with such an exhaustive record.
The most recent change to US Cuba Travel policy requires that you must avoid staying at hotels owned by the Cuban military and banned by the US State and Treasury Departments. Bespoke Cuba Travel will lead you away from these hotels. In addition, there is the Prohibited Financial Transactions List. This list forbids Americans from spending money at businesses owned by the Cuban military and communist party officials. Compared to everything Cuba has to offer, this list is very small. It represents less than 1% of the businesses on the island. The objective is for travelers to do business directly with Cuban owners of small businesses as opposed to entities that would disproportionately benefit the communist regime at the expense of private enterprise. Bespoke Cuba Travel will guide you away from those entities.
If you have further questions about how Americans can travel to Cuba legally you can Contact Us for more information or call the Treasury Department directly at 1-800-540-6322 Press #5 for the Cuba Travel desk then choose option 1, 2 or 3 (it doesn’t matter which one). At the end of the message press the * button on your phone and you will be connected. They are very helpful (you will likely be asked to leave a message; they respond quickly).
You will also require a visa to enter Cuba. No need to worry however, all of our tours include the cost and the processing of your Visa. Visas can be processed within a few hours of their request.
In conclusion, Legal travel to Cuba is a little cumbersome however, not as overwhelming as it may seem. It’s definitely worth it. Any American can visit Cuba and we will make the process of obtaining a Cuba Travel Visa a simple and seamless one for you.