Wait! Don’t Panic! I know the restriction on US travel to Cuba sounds like the country is completely closed off, but don’t give up on your Havana dreams just yet!
There is still a way in!
Just as some background there were 12 categories, Americans have to pick from to get a temporary visa into Cuba.
12 Categories:
- Visiting family
- Humanitarian projects or to provide support to the Cuban people
- Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
- Journalistic activities
- Professional research
- Educational activities by persons at academic institutions
- Religious activities
- Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions, and exhibitions
- Authorization to provide travel services, carrier services, and remittance forwarding services
- Activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes
- Exportation of certain Internet-based services
- People to people-very common, I used this category when I went to Cuba
The new regulation will close off all non-family “people to people educational” travel. The new changes will allow people to people group travel if accommodations were made prior to the announcement.
Another big change is the elimination of private and corporate planes and boats from traveling to Cuba. This includes cruise ships. So more than likely, if you have a cruise booked the ship’s itinerary will be changed or the cruise will be canceled. The new restrictions will also stop cruise ship passengers whose trips are arranged as organized tours, so tour companies can’t even get cruisers there.
So how can you still get to Cuba if you lack familia in Cuba?
You can still fly into Cuba on a commercial airline (basically a majority of the airlines in your airport), and declare under Humanitarian projects or to provide support to the Cuban people. This category is in place to pump revenue and money into the locals’ wallets and businesses. Traveling under this category means that you can not stay in a resort or hotel, but actual homes like Air BNB’s, VrBo, or other homestay sources. This booking is your qualification to enter Cuba travel.
As always please continue to check the restrictions on your travel and verify everything prior to booking and traveling. Things change every day and entrance is never a guarantee.
What do you think about this restriction? Are you still going to try to travel to Cuba?
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Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.