CUBA FAQS

Delta Air Lines will begin serving Havana, Cuba this winter from New York-JFK, Atlanta and Miami. Connections are available on Delta's extensive network.

Connections are available on Delta’s extensive network.

You can book travel to Cuba through all direct channels (delta.com, mobile, reservations, etc.) and all travel agencies. Delta Vacations Packages are also available by calling 1-800-800-1504.

Passengers will not be required to check in again for their flight to Cuba; however, passengers will be required to complete and submit the OFAC certification or specific license form at the gate, if not previously submitted electronically*. Non-Cuban citizens must have a visa to enter Cuba. Travelers may obtain a visa (e.g. tourist card, business visa, etc.) through the Cuban Embassy or via third-party vendors prior to travel. If not purchased in advance, travelers will be required to purchase a tourist card (Cuba’s entry visa) for $50 at the gateway departure gate, prior to boarding. In addition, passengers will also see a $25 charge in their fare for Cuba-specific medical insurance which is required for entrance into Cuba. If medical attention is required in Cuba, passengers will need to retain a hard copy and/or an electronic copy of their boarding pass as proof of insurance. It is suggested that passengers also take a picture of their boarding pass with their cell phones in case the boarding pass is misplaced. Additional details regarding the process for purchasing and presenting tourist cards and medical insurance will be provided as the process develops.

Cuban-born travelers have different requirements. Please refer to the “Cuban-Born and/or Cuban Nationals” section for more information. 

*Electronic submission will be available when purchasing a ticket on delta.com and in My Trips later in 2016, and will be available via online check-in, kiosk and mobile check-in by 2017. Through the automated process, the OFAC certification may be pre-submitted to Delta electronically prior to travel. If  a traveler does not fill out and submit the OFAC certification electronically, the passenger will be required to fill out, sign, and submit a form at the gateway departure gate. All travelers must submit an OFAC certification or they will not be permitted to travel.

Yes, passengers will be able to view their flight itineraries on My Trips.

The same process for the other international travel applies to travel from Cuba. Passengers will be required to pass through U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, collect their bags, clear U.S. Customs, and recheck their bags to their final destination prior to proceeding to their connecting flights. 

The following are required to travel to Cuba:

a. Passport: Passports must be valid at least six months beyond the return date of a passenger’s trip to Cuba. 

b. Cuban visa: Upon arrival in Cuba, all travelers (excluding with a Cuban passport and/or born in Cuba) going to Cuba from the U.S. must present an entry visa (e.g. tourist card, business visa, etc.) as required by the Cuban Government. Tourist cards will be available for purchase and distributed to passengers prior to boarding their flight.

c. Medical Insurance: Cuba requires visitors to obtain Cuba-specific medical insurance, and a temporary policy will be automatically included in the cost of the passengers fare (a $25 surcharge). Passengers must retain their boarding pass during their stay in Cuba. The boarding pass will serve as evidence of the insurance policy should any emergency medical services be required during the trip.

d. OFAC Certification: U.S. law restricts travel to Cuba to certain authorized travel categories. Each passenger will be required to submit a signed form certifying the passenger is traveling under one of the 12 travel categories authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The traveler is responsible for qualifying under one of these travel categories. 

The 12 travel categories are general categories, but each requires travelers to meet certain requirements. Anyone planning travel to Cuba should review the legal restrictions contained in the Cuban Asset Control Regulations at 31 CFR § 515. Links to the specific requirement for each travel category are provided below.

• Family Visitsopens in a new window
• Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizationsopens in a new window
• Journalistic activityopens in a new window
• Professional research or professional meetingsopens in a new window
• Educational activities and people-to-people exchangesopens in a new window
• Religious activitiesopens in a new window
• Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions and exhibitionsopens in a new window
• Support for the Cuban peopleopens in a new window
• Humanitarian projectsopens in a new window
• Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
  
• Exportation, importation, transmission of information or informational materialsopens in a new window
• Travel related to certain authorized export transactionsopens in a new window

More information can be found in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Cuba FAQsopens in a new window. 

Please refer to the U.S. Department of Stateopens in a new window for more information and recommendations.

Yes, all passengers (U.S. and non-U.S.) traveling on a U.S. carrier must sign the OFAC certification.

No, travel for traditional tourist activities is prohibited. Travel to or from Cuba is only permitted for the 12 categories authorized by OFAC, and travelers are expected to maintain a full-schedule of activities related to their category of travel. 

Yes. Cuba requires all U.S. and non-U.S. citizens (excluding Cuban-born) to have a visa (e.g. tourist card, business visa, etc.) to enter the country.

The cost for a tourist card is $50. 

A tourist card can be used once within 180 days after the date of issue. The tourist card is valid for a single-entry for a period of up to 30 days. 

Upon arrival in Cuba, a portion of the tourist card is retained by immigration authorities, and the remaining portion is collected at the airport prior to departure from Cuba.

In lieu of the tourist card, business passengers traveling to Cuba may require a business visa that can be obtained through the Cuban Embassy. Any passenger without a valid visa will be required to purchase a tourist card.

Questions about this business visa requirement should be directed to the Cuban Embassy.

Yes, Cuba requires visitors to obtain Cuba-specific medical insurance, and a temporary policy will be automatically included in the cost of the passenger's fare (a $25 surcharge). Passengers must retain their boarding pass during their stay in Cuba. The boarding pass will serve as evidence of the insurance policy should any emergency medical services be required during the trip.

There are a number of considerations for travel to Cuba. Please keep in mind any requirements or additional documentation that the traveler may be required to have. Stay up-to-date on any additional or evolving travel requirements. Additional travel information can be found on the websites of the U.S. and Cuban governments:

• U.S. Department of the Treasuryopens in a new window
• U.S. Department of the Treasury's Cuba FAQsopens in a new window
• Embassy of Cuba in the USA

The cost for a temporary medical insurance policy is $25 which will be automatically included in the cost of the passenger's fare.

These temporary medical insurance plans are valid for a period of up to 30 days. If a medical insurance policy is required for more than 30 days, subsequent policies may be purchased while in Cuba.

People traveling to Cuba via a Delta Vacations People to People package or for most authorized travel purposes may enter Cuba with a tourist card (Cuba's entry visa). Tourist cards will be available for purchase from Delta for $50 at the gateway departure gate, prior to boarding. Travelers requiring another type of visa (e.g., business visa, etc.) may obtain a visa through the Cuban Embassy or via third-party vendors prior to travel.

Delta is also working toward an electronic solution to simplify the process for Cuba-bound travelers to purchase their Cuba tourist card prior to travel. Additional details regarding the process for purchasing and presenting tourist cards will be provided as the process develops.

Delta accepts cash, credit and debit cards when customers purchase a tourist card (Cuba’s entry visa) for $50 at the gateway departure gate, prior to boarding. Debit cards must bear a major credit card logo to be valid for acceptance.

Yes. All individuals (excluding Cuban-born) traveling to Cuba must have a visa (e.g. tourist card, etc.) regardless of age. All individuals traveling to Cuba must have or obtain Cuba-specific medical insurance, regardless of age.

Delta is working toward an electronic solution to simplify the process for Cuba-bound travelers to submit their signed OFAC certification to Delta. Electronic submission will be available when purchasing a ticket on delta.com and in My Trips later in 2016, and will be available via online check-in, kiosk and mobile check-in by 2017. Through this process, the OFAC certification may be pre-submitted to Delta electronically prior to travel.

Until the automated process has been fully instituted, Delta will provide a paper form at the gateway departure gate, for the traveler to complete, sign, and submit. All travelers must submit an OFAC certification or they will not be permitted to travel.

No, Delta Air Lines only requires passengers to fill out and sign the form, which Delta will maintain for five years, as required by U.S. law. The passenger traveling is responsible for ensuring that the passenger qualifies under the applicable OFAC license selected on the form. 

Foreign nationals traveling to Cuba from the United States are required by U.S. law to comply with the same requirements as U.S. citizens. All passengers traveling on U.S. carriers may only travel to Cuba for one of the 12 OFAC authorized travel categories. All passengers, including foreign nationals, will be required to certify their reason of travel is within one of the 12 travel categories authorized by OFAC. Leisure travel is currently prohibited from the U.S, and thus, is not one of the OFAC categories. Foreign nationals traveling to Cuba for tourist purposes should not attempt to book travel on a U.S. carrier. 

Initially, Delta will restrict international connecting traffic from flights to/from Cuba to avoid any potential lapses in communication regarding the U.S. law restrictions. After Delta’s Cuba operations are satisfactorily established and communications processes for foreign travelers are developed and verified, Delta will remove the international connection restrictions.

In addition, all passengers traveling on U.S. carriers will be required to purchase medical insurance from ESICUBA (the Cuba government insurance provider), which will be sold as part of the cost of the ticket. If the foreign national has medical insurance that is accepted in Cuba, they may request a refund directly from ESICUBA. Delta will not issue refunds for Cuban medical insurance. 

Travelers without a valid travel document for entering Cuba (e.g., tourist card, business visa, Cuban passport, etc.) will also be required to obtain a visa or tourist card, with the exception of Cuban citizens or dual citizens born in Cuba. Delta will make tourist cards available for purchase at the U.S. gateway departure gates prior to boarding on the day of departure.

Upon departing from Cuba, you’ll need to present your passport, the boarding pass for your departing flight and the other half of your tourist card to Cuban immigrations authorities. You will not be allowed to leave Cuba without presenting the remaining portion of the card.

Yes, Delta will collect and maintain the passenger's signed OFAC certification in our records for five years, as required by U.S. law.

Yes, some passengers may have a specific license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") that permits travel outside of the 12 general license authorized categories for travel. Also, Cuban citizens returning to Cuba are authorized by general license to travel to Cuba.

Passengers may use miles, Miles + Cash, and use Delta eCertificates, Delta Gift Cards and eGift cards to book travel to Cuba on Delta-operated flights only.

Medallion Complimentary Upgrades are available on Delta-operated flights to Cuba. Partner-operated flights to Cuba are ineligible for Complimentary Upgrades.

Mileage Upgrade Awards for SkyMiles Members are available on Delta-operated flights to Cuba. Partner-operated flights to Cuba are ineligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards.

With the exception of Priority Check-In, which is not available at Havana Airport, Medallion Members traveling to and from Cuba are eligible for all other Medallion Benefits such as Complimentary Upgrades, Priority Boarding and Waived Baggage Fees. For complete details, visit Medallion Benefits.

Please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the most current information and recommendations. 

Few hotels have facilities that are equipped for disabled travelers, and public and private transportation is not geared toward disabled travelers.

Disabled passengers may choose to research resources and facilities equipped to handle their needs before traveling to Cuba.

• Asociacion Cubana de Limitados Fisicos-Motores (The Cuban Disabled Association), Calle 6 no. 106, between Avenidas 1 and 3, Miramar, Havana (tel. 7-209-3099; www.aclifim.sld.cu), is a Cuban organization charged with ensuring accessibility and lobbying for rights. The association is a member of the Disabled Peoples' International (DPI), and probably the best contact for travelers with disabilities in Cuba.
• The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (tel. 212-447-7284; www.sath.org) offers a wealth of travel resources for those with all types of disabilities and informed recommendations on destinations, access guides, travel agents, tour operators, vehicle rentals, and companion services. 

Yes, there are additional requirements for Cuban citizens traveling to Cuba.

**The Cuban government requires U.S.-Cuban dual citizens who departed Cuba on or after January 1, 1971 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. Cuban-Americans who departed Cuba before January 1, 1971 may travel to Cuba on their U.S. passport but must apply for an HE-11 via from the Cuban Embassy.

* Please note that Cuban born individuals that left the country on or after Jan 1, 1971 must have the entry permit on their Cuban passport or other type of visa (e.g.: H1 visa) issued by the Cuban Embassy.

Cuban nationals that are returning to Cuba (within a 24 month period from the travel date to US) must show stamped Cuban passport with the date in which the person travelled to the US and/or "tarjeta embarque/desembarque” .

If the 24 month period expired the person will need an "Habilitacion” or other type of entry permit.