Can I Travel to Cuba?

Written by  Maribeth L. Minella
EVP & Corporate Counsel, World Travel, Inc.

Yes!

In January 2016, the U.S. government relaxed U.S. sanctions against Cuba to “further engage and empower the Cuban people by facilitating authorized travel to Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction.”  While general tourist travel remains prohibited, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may travel to Cuba under one of the following twelve “general licenses”:

  • For family visits,
  • Official business of the U.S. Government,
  • Journalistic activity,
  • Professional research and professional meetings
  • Educational activities,
  • Religious activities
  • Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions,
  • Support for the Cuban people,
  • Humanitarian projects,
  • Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes,
  • Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials,
  • Certain export transactions.

Travelers must meet the detailed requirements for each category.  However, it is likely these details will also become relaxed in coming months.  In March 2016, the U.S. Department of Treasury further relaxed the general licensing requirements for educational travel to Cuba.  Shortly before President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba, the “people-to-people” educational travel rules loosened such that as long as the traveler engages in a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities intended to “enhance contact with the Cuban people” or “promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities,” they qualify for a general license to travel to Cuba under the “educational activity” exception. Prior to the change, travelers traveling under the educational activities exemption could only travel to Cuba under auspices of a qualified U.S. organization and all travelers had to be accompanied by representative of that organization.

Look for tomorrow’s post on when commercial travel from the U.S. to Cuba will begin.

Chesley Turner

Written by Chesley Turner