United Arab Emirates passport → Cuba

Cuba visa for Emirati citizens

Visa-free

90 days visa-free

Emirati citizens can visit Cuba without a visa for up to 90 days. The UK and Canada advise against all but essential travel to Cuba and Germany strongly advises against it: long blackouts, fuel shortages and cancelled flights, and Visa/Mastercard cards no longer work, so bring enough cash. Every traveller files the free D'Viajeros form before the flight and must show health insurance accepted by Cuba.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa-free
Max stay
90 days
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

90 days is about three months. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 29 January 2027, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.

How Cuba counts your stay: Stay is limited to the period of your tourist visa; overstaying can lead to detention.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • D'Viajeros online arrival form — Within 48 hours before check-in (the form opens 72 hours before entry); Free on the official website. Mandatory for everyone entering Cuba. You get a QR code by e-mail; airlines check it at check-in and border control checks it on arrival. Save the PDF or print it before departure, as Wi-Fi may not be available on arrival. If you have a Cuban e-visa, enter its 10-character code in the form. Official site
  • Health insurance accepted by Cuba — Before departure; must cover the whole stay; Depends on insurer. Proof of medical insurance is checked on entry. If it is missing or not accepted, you must buy a Cuban policy at the airport, with surcharges for age over 70, pre-existing conditions or risky sports. US-issued policies and German statutory health insurance are not recognised. Choose cover that includes hospital stays and medical evacuation; unpaid medical bills must be settled in cash before you can leave. Official site
  • Bring enough cash (EUR or USD) — Before departure; —. Since 6 June 2026 Visa and Mastercard cards are no longer accepted in Cuba, and cards from US banks never were. Bring cash for the whole trip; exchange money only at CADECA exchange offices. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport valid at least 6 months on arrival (UK and German advice; check your airline's rule)
  • D'Viajeros QR code, printed or on your phone
  • Proof of health insurance accepted by Cuba, or buy a Cuban policy at the airport
  • Return or onward ticket; proof of accommodation may be asked
  • Face photos are taken at airport immigration
  • Declare foreign currency over USD 5,000; bringing in or taking out Cuban pesos (CUP) is prohibited
  • Drones are confiscated; satellite phones are forbidden; e-cigarettes and vapes are seized
  • Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a country with transmission risk

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Plan to leave a day or two early. With 90 days, book your exit before the last legal day so a cancelled flight doesn't push you over.
  • Extend before you run out. Extensions are possible through Cuban immigration (or the desk at your hotel) before the period ends, up to 6 months in total; approval is at the authorities' discretion and offices may be closed during power cuts.
  • What overstaying costs. Stay is limited to the period of your tourist visa; overstaying can lead to detention.

Good to know

Official details are shown in English.

  • Foreign airlines cannot refuel in Cuba, so many have cut or suspended flights (all Canadian airlines have suspended service). Confirm your flight shortly before departure and keep a backup way out.
  • Dual Cuban nationals must enter Cuba on a valid Cuban passport.

Questions

Do Emirati citizens need a visa for Cuba?

Emirati citizens can visit Cuba without a visa for up to 90 days.

How long can Emirati citizens stay in Cuba?

Up to 90 days, according to Bordr's data. Stay is limited to the period of your tourist visa; overstaying can lead to detention.

Can I extend my stay in Cuba?

Extensions are possible through Cuban immigration (or the desk at your hotel) before the period ends, up to 6 months in total; approval is at the authorities' discretion and offices may be closed during power cuts.

What do I need at the border in Cuba?

Passport valid at least 6 months on arrival (UK and German advice; check your airline's rule); D'Viajeros QR code, printed or on your phone; Proof of health insurance accepted by Cuba, or buy a Cuban policy at the airport.

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for Cuba against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.

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