United Kingdom passport → Cuba

Cuba visa for British citizens

e-Visa

e-Visa · 90 days

British citizens need an e-Visa for Cuba, applied for online before the trip. It covers stays of 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
e-Visa
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.

For United Kingdom passports: Tourist card needed: via eVisaCuba, the Cuban embassy in London, or a travel agent or tour operator.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Cuban tourist visa (tourist card / e-visa) — Cost: Depends on where it is issued; Validity: Single entry; Stay: Depends on nationality: up to 90 days for Canadian and German citizens; the Cuban embassy in London lists 30 days. Apply on the official site
  • 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
  • Cuban tourist visa (tourist card / e-visa) — Before departure; Depends on where you get it (eVisaCuba portal, Cuban consulate, airline or tour operator). Apply online on the official eVisaCuba portal; you receive a 10-character code to enter in D'Viajeros, and the e-visa is linked to your passport. Package holidays from some countries (e.g. Canada) usually include the tourist card. Children need their own tourist card even if they are listed in a parent's passport. The visa is for tourism only. 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.

  • After any visit to Cuba since 12 January 2021 you can no longer travel to the US on ESTA and need a US visa.
  • 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 British citizens need a visa for Cuba?

British citizens need an e-Visa for Cuba, applied for online before the trip. It covers stays of up to 90 days.

How long can British 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.

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