Travelers beware: if you've got a tourist card for Cuba lying around in a drawer, it's time to dust it off! The Cuban authorities have just announced an extension to the validity of these precious sesames. Originally scheduled to expire at the end of 2024, the deadline has now been set at June 30, 2025. A welcome reprieve for globetrotters and travel agencies who had been filling up on these cards before the arrival of the electronic visa.
This announcement is part of a series of measures aimed at easing entry formalities on the island, such as the possibility of making a compulsory declaration. D'Viajeros 7 days before arrival in Cuba2 days ago. The Cuban government seems to have realized that red tape can chill even the most fervent fans of mojitos and salsa. The result? A clean sweep of administrative procedures to roll out the red carpet for foreign visitors.
The "carte de tourisme", a vestige of travel documents
Let's talk about this famous tourist card, the "Tarjeta del Turista". This document used to serve as a visa for tourist stays in Cuba. But since last August, it has been replaced by a more modern, up-to-date electronic visa. The authorities had initially set a deadline of December 31, 2024 for using the old cards. This 6-month extension offers a breath of fresh air to latecomers and agencies still holding stock.
| Period | Required documents | Registration deadline D'Viajeros |
|---|---|---|
| Before August 2024 | Paper tourist map | 48 hours before arrival |
| August 2024 - June 2025 | E-Visa or tourist card | 7 days before arrival |
| After June 2025 | E-Visa only | 7 days before arrival |
| Dreaming of salsa and mojitos in Havana? Not so fast! Before you pack your bags for Cuba, it's time to consider the consequences for your future travels to the United States. Since January 12, 2021, Cuba has been on the list of countries considered to be "sponsors of terrorism"by the American government. Gone are the days when a simple ESTA was enough to set foot on American soil after a stay in Cuba. If you set foot on the island after January 12, 2021, you can say goodbye to this precious electronic sesame.. Le Department of Homeland Security doesn't pull any punches: your ESTA will simply be revoked, even if it was still valid. But don't despair ! This ban does not mean that the doors to the United States are definitively closed to you. You'll simply have to take the classic route: apply for a B1/B2 visa from an American embassy or consulate. It's a longer and more costly process, but it's perfectly possible. Beware of flights with stopovers in the United States! The concept of "transit" doesn't exist in Uncle Sam. Even for a simple connecting flight, you'll have to go through customs and "enter"officially on the territory. Without a valid ESTA, you're in trouble. Moral: if you're planning a trip to Cuba, avoid American stopovers on both the outward and return journeys. |
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