We visited Cuba in the month of November’2016 and this post is directed to detail out the visa process for Cuba for Indian Passport holders
What is Cuba Visa?
Cuba visa is not a traditional sticker kind of visa. It is in a form of a tourist card that the airlines you are flying with to Cuba sells. There is obviously no direct flight from India to Cuba , hence answers from Cuban embassy in Delhi may not be entirely correct.
Important Points about Tourist Card & other travel formalities
- The airlines you are using to fly into Cuba will be able to sell you the tourist card right before the check in
- Alternatively, you may buy the tourist card from their city office after confirming with them.
- This card should cost anywhere between USD 15-20 per person
- Please ensure that it is stamped by the airlines on the back side
- You require medical insurance also for travel to Cuba though they don’t check it diligently. But still, it is a requirement. It costs about INR 900 / – for 2 people for 5 days.
- For US citizens, their government has provided a list of 12 reasons for which they can travel to Cuba. Surprisingly, tourism is not one of them.
- Best way for US citizens is to fly to Cuba from somewhere else like Mexico (Cancun) , Costa Rica etc. Lot of people do that & ask the immigration at Cuba to stamp the tourist card and not the passport. Mostly, they oblige.
Deft Tips:
- Be ready to wait for long time in Immigration queues at Cuban airports
- Carry Euros instead of Dollars. Cubans impose penalty on exchanging dollar currency.
- If you want to use ATM, please carry VISA cards. MasterCard are not accepted and don’t work on ATMs as well.
In case of any other questions, drop me a message on Deft Indian Facebook page !!!
That’s so cool. keep it up!!
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Im an Indian citizen working in the US. Planning to travel to Cancun and go to Cuba from there. Will it be a problem for me to get a tourist card? I’m flying AeroMexico and their website says they dont sell it to Indian passport holders.
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Hello Ankit,
It seems indian passport holders cannot get a tourist card and need to get cuba visa stamped on passport to board airline as of September 2016.
Could you let me know which airline allowed you to board with a tourist card?
Thanks
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Dear Durai
Let me know where did you get this information from ? I flew
Cubana airlines from Costa Rica and they allowed me on.board basis tourist card.
Regards
Ankit
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Hi Ankit,
We are flying to Cuba next month via Cancun from Melbourne. I am an indian citizen but do have B1 work visa for America. Am I eligible to buy the tourist card from Cancun Airport ? I am flying with internet airlines
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Hi Mohsin
First of all let me say that Interjet is one of the better airlines to fly .. good choice. You can easily buy tourist card from interjet counter at Cancun.
Should be 20-25 USD per person
Regards
Ankit
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Hi Ankit, I am flying to Cuba from New York and hold a Indian passport with tourist visa to US. Will I be able to get into cuba with the tourist card or do I apply for Visa here in the Cuban embassy? Thanks in advance
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Dear Kishan
You just need Tourist Card to enter Cuba…You can either buy the tourist card from the Airlines city office wherever you are flying from or cards are also available at the time of check in.
Let me know in case you need any information..
Regards
Deft Indian/Ankit
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Hello Ankit,
very useful info here and thanks to you. I am an Indian citizen currently in Toronto on a Canadian and US tourist visa. My friend, who is a Canadian citizen is visiting Cuba and wants me to join him for a week.
My question is: do i need a separate visa to Cuba as a Indian citizen or will just the tourist card do ?
Thanks in advance.
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Hi there.
Just the tourist card would do. Same can be bought from
Airlines u r flying at the check in counter.
Have a good one.
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