In a nutshell
- To enter Cuba, you need your passport, an e-visa, a completed health form, a return flight ticket, and international travel health insurance.
- After visiting Cuba, you can no longer travel to the USA using ESTA. You’ll need a full tourist visa for any future US trips.
- In this article, we walk you through all the Cuba entry requirements, tell you where to get each document, and explain exactly what happens at the airport.
- Keep reading for everything you need to know about entering Cuba — step by step.
Documents for Entry into Cuba
For entry into Cuba, you’ll need the following documents:
- A passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry.
- The e-visa for Cuba
- A return flight ticket (within 90 days of entry).
- A completed health form.
- An international travel health insurance policy.
The Visa for Cuba
As of January 2026, you need an e-visa for Cuba. Previously, there was a paper tourist card — but that’s no longer valid.
You apply for the visa online at evisacuba.cu — the site is available in English. The visa costs 22 euros and lets you stay in the country for up to 90 days.
We’d recommend applying as soon as you’ve booked your flights. It usually only takes a few days to come through, but there’s no reason to cut it close.
The D'Viajeros Health Form
The D’Viajeros health form is also mandatory for entering Cuba. You can fill it out online starting 48 hours before your departure — it’s quick and completely free.
Fill out the Cuba health form here
Once completed, the form gets sent to you by email. Make sure to take a screenshot of it — the QR code gets scanned at the airport in Cuba, and you almost certainly won’t have internet access there.
By the way, we’ve put together a ton of tips about internet access in Cuba if you want to plan ahead.
International Travel Health Insurance
Travel health insurance is a mandatory Cuba entry requirement — you won’t get in without it. Make sure you carry proof of coverage in English or Spanish.
Return Flight Ticket
You can only enter Cuba if you’re departing within 90 days — that’s the validity period of the visa. You’ll need to show proof of your departure at the border.
Make sure to book your return flight or onward travel ticket before you fly to Cuba.
Airport Procedures
At your departure airport, only your passport will likely be checked — we were just asked whether we had the visa with us.
At the airport in Cuba, the QR code from the health form is scanned first. After that, you head to customs, where your passport and visa are checked.
Finally, there’s a security check to get through. The whole entry process in Havana took us about an hour from start to finish.
We didn’t have to show our travel health insurance or return ticket — but you should absolutely have both ready just in case.
Want to know more about our time in Cuba? Check out our Cuba travel report for the full story.
Can You Still Travel to the US After Entering Cuba?
Yes, you can still enter the US after a vacation in Cuba. However, you can no longer use ESTA — the visa waiver program that lets many travelers enter the US without a full visa. From that point on, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa to visit the US.
It’s really worth keeping this in mind before you decide to travel to Cuba — especially if you’re planning a US trip in the near future.
