Cuba tourist card and eVisa

To enter Cuba as a tourist you need a paid entry document: the traditional tourist card or, since July 2025, the electronic eVisa. Neither is a classic visa, and neither is the D'Viajeros form, which is free and separate. This guide explains what each one is, roughly what they cost, who needs which option, and the order in which to handle everything so you avoid surprises and overpaying.

In brief: the tourist card is the long-standing paper entry document; the eVisa is its electronic version, available since July 2025. Both are paid and are separate from D'Viajeros, which is free. Choose one of the two based on your route, and do not confuse them with the form.

The traditional tourist card

The tourist card is the long-standing entry document for traveling to Cuba as a tourist. It is a small paper form that authorizes your tourist stay and that you present on arrival. It is not a visa stuck in your passport, but a separate document you fill in with your details.

It is sold in several places: through the airline, at a travel agency, at the Cuban consulate in your country, or through authorized providers. The price varies a lot depending on where you buy it. As a reference, it is usually around 50 to 100 USD, but do not treat that as a fixed figure: it depends on the channel, the country of departure and the moment. Confirm it before you pay.

Worth knowing: there are two card colors depending on the country of departure. The card sold for flights from some destinations differs from the one used elsewhere. Ask your airline which one applies to your route.

In short: the tourist card is the paper entry document; its price, around 50-100 USD, depends on where you buy it.

The electronic eVisa

Since July 2025, Cuba has offered an eVisa, an electronic visa that works as a digital alternative to the paper tourist card on some routes. The aim is to simplify: instead of getting a physical slip, you process your authorization online and travel with the electronic confirmation.

The official cost of the eVisa is around 29 USD, but again, do not treat it as a fixed figure: fees and conditions change, so confirm it on the official channel before you pay. The eVisa is not available for every route or every airport equally, so it is worth checking whether your flight supports it.

In short: the eVisa is the electronic version of the entry document, available since July 2025, at an official cost of around 29 USD.

Which one do you need and how to choose

In general you need one of the two, not both at once. The choice depends mainly on your route, your airline and whether the eVisa is enabled for your flight. To decide:

• If your airline sells the tourist card with the ticket or at the departure airport, the paper option is often the most direct.
• If your route supports the eVisa, the electronic path saves you collecting a physical slip.
• If you fly from Miami, Toronto or London, ask at the desk which document they handle; it is often sorted out when you buy the ticket.
• When in doubt, confirm with the airline and the Cuban consulate which document is correct for your case.

The key is not to show up at the airport without either one. Without a valid tourist card or eVisa, the airline can deny boarding.

In short: you need one of the two; choose based on your route and confirm with the airline whether your flight supports the eVisa.

How they differ from a normal visa

Neither the tourist card nor the eVisa is a traditional visa in the strict sense. A classic visa usually involves a more formal application, sometimes an interview and a stamp or sticker in the passport, and it is associated with longer stays or purposes other than tourism.

The tourist card and the eVisa are simplified entry authorizations for short-term tourism. If you travel for business, study, work, residence or any purpose other than tourism, you will likely need a specific, different visa, processed through other channels. For those cases, check with the Cuban consulate.

In short: the card and the eVisa are simplified tourist authorizations; for other travel purposes you need a specific visa.

They are paid and separate from D'Viajeros

Here is the point most often confused. The tourist card and the eVisa are entry documents that are paid for. D'Viajeros, by contrast, is Cuba's Advance Passenger Information: a mandatory and free digital form that consolidates your personal, migration, health and customs data, and generates a QR code to present on arrival.

In other words: even if you have the tourist card or the eVisa, you still have to complete D'Viajeros, and even if you complete D'Viajeros, you still need your paid entry document. They are different things serving different functions. D'Viajeros does not grant you entry permission; it organizes your information. The card or eVisa is your tourist authorization.

Worth knowing: D'Viajeros is free on the official portal. If a website charges you for the "D'Viajeros form" as if it were a visa, be careful: the form itself costs nothing; what you pay for is the tourist card or the eVisa.

In short: the card and the eVisa are paid and authorize entry; D'Viajeros is free and only organizes your data. You need both.

Comparison table

To see it at a glance, here is how the three compare:

The figures are indicative and change; always confirm them before paying.

In short: you choose the card or eVisa as your paid entry document, and you also complete the free D'Viajeros. They are separate pieces.

The order in which to do things

To keep it simple, a sensible order is this:

1. Check that your passport is valid with a comfortable margin.
2. Get your entry document: tourist card or eVisa, depending on your route.
3. Buy medical insurance with coverage for medical expenses.
4. In the 48 hours before arrival, complete D'Viajeros and save the QR.
5. Travel with everything printed or accessible: passport, entry document, insurance and QR.

Leave D'Viajeros for last, because it can only be completed up to 48 hours before arrival. The card or eVisa, on the other hand, is best sorted out well ahead of time.

Worth knowing: D'Viajeros comes last precisely because it has a short window. Everything else (entry document, insurance, passport) is best ready well in advance.

In short: passport, entry document and insurance first; D'Viajeros in the final 48 hours.

How much time to allow for each step

Not every document is obtained in the same timeframe, so plan with a margin. As a rough guide:

• The tourist card can take time if you request it by mail from a consulate or agency; allow several weeks. If you buy it from the airline on flight day, it is quicker, but it depends on the route.
• The eVisa is processed online and usually resolves faster, though it is wise not to leave it for the last day in case of issues.
• Insurance takes minutes to buy, but it is better done early so you can compare coverage.
• D'Viajeros can only be completed up to 48 hours before arrival, so it is the last thing on the list.

The practical rule: the more physical the document, the more lead time it needs. Leave the digital steps for last.

In short: get the card weeks ahead, the eVisa several days ahead, and D'Viajeros in the final 48 hours.

Beware of sites reselling the card at a markup

Many pages resell the tourist card or handle the eVisa with heavy markups, sometimes multiplying the official price. Others charge for "D'Viajeros" implying it is a paid visa, when the official form is free.

To avoid overpaying:

• Compare the price with the official channel or your airline before you buy.
• Be wary of sites that lump the tourist card, the eVisa and D'Viajeros together as if they were the same.
• Remember that D'Viajeros costs nothing on the official portal; what you pay for is the entry document.
• If you use an assistance service (like ours), be clear that you pay for the handling, not for a form that is free in itself.

In short: compare with the official channel, be wary of abusive markups, and remember D'Viajeros is free.

Cuban travelers and other documents

Cuban citizens living abroad often have a different situation. Many do not travel on a tourist card but on a valid Cuban passport or another entry document specific to nationals, depending on their migration status. The rules for Cuban citizens and their descendants have their own nuances that do not match those for foreign tourists.

If you hold Cuban citizenship, have dual nationality, or travel to visit family, do not assume you need a tourist card: check your specific case with the Cuban consulate. Even so, D'Viajeros remains mandatory for everyone entering the country, tourist or not.

In short: Cuban travelers may use a different entry document; check with the consulate. D'Viajeros is mandatory for everyone.

Common mistakes to avoid

Many airport problems come from simple mix-ups. These are the most frequent slip-ups with the entry document:

• Confusing D'Viajeros with the visa. The form is free; it does not replace the card or the eVisa.
• Buying two documents. You only need the card or the eVisa, not both.
• Choosing the wrong card. Remember there are colors depending on the country of departure; ask your airline.
• Overpaying on a reseller site. Always compare with the official price and your airline.
• Leaving it to the last minute. The physical card needs processing time; do not leave it for flight day.
• Forgetting the eVisa is route-dependent. Not every flight supports it; check before processing it.

Avoiding these mistakes saves you money and stress at the boarding desk.

In short: do not confuse the form with the visa, do not duplicate documents, and always compare with the official channel.

What to carry on travel day

When the day arrives, check that you have everything you need to board and to clear the checks on arrival:

1. A valid passport, with plenty of validity left.
2. Your tourist card or eVisa confirmation, as applicable.
3. Your printed insurance policy, in English or Spanish.
4. Your D'Viajeros QR code, saved on your phone and, ideally, printed too.
5. An onward or return ticket, if requested.

Keeping it all organized, on paper as well as on your phone, is the best way not to depend on battery or signal at the airport.

In short: passport, card or eVisa, insurance and the D'Viajeros QR; carry a printed copy too, just in case.

Useful links to prepare your trip

To round out your Cuba entry planning, take a look at:

• What is the D'Viajeros form
• Mandatory travel insurance for Cuba
• Cuba entry requirements
• When to complete the D'Viajeros form

In short: the card or eVisa is just one part; also review insurance, the general requirements, and when to complete the form.

Key points

• The tourist card is the paper entry document; its price is around 50-100 USD.
• The eVisa, available since July 2025, is the electronic version, around 29 USD.
• You need one of the two, based on your route and airline; neither is D'Viajeros.
• The card and the eVisa are paid; D'Viajeros is free and separate.
• Beware of sites reselling the card at a markup or charging for the official form.
• Cuban travelers may use a different document; check your case with the consulate.

FAQ about the tourist card and eVisa

What is the Cuba tourist card?

It is the paper entry document that authorizes your tourist stay. It is bought from the airline, an agency or the consulate, and presented on arrival. It is not a visa stuck in your passport.

What is the Cuban eVisa?

It is an electronic visa available since July 2025, a digital alternative to the paper tourist card on some routes. You process it online and travel with the electronic confirmation.

How much does the tourist card cost?

Around 50 to 100 USD, depending on where you buy it: airline, agency or consulate. It is not a fixed figure; it depends on the channel and the country of departure. Confirm it before paying.

How much does the eVisa cost?

Its official cost is around 29 USD, but fees change. Confirm it on the official channel before processing it, and check that your route supports the eVisa.

Do I need both the card and the eVisa?

No. In general you need one of the two, not both. The choice depends on your route and whether your flight supports the eVisa. Ask your airline which one applies to you.

Is the tourist card or eVisa the same as D'Viajeros?

No. The card and the eVisa are paid entry documents that authorize your trip. D'Viajeros is a free digital form that organizes your data and generates a QR code. You need both.

Does D'Viajeros cost money?

No. The D'Viajeros form is free on the official portal. What you pay for is the tourist card or the eVisa. Be wary of sites charging for the form as if it were a visa.

Do the card or eVisa work for business or study trips?

Not necessarily. They are tourist authorizations. For business, study, work or residence you usually need a specific, different visa. Check your case with the Cuban consulate.

In what order should I handle everything?

First check your passport, then get the card or eVisa and buy insurance; leave D'Viajeros for the 48 hours before arrival, since it can only be completed within that window.

What about Cuban travelers living abroad?

Cuban citizens abroad often travel on a Cuban passport or another specific entry document, not a tourist card. Check your case with the consulate. D'Viajeros is mandatory for everyone.

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.