Thirty years is a long time for a piece of paper to survive. The Cuba tourist card — the green slip for most of the world, the pink one for travelers from the United States — outlasted the Soviet Union, multiple US administrations, and most of the airlines that used to sell it. On June 30, 2025, Cuba retired it permanently.
What replaced it is the Cuba eVisa: a mandatory electronic visa that every traveler must now obtain in advance. There is no eVisa on arrival. No buying it at the gate. No picking it up through your airline at check-in. A deliberate application, with a payment process that looks different depending on where you live — and a second mandatory document, the D'Viajeros, that most people don't discover until someone at check-in asks for it. This guide covers the current system in full.
What is the Cuba eVisa?
The Cuba electronic visa, or eVisa, is Cuba's standard entry document for international visitors since July 2025. It replaced a system that had been in place, largely unchanged, since the 1990s. The legal function is identical to the old tourist card: single entry, 90-day stay, one extension available inside the country. However, the application process is entirely different.
The tourist card had two versions because Cuba and the US had two different sets of rules. The green card covered most international routes. The pink card was for travelers departing from the United States, where the document had to satisfy both Cuban and US regulatory requirements simultaneously. They looked different, they were sold differently, and they created a lot of confusion about which one applied when. Both are gone. The Cuba visa online process is now the same regardless of where you're flying from — with exceptions for specific nationalities worth understanding before you assume the standard route applies to you.
The eVisa is issued as a digital document — a PDF or email confirmation containing a 10-character code — linked to the passport you used when applying. It is valid for a single entry within 12 months of issue. If your travel dates shift beyond that 12-month window, a new application is required.
Who actually needs a Cuba eVisa?
Most people do. But the exceptions are the part that matters.
The majority of nationalities — EU and EEA citizens, UK citizens, Australians, New Zealanders, most Latin American nationalities, and a long list of others — need to apply for the standard tourist eVisa before traveling. That is the process we cover here.
A small group of countries have bilateral agreements with Cuba that waive the visa requirement entirely. The current list includes Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, China, Dominica, Grenada, Malaysia, Mongolia, Namibia, and Russia. These agreements change quietly — verify your current status before booking, because an outdated source saying you're exempt will not help you at check-in.
Then there is a separate group of nationalities for whom the standard tourist eVisa is not available at all. Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Yemen need to apply for a different visa type directly through a Cuban consulate. The online portal will not flag this — contact your nearest Cuban consulate before attempting any online application.
Two situations deserve a specific mention. US citizens need the eVisa but also face US Treasury regulations that prohibit tourist travel to Cuba — they must travel under one of 12 authorized categories, a requirement that has nothing to do with Cuba's visa system. Canadian travelers on direct flights from Canada have historically had the eVisa bundled into their airline ticket, but with Canadian carriers currently suspended, most are applying independently. Both situations are quite complex — see the dedicated articles for US citizens, Canadian travelers, and European citizens for a complete rundown.
How to apply for the Cuba eVisa
There are two routes. One is more straightforward than it sounds on paper. The other is less straightforward than it sounds on paper.
The official government portal
Cuba's application is at evisacuba.cu. The form itself is digital, and it will ask for your passport details, photo, travel information. The problem is in the payment. The government portal does not accept online payments. You pay the government fee at your nearest Cuban consulate or embassy — bank transfer, cheque, money order, or in person — and upload proof of payment to complete the application. Accepted methods vary by consulate.
The cost varies by country: roughly €22 in most of Europe, around USD $50 in the United States, and CAD $24 in Canada. Some Latin American and Caribbean countries report fees of USD $20–30, sometimes payable at the airport. Processing takes up to 72 hours from confirmed payment.
When your eVisa is approved, you receive a 10-character code by email. That code must be entered manually into the D'Viajeros form — Cuba's separate mandatory entry declaration. The link between these two documents is your responsibility if you apply through the government portal, and it is where most independent applicants run into trouble. Cuba's eVisa system is also strict about exact data matches — a mistyped passport number or entry date can cause problems at the border. If you notice an error after your eVisa is issued, contact the consulate that processed your application immediately.
Through ImmiAssist
You apply online, pay by card, and receive both your eVisa and your D'Viajeros QR code in one confirmation email — correctly linked, document-reviewed before submission, ready to travel. The service fee is charged on top of the government fee and shown clearly at checkout.
The Cuba eVisa application process is very simple:
- Fill out your contact details
- Pay the government and service fees
- Finish the form and upload your documentation
That's it. Just three steps separating you from your Cuba eVisa and D'Viajeros. Apply at least a week before departure.
The D'Viajeros — why it matters more than most say
Every single person entering Cuba must complete the D'Viajeros before flying. No exemptions — not visa-free nationalities, not Canadians with bundled eVisas, not anyone arriving by plane. Travelers arriving by cruise ship are currently exempt, as the form requires flight details to complete.
The D'Viajeros form is Cuba's mandatory digital entry declaration: customs, health, and immigration information in one form, generating a QR code checked at airline check-in and at Cuban immigration on arrival.
The submission window is fixed at seven days before your arrival date. Two to three days before departure is the practical target. Don't leave it to the night before — the government site is occasionally unavailable, and Cuba's connectivity problems mean you want that QR code saved offline well before you reach an airport.
Here is the step that catches people out. The D'Viajeros form has a mandatory field for your eVisa number. If you leave it blank — or enter it incorrectly — the form submits anyway. No error. No warning. The portal generates a QR code that looks exactly like a valid one. Without the eVisa number correctly entered, it has no link to your visa and will not be accepted at the border. This failure is invisible until check-in, where there is no time to fix it.
This is the specific problem that ImmiAssist eliminates. When you apply through ImmiAssist, the eVisa and D'Viajeros are processed in a single application — the linking is automatic, both documents arrive together in one email, and there is nothing to manually transcribe. For someone who has never managed either of these documents independently, that is not a minor convenience. It is the difference between documents that work at the border and documents that only look like they do.
Save the QR code offline and print a physical copy before you leave home. Cuba has experienced sustained power and internet outages since late 2024, and you will need this document at two checkpoints where a signal cannot be assumed.
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Travel insurance — the entry requirement most people underestimate
Cuba legally requires all visitors to carry travel insurance with medical coverage explicitly valid in Cuba. Airlines check it at check-in; Cuban immigration checks it on arrival. A legal condition of entry, not a recommendation.
The part that catches people: "worldwide" coverage is not the same as Cuba coverage. Several major insurers exclude Cuba outright. Others include it with clauses that fall short of Cuban requirements. Check the policy wording — Cuba must be specifically named, and emergency medical treatment and evacuation must be included. Do not check this at the departure gate.
The rest of the checklist
Beyond the eVisa, D'Viajeros, and insurance, the Cuba entry requirements they will check for are:
- Return or onward ticket — checked at check-in and sometimes at immigration
- Proof of accommodation — at least the first night; some officers ask for evidence of funds for the full stay
- Valid passport — covering your full stay; airlines frequently apply a six-month validity standard, which is the safer benchmark in practice
- Individual eVisa for each traveler — children included; there is no family eVisa, and each traveler's D'Viajeros must be linked to their own eVisa number
What to expect at Cuban immigration
Cuban border control is methodical. Officers verify your passport, eVisa confirmation, and D'Viajeros QR code carefully, and questions about accommodation and travel plans are routine — not a sign of a problem. At Havana's José Martí International Airport, queues during peak season (December to March, August) can run over an hour. Worth knowing if you have a connection.
Cuba does not stamp most tourist passports. Entry is recorded digitally through the D'Viajeros system.
How long can you stay in Cuba?
The eVisa authorises 90 days from entry. One extension is available at a Cuban immigration office (oficina de inmigración) before your initial period expires — it adds another 90 days, bringing the maximum to 180. Offices have limited hours and charge a fee in local currency. Apply before the last day of your authorized period, not on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cuba eVisa and do I need one?
The Cuba eVisa is an electronic tourist visa that replaced Cuba's paper tourist card — both the green card and the pink card — when the old system was permanently discontinued on June 30, 2025. It authorises a single entry and a stay of up to 90 days, extendable once inside Cuba. Most international travelers need one: EU citizens, UK citizens, Australians, Americans, and the majority of other nationalities must apply before flying.
A small group of countries have visa-free agreements with Cuba and are exempt. A separate group of nationalities cannot use the standard tourist eVisa and must apply through a Cuban consulate for a different document.
What replaced the Cuba tourist card?
The Cuba eVisa replaced the tourist card entirely as of July 1, 2025. The tourist card — formally the Tarjeta del Turista — had existed in two versions: a green card for most international routes and a pink card for travelers departing from the United States. Both are permanently discontinued. The eVisa performs the same legal function and authorises the same 90-day stay, but it is applied for online in advance rather than purchased at a counter. The process also now requires a second mandatory step — the D'Viajeros declaration — that did not exist when the tourist card was the standard entry document.
How much does the Cuba eVisa cost?
The government fee varies by country and point of application: roughly €22 in most of Europe, around USD $50 in the United States, and CAD $24 in Canada. Some Latin American and Caribbean countries report fees in the range of USD $20–30, sometimes payable at the airport. Payment goes directly to your nearest Cuban consulate or embassy — the government portal does not accept online payment. If you apply through ImmiAssist, the service fee is charged on top of the government fee and shown clearly at checkout. Processing takes up to 72 hours from confirmed payment — apply at least a week before departure to account for the D'Viajeros seven-day submission window.
What is the D'Viajeros and is it the same as the Cuba eVisa?
No — they are two entirely separate documents on two different platforms. The Cuba eVisa authorises your entry. The D'Viajeros is Cuba's mandatory digital entry declaration, combining customs, health, and immigration information into one form that generates a QR code. Airlines check that QR code at departure; Cuban immigration checks it on arrival. The D'Viajeros must be completed within seven days of your arrival date and requires your eVisa number in a mandatory field. If that number is missing or incorrect, the form generates a QR code that looks valid but will not be accepted at the border. When you apply through ImmiAssist, the eVisa and D'Viajeros are processed together and linked automatically, with both documents delivered in a single confirmation.
Can I apply for the Cuba eVisa online?
The application form is completed online through Cuba's official portal at evisacuba.cu — but payment cannot be made online. You pay the government fee directly to your nearest Cuban consulate or embassy, then upload proof of payment to the portal to complete your application. Accepted payment methods vary by consulate: bank transfer, cheque, money order, or in person. If you apply through ImmiAssist, the full process — including payment — is handled online by card, and you receive your eVisa and D'Viajeros together in one confirmation.
How long does the Cuba eVisa last and can I extend my stay?
The eVisa is valid for a single entry within 12 months of the date it was issued. Once you enter Cuba, you can stay for up to 90 days. One extension is available: apply at a Cuban immigration office (oficina de inmigración) before your initial period expires. The extension adds another 90 days, bringing the maximum stay to 180 days. Immigration offices have limited hours and charge a fee in local currency — apply before the last day of your authorized period, not on it.
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