U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
Consular Information Sheet
This information is current as of April 12, 2004
Cuba
May 30, 2003
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Cuba is a developing country with a totalitarian, communist government.
The United States has no direct diplomatic relations with Cuba, but provides
consular and other services through the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.
The U.S. Interests Section operates under the legal protection of the Swiss
government but is not co-located at the Swiss Embassy.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS/TRAVEL
TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations of
the U.S. Treasury Department require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
be licensed to engage in any transaction related to travel to, from and within
Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction
includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico
or Canada.
The following categories
of travelers are permitted to spend money for Cuban travel and to engage in
other transactions directly incident to the purpose of their travel under
a general license, without the need to obtain special permission from the
U.S. Treasury Department:
- U.S. and foreign government
officials traveling on official business, including representatives of international
organizations of which the U.S. is a member;
- Journalists and supporting
broadcasting or technical personnel regularly employed by a news reporting
organization;
- Persons making a once-a-year
visit to close family relatives in circumstances of humanitarian need;
- Full-time professionals
whose travel transactions are directly related to professional research in
their professional areas, provided that their research: (1) is of a noncommercial
academic nature; (2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba, and (3) has a
substantial likelihood of public dissemination;
- Full-time professionals
whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional
meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional
organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings
or conferences in other countries;
- Amateur or semi-professional
athletes or teams traveling to Cuba to participate in an athletic competition
held under the auspices of the relevant international sports federation.
The Department of the
Treasury may issue licenses on a case-by-case basis authorizing Cuba travel-related
transactions directly incident to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied
delivery, and servicing of exports and reexports that appear consistent with
the licensing policy of the Department of Commerce. The sectors in which U.S.
citizens may sell and service products to Cuba include agricultural commodities,
telecommunications activities, medicine, and medical devices. The Treasury
Department will also consider requests for specific licenses for humanitarian
travel not covered by the general license, educational exchanges, and religious
activities by individuals or groups affiliated with a religious organization.
Unless otherwise exempted
or authorized, any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who engages in any
travel-related transaction in Cuba violates the regulations. Persons not licensed
to engage in travel-related transactions may travel to Cuba without violating
the regulations only if all Cuba-related expenses are covered by a person
not subject to U.S. jurisdiction and provided that the traveler does not provide
any service to Cuba or a Cuban national. Such travel is called "fully-hosted"
travel. Such travel may not by made on a Cuban carrier or aboard a direct
flight between the United States and Cuba.
Failure to comply with
Department of Treasury regulations may result in civil penalties and criminal
prosecution upon return to the United States.
Additional information
may be obtained by contacting the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets
Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Treasury
Annex, Washington, DC 20220, telephone (202) 622-2480; fax (202) 622-1657.
Internet users can log on to the web site
through http://www.treas.gov/ofac/.
Should a traveler receive
a license, a valid passport is required for entry into Cuba. The Cuban government
requires that the traveler obtain a visa prior to arrival. Attempts to enter
or exit Cuba illegally, or to aid the irregular exit of Cuban nationals or
other persons, are contrary to Cuban law and are punishable by jail terms.
Entering Cuban territory, territorial waters or airspace (within 12 miles
of the Cuban coast) without prior authorization from the Cuban government
may result in arrest or other enforcement action by Cuban authorities. Immigration
violators are subject to prison terms ranging from four years for illegal
entry or exit to as many as 30 years for aggravated cases of alien smuggling.
For current information on Cuban entry and customs requirements, travelers
may contact the Cuban Interests Section, an office of the Cuban government,
located at 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, telephone (202) 797-8518.
In 1996, the Cuban Air
Force shot down two U.S. registered civilian aircraft in international airspace.
As a result of this action, the President of the United States and the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an “Emergency Cease and Desist
Order and Statement of Policy,” which allows for vigorous enforcement
action against U.S. registered aircraft that violate Cuban airspace. Pursuant
to an Executive Order issued after the 1996 incident, boaters must coordinate
their travel plans to Cuba with the U.S. Coast Guard. Additional information
is available through the FAA's Internet
web site at http://www.intl.faa.gov, (click on ‘Americas/Spain’
and then ‘Cuba’) or by telephone at 202-267-3210. In addition,
the U.S. Coast Guard provides automated information at 1-800-582-5943.
In an effort to prevent
international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures
at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of
relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parent(s)
or legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if
not required, may facilitate entry/departure.
DUAL NATIONALITY:
The Government of Cuba does not recognize the dual nationality of U.S. citizens
who are Cuban-born or the children of Cuban parents. These individuals will
be treated solely as Cuban citizens and may be subject to a range of restrictions
and obligations, including military service. The Cuban government may require
U.S. citizens, whom Cuba considers to be Cuban, to enter and depart Cuba using
a Cuban passport. Using a Cuban passport for this purpose does not jeopardize
one’s U.S. citizenship; however, such persons must use their U.S. passports
to enter and depart the United States. There have been cases of Cuban-American
dual nationals being forced by the Cuban government to surrender their U.S.
passports. Despite these restrictions, Cuban-American dual nationals who fall
ill may only be treated at hospitals for foreigners (except in emergencies).
See the paragraph below on Consular Access for information on Cuba’s
denial of consular services to dual American-Cuban nationals who have been
arrested.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Photographing military or police installations or personnel, or harbor, rail
and airport facilities is forbidden.
In the opening months
of 2003, there were numerous attempts to hijack aircraft and ocean-going vessels
by Cubans seeking to depart from Cuba. In several cases, these attempts involved
the use of weapons by the hijackers. Cuban authorities attempted to resolve
these incidents peacefully, but they were not able to do so successfully in
all cases. U.S. citizens, although not necessarily targets, may be caught
up in any violence during an attempted hijacking. Accordingly, U.S. citizens
may wish to avoid travel by public transportation within Cuba.
The United States Government
has publicly and repeatedly announced that any person who hijacks (or attempts
to hijack) an aircraft or vessel (common carrier or other) will face the maximum
penalties pursuant to U.S. law, regardless of that person’s nationality.
In Cuba, hijackers will be sentenced to lengthy prison terms at a minimum,
and may be subject to the death penalty; on April 11, 2003, the Government
of Cuba executed three suspected hijackers, nine days after taking them into
custody.
The waters around Cuba
can be dangerous to navigate. Since 1993 there have been at least eight shipwrecks
involving U.S. citizens. U.S. boaters who have encountered problems requiring
repairs in Cuba have found repair services to be expensive and frequently
not up to U.S. standards. The government of Cuba often holds boats as collateral
to assure payment for salvage and repair services. Transferring funds from
the U.S. to pay for boat repairs in Cuba is complicated by restrictions codified
in U.S. law relating to commercial transactions with the Government of Cuba.
A Treasury license is required for such payments.
CRIME: Although
crime against U.S. and other foreign travelers in Cuba has generally been
limited to pickpocketing, purse snatching, or the taking of unattended items,
the Interests Section has received increased reports of violent assaults against
American citizens in connection with robberies. In cases of violent crime,
Americans should not resist if confronted, as perpetrators are usually armed
with a knife or machete and often work with partners.
Pickpocketings and purse
snatchings usually occur in crowded areas such as markets, beaches, and other
gathering points, including Old Town Havana. Travelers should use caution
in all such areas and are advised not to leave belongings unattended, nor
to carry purses and bags loosely over one shoulder. Visitors should avoid
wearing flashy jewelry or displaying large amounts of cash.
The loss or theft abroad
of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and
the U.S. Interests Section. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's
pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad,"
for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail
from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov, or via the Bureau
of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.
MEDICAL FACILITIES:
Medical care does not meet U.S. standards. While medical professionals are
generally competent, many health facilities face shortages of medical supplies
and bed space. Many medications are unavailable so travelers to Cuba should
bring with them any prescribed medicine in its original container and in amounts
commensurate with personal use. A copy of the prescription and a letter from
the prescribing physician explaining the need for prescription drugs facilitates
their entry into the country.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with
their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether
their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses
such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health
costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased.
Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical
services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private
companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred
overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations. Given
the lack of direct, commercial air links between the U.S. and Cuba, supplemental
medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved extremely useful
to travelers in the past.
When making a decision
regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors
and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that
a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured
travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties.
When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ascertain whether payment
will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or whether you will be reimbursed
later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage
for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on
medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided
in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, “Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,” available via
the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION:
A variety of tropical maladies, notably viral meningitis and dengue fever,
occasionally break out around Cuba, including urban areas like Havana. Exposure
to disease vectors is not limited to remote and less-sanitary areas, and some
urban neighborhoods are subject to heavy public insecticide spraying.
Hepatitis A is common,
particularly in the summer months, and immunoglobulin is not readily available.
Information on vaccinations
and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC’s
Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country,
U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from
those in the United States. The information below concerning Cuba is provided
for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular
location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: fair
Driving is on the right-hand
side of the road; speed limits are normally posted and generally respected.
In the past two years the number and variety of motor vehicles on Cuban roads
has increased significantly. The higher traffic volume has been accompanied
by a marked increase in the rate of accidents, and reports suggest that accidents
involving motor vehicles are now the leading cause of accidental death in
Cuba. Passengers in automobiles are not required to wear seatbelts and motorcyclists
are not required to wear helmets, as these are not generally available on
the local market. Many accidents involve motorists striking pedestrians or
bicyclists. Drivers found to bear responsibility in accidents resulting in
serious injury or death are subject to prison terms of up to 10 years, and
Cuban authorities may prohibit drivers of rental cars who are involved in
accidents from leaving the country until all claims associated with an accident
are settled.
Taxis are available in
busy commercial and tourist areas; radio-dispatched taxis are generally clean
and reliable. However, travelers should not accept rides in unlicensed taxis
as they may be used by thieves to rob passengers. Buses designated for tourist
travel, both between and within cities, generally meet international standards
for both cleanliness and safety. Public buses used by Cubans, known as "guaguas,"
are crowded, unreliable and havens for pickpockets. These public buses will
usually not offer rides to foreign visitors.
Although the main arteries
of Havana are generally well maintained, secondary streets often are not.
Many roads and city streets are unlit, making night driving dangerous, especially
as some cars and most bicycles lack running lights or reflectors. Street signage
tends to be insufficient and confusing. Most Cuban cars are old, in poor condition
and lack turn signals and other standard safety equipment. Drivers should
exercise extreme care.
The principal Cuban east-west
highways are in good condition but lack lights. Night driving should be strictly
avoided outside urban areas. Secondary rural roads are narrow, and some are
in such bad condition as to be impassable by cars. Due to the rarity of cars
on rural roads, pedestrians, bicycles, and farm equipment operators wander
onto the roads without any regard to possible automobile traffic. Unfenced
livestock constitute another serious road hazard.
Rental car agencies provide roadside assistance to their clients as a condition
of the rental contract. Cuban authorities may prohibit drivers of rental cars
who are involved in accidents from leaving the country, even if they are injured
and require medical evacuation, until all claims associated with an accident
are settled. Travelers should not permit unauthorized persons to drive the
rental vehicle. Automobile renters are provided telephone numbers to call
in Havana or in other places where they might be motoring; agencies respond
as needed with tow trucks and/or mechanics. A similar service is available
to foreigners resident in Cuba who insure cars with the National Insurance
Company.
AVIATION SAFETY
OVERSIGHT: Although licensed travelers can travel between the United
States and Cuba aboard charter flights, there is no direct commercial service
linking the two countries. In early 2003, there were a series of hijackings
from smaller Cuban airports that raised serious questions about their level
of security. For further information, travelers may contact the Department
of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873 or visit the
FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.
Because of serious concerns
about the operation of the Cuban flag carrier, Cubana de Aviacion, particularly
regarding its safety and security standards, maintenence regime and history
of fatal accidents, U.S. Interests Section staff and official visitors to
Cuba are instructed to avoid flying aboard either the domestic or the international
flights of Cubana de Aviacion. Americans considering travel on Cubana de Aviacion
may wish to defer their travel or pursue private means of transportation.
The Department of Defense
(DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official
providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific
carriers, travelers may contact DOD at (618) 256-4801.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s
laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the
United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual
under U.S. law. Persons violating Cuban laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled,
arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal
drugs in Cuba are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail
sentences and heavy fines. Those accused of drug-related and other crimes
face long legal proceedings and delayed due process.
Cuba’s “Law
of Protection of National Independence and the Cuban Economy,” contains
a series of measures aimed at discouraging contact between foreign nationals
and Cuban citizens. These measures are aimed particularly at the press and
media representatives, but may be used against any foreign national coming
into contact with a Cuban. The law provides for jail terms of up to 30 years
in aggravated cases. U.S. citizens traveling in Cuba are subject to this law,
and they may unwittingly cause the arrest and imprisonment of any Cuban with
whom they come into contact. For more information, please contact the U.S.
Interests Section’s American Citizens Services Unit at the address or
telephone number provided below.
CONSULAR ACCESS:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passport with them
at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity
and U.S. citizenship are readily available.
Cuba does not recognize
the right or obligation of the U.S. Government to protect Cuban-born American
citizens, whom the Cuban government views as Cuban citizens only. Cuban authorities
consistently refuse to notify the U.S. Interests Section of the arrest of
Cuban-American dual nationals and deny U.S. consular officers access to them.
They also withhold information concerning their welfare and proper treatment
under Cuban law.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
CURRENCY REGULATIONS:
Since the Cuban government legalized the use of dollars in July 1993, U.S.
dollars are accepted for all transactions.
U.S. citizens and residents
traveling under a general or specific license from the U.S. Treasury Department
may spend money on travel in Cuba; such expenditures may only be for travel-related
expenses at a rate not to exceed the U.S. Government's per diem rate. U.S.
Treasury regulations authorize any U.S. resident to send up to $300 per calendar
quarter to any Cuban family (except families of senior government and Communist
party leaders) without a specific license from the Office of Foreign Assets
Control. Treasury Department regulations also authorize the transfer of up
to $1,000 (without specific license) to pay travel and other expenses for
a Cuban national who has been granted a migration document by the U.S. Interests
Section in Havana. For further information, travelers should contact the Office
of Foreign Assets Control.
U.S. citizens and permanent
resident aliens are prohibited from using credit cards in Cuba. U.S. credit
card companies do not accept vouchers from Cuba, and Cuban shops, hotels and
other places of business do not accept U.S. credit cards. Neither personal
checks nor travelers checks drawn on U.S. banks are accepted in Cuba.
CHILDREN’S
ISSUES: Cuba currently does not allow adoption of children by U.S.
citizens. For general information on international
adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please
refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html
or telephone the Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747.
The OCS call center can answer general inquiries regarding international adoptions
and will forward calls to the appropriate country officer in the Bureau of
Consular Affairs. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers
who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas,
may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.
U.S. REPRESENTATION/REGISTRATION:
The U.S. Interests Section (USINT) represents American citizens and
the U.S. Government in Cuba, and operates under the legal protection of the
Swiss government. The Interests Section staff provides the full range of American
citizen and other consular services. U.S. citizens who travel to Cuba are
encouraged to contact and register with the American Citizen Services section.
USINT staff provide briefings on U.S.-Cuba policy to American individuals
and groups visiting Cuba. These briefings or meetings can be arranged through
USINT's Public Diplomacy office.
The Interests Section
is located in Havana at Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado; telephone
(537) 33-3551 through 33-3559. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. After hours and on weekends,
the number is 33-3026 or 66-2302. Should you encounter an emergency after
normal duty hours, call these numbers and request to speak with the duty officer.
U.S. citizens who register
at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana may obtain updated information on
travel and security within the country. There is no access to the U.S. Naval
Base at Guantanamo Bay from within Cuba. Consular issues for Guantanamo Bay
are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. For further information
on Guantanamo Bay, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston at telephone
(876) 929-5374.
* * * *
*
This replaces the Consular
Information Sheet dated September 12, 2002 to update the sections on Safety
and Security, Crime, Aviation Safety Oversight and Children’s Issues.
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