Cuba advance passenger information
Cuba entry requirements
The full checklist of Cuba entry requirements, with D'Viajeros as one of several steps: passport, tourist card or eVisa, mandatory insurance, QR code and US travel notes.
11 min read
Entering Cuba takes several documents, not just one. The D'Viajeros form is mandatory and free, but it's one of several: you also need a valid passport, a tourist card or eVisa depending on your case, and mandatory medical insurance. Here's the complete checklist, in order, with links to each step, so you arrive with everything sorted.
In brief: to enter Cuba you need a valid passport, a tourist card or eVisa, medical insurance with cover, and the D'Viajeros form with its QR code. Onward tickets and a lodging address may be requested. D'Viajeros is free; the card, eVisa and insurance cost money. Rules change, especially for US travelers, so always confirm with official sources.
D'Viajeros is one of several requirements
It's the most common mistake: thinking that filling in D'Viajeros covers everything. It doesn't. D'Viajeros is Cuba's advance passenger information form: a digital form that combines your personal, migratory, health and customs details and generates a QR code for arrival control. It's essential, but it does not replace your passport, your tourist card or eVisa, or your insurance.
Think of it as a shopping list: D'Viajeros is one item on the list, not the whole list. Miss any of the others and you can run into trouble at boarding or on arrival. So this guide walks through all of them.
In short: D'Viajeros is mandatory, but it's one requirement among several; it isn't enough on its own.
1. Valid passport
The base document is your passport. It must be valid and, to be safe, have several months of validity left beyond your return date; many airlines and countries apply a safety margin. Make sure it isn't damaged and has blank pages.
- Check the expiry date with a comfortable margin.
- Confirm the details match what you'll enter on D'Viajeros.
- Traveling as a family? Everyone needs their own passport, children included.
In short: a valid passport, with months to spare and details consistent with your other steps.
2. Tourist card or eVisa
Most tourists need a tourist card: a paid entry document bought from your airline, an agency or a consulate. Its price is on the order of 50–100 USD depending on where you buy it; don't treat that as a fixed figure. From Miami or Toronto, airlines often sell it at the gate, but confirm in advance.
Since July 2025 there's also the eVisa, an electronic visa with an official cost on the order of 29 USD, a digital alternative to the paper card on some routes. Which one applies depends on your nationality, route and departure point. Verify with your airline and official sources.
Worth knowing: the tourist card and eVisa are the entry visa; D'Viajeros is not. They are separate steps and both may be needed. Check which applies to you before you buy your ticket.
In short: almost everyone needs a tourist card or, where applicable, an eVisa; it's a paid step separate from D'Viajeros.
3. Mandatory medical insurance
Cuba requires foreign visitors to hold travel insurance with medical cover. You may be asked for your policy on arrival, so carry it printed or on your phone, with the cover and dates clearly shown. It's not a formality: traveler healthcare in Cuba relies on that insurance.
- Buy a policy with medical cover valid for Cuba.
- Make sure it covers all your travel dates.
- Keep the certificate or policy handy in case it's requested.
In short: medical insurance is mandatory and may be checked at the airport; travel with the policy on hand.
4. The D'Viajeros form with its QR code
With the above in order, you tackle D'Viajeros. You complete it on the official portal, it's free, and it can be filled up to 48 hours before arrival. Validating it produces the QR code you present at Immigration, Customs and Public Health. Save it on your phone and, ideally, print it too.
Filling it early avoids queues and last-minute stress. If you'd rather we review your details and guide you, we offer optional assistance; but remember the official form is free.
In short: D'Viajeros, free and up to 48 hours ahead, gives you the QR that opens arrival control.
5. Onward ticket and lodging address
Sometimes, at boarding or on arrival, you may need to show that you'll leave the country: an onward ticket (return or continuation) with dates consistent with your stay. And D'Viajeros itself asks for your lodging address in Cuba: hotel, casa particular or a relative's home.
- Have your booking or onward ticket ready.
- Note the full address of your accommodation before filling D'Viajeros.
- Staying in several places? Enter the first one.
In short: an onward ticket (sometimes) and a lodging address (always in the form) are details worth having ready.
The special case of US travelers
Travelers on a US passport are in a special situation — and this section deserves your attention. US policy toward Cuba does not permit plain tourism; it channels travel through authorized travel categories, and you are generally expected to keep records. On top of that, cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba, so plan to carry enough cash. These rules change often.
We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice, nor do we interpret your case. If you travel from the US, check the official US and Cuban sources before booking anything, confirm which travel category (if any) applies to you, and keep your documentation. Each person must verify their own situation.
Worth knowing: this section is general guidance only. US rules on Cuba shift, and only the official sources of both countries reflect what's current. Always consult them before you commit.
In short: US travelers face their own changing rules and non-working cards; verify with official sources, pick the right authorized category and bring cash.
Cuba entry requirements table
At a glance, what you need and where to arrange it:
| Requirement | What it is | Where to arrange it |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid travel document | Your home country |
| Tourist card | Paid entry visa | Airline, agency or consulate |
| eVisa | Electronic visa (since 2025) | Official eVisa portal |
| Medical insurance | Mandatory medical cover | Travel insurer |
| D'Viajeros | Free digital form with QR | Official D'Viajeros portal |
| Onward ticket | Proof you'll leave the country | Your airline or agency |
| Lodging address | Where you stay in Cuba | Your booking; entered in D'Viajeros |
Prices (card, eVisa) are on the order of those shown and may change; confirm them.
In short: each requirement has its own place to arrange it; D'Viajeros is the only free one and is done on the official portal.
How to get it all ready calmly
An order that works:
- Renew your passport if it's close to expiry.
- Find out whether you need a tourist card or eVisa and get it.
- Buy medical insurance covering all your dates.
- Book accommodation and note the lodging address.
- Have your onward ticket ready.
- Fill in D'Viajeros up to 48 hours ahead and save the QR.
In short: passport, visa and insurance first; D'Viajeros last, with all your details already in hand.
Who we are
We are an independent, paid assistance agency, not MITRANS or the Cuban government. The D'Viajeros form is free on the official portal. Our help is optional. Requirements, prices and rules are set by the authorities; for what's current, always rely on the official sources.
In short: the form is free, our assistance is optional, and the rules are set by the authorities.
Key points
- D'Viajeros is mandatory and free, but only one of several requirements.
- You need a valid passport with a validity margin.
- Almost everyone needs a tourist card or eVisa (paid steps).
- Medical insurance is mandatory and may be checked on arrival.
- An onward ticket is sometimes required, and a lodging address always.
- US travelers face their own rules; verify with official sources.
FAQ about Cuba entry requirements
Is D'Viajeros enough to enter Cuba?
No. D'Viajeros is mandatory, but it's one of several requirements. You also need a passport, a tourist card or eVisa, and medical insurance.
Does D'Viajeros cost money?
No. D'Viajeros is free on the official portal. What costs money is the tourist card, the eVisa and the medical insurance.
How much is the tourist card?
On the order of 50–100 USD depending on where you buy it (airline, agency, consulate). It's not a fixed figure; confirm before you travel.
What is the eVisa and since when?
It's an electronic visa available since July 2025, with an official cost on the order of 29 USD, a digital alternative to the paper card on some routes.
Is medical insurance mandatory?
Yes. Cuba requires travel insurance with medical cover and may ask for the policy on arrival. Carry it printed or on your phone.
Do I need an onward ticket?
Sometimes you may be asked at boarding or arrival. Keep your return or continuation ticket with dates consistent with your stay.
Do I have to give my lodging address?
Yes. D'Viajeros asks for your lodging address in Cuba (hotel, casa particular or home). Note it before you fill the form.
What about US travelers?
They're in a special situation: US policy channels travel through authorized categories and their cards don't work in Cuba. This is not legal advice; check the official sources of both countries and keep records.
When should I fill in D'Viajeros?
It can be completed up to 48 hours before arrival. Do it once you have your flight, insurance and lodging, so you enter all details at once.
Where do I confirm the current requirements?
On the official D'Viajeros (MITRANS) portal and with your airline, plus your own country's official sources. Rules change often, especially for US citizens.
Useful links
- What is the D'Viajeros form
- Cuba tourist card and eVisa
- Mandatory travel insurance for Cuba
- Cuba customs and cash declaration
- How to fill the D'Viajeros form
Last updated: July 2026. Entry rules change; always confirm the current requirements on the official D'Viajeros (MITRANS) portal and with your airline before you travel.