How to Get a Visa for Cuba from the US [2025]

Pink cuba tourist card shown in front of pink classic car
Pink and Green Visas are a thing of the past

Last Updated January 13, 2025

American travellers and tourists visiting Cuba via the US now need an electronic visa (e-visa) instead of a pink visa. The e-visa goes by many names: tourist visa, tourist card, entry permit - they all refer to the same permission that is required to enter Cuba for tourism reasons. 

The e-visa is valid for 90 days, and you can renew it locally for another 90 days, giving you the possibility to stay 180 days in Cuba. The e-visa is not issued for a particular date, so if your plans change you can still use it within a year from when you purchased it.

Cuba's New eVisa for US travelers

To fly from US to Cuba, you need a e-visa issued in the US, whether or not you are a US citizen. However, there are a few countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe whose citizens must have special permission to visit Cuba. Check with your local Cuban embassy if you think this may apply. 

When you receive the e-visa you will also receive a link to the D’Viajeros online customs and immigration form. This form must be filled out no more than 7 days before your arrival date in order to validate your e-visa. Follow our step-by-step instructions for filling in the form.

How to get the e-Visa for Cuba

US travellers have three options for purchasing the e-visa that vary in price and convenience

Buy at the Airport

There is Cuba Travel Services (CTS) staff on-site in  Miami and Houston airports at the ticketing counters and the gate to help you purchase the visa and fill in the D'Viajeros form, but it is a purely online process. The Tampa airport does not have staff to assist you, just the QR code for you to complete the process yourself. We do not recommend waiting until you arrive at the airport to purchase the evisa, it is more for travelers who were unaware of the requirements. The cost is US$85-100, depending on the airline, and you will pay with a credit card. 

Buy in Advance from a Reseller

CTS and other retailers sell the e-Visa in advance. This method assures that your check-in won’t be held up due to technical issues on the day of travel, which avoids a potentially stressful situation. You can also pay with a credit card, which makes it easier than purchasing directly from the Cuban Embassy. 

You can shop around for the lowest price, just make sure they are selling the special e-visa for US, some may still call it the ‘pink visa’. EasyTouristCard sells the US e-visa as well as the regular e-visa. CTS sells only the US e-visa and has special pages for passengers of the following airlines: 

American Airlines Cuba Visa

Southwest Airlines Cuba Visa

Delta Airlines Cuba Visa

United Airlines doesn’t have a special page

Buy in Advance from the Cuban Embassy

The cheapest way to get a Cuba e-Visa is also the least convenient. You can buy in advance directly from the Cuban Government on the eVisa website. The website should walk you through the procedure, but here is a summary:

  1. Fill out the form for the e-Visa
  2. Purchase a US$50 money order and make it out to: 
    Embassy of Cuba in Washington D.C., U.S.A 
    As of now, this is the only option for payment; you cannot pay by check or credit card.
  3. Take a photo of the money order and upload it to the website. 
  4. Mail the money order to: 
    Embassy of Cuba in Washington D.C., U.S.A.
    2630 16th Street,
    NW Washington D. C. 20009 USA
  5. Once you have submitted the form and the money order is received they will email you your e-visa and a link to the D’Viajeros form. If you have questions about the process or are experiencing technical difficulties, you will need to email or call the Cuban Embassy, we are unable to assist you.
  6. Contact the Cuban Embassy for any questions you have about your e-visa. The Cuban Embassy usually does not answer the phone, travellers have had more luck emailing them. This is the contact information from the visa website recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu, phone number 202-797-8520.

The eVisa for Travelling to Cuba from a Third Country

If you are a US citizen but are flying from Mexico, Canada, Panama, Colombia or any other country except for the US, you can use the regular e-visa, which has a base rate of US$20, instead of the US-issued e-visa with a base rate of US$50. Purchasing a regular e-visa from reseller will usually cost US$50 with their markup. 

Visa vs License

Many Americans use these words interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. The general license for Cuba is a legal requirement of the US government, the visa is a Cuban Government requirement.

Entry Requirements for Cuban Citizens

All Cuban born citizens require a special Visa. Visit the Cuba embassy website for current information.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cuba e-Visa

You can buy the e-visa the day of travel, but sometimes the website may be glitchy or down, which could add stress to your travel day, so we recommend purchasing a few weeks in advance. 

The e-visa is good for one year, for one entry of 90 days or less. 

No, these are the same. 

Email or call the Cuban embassy using the contact information on the visa form, or if you are purchasing from a reseller, contact the company you purchased from. 

The US-issued e-visa is for travellers of all nationalities flying directly to Cuba from US. If you are not flying direct US-Cuba, you do not need the US-issued e-visa, you can purchase the regular e-visa from your airline (in the Americas) or from a reseller. 

The e-visa should still be valid if you travel within the year if you haven’t submitted the D’Viajeros form. If you have submitted the form, contact the Cuban embassy or your provider for assistance. 

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