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🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM
🏳CUGB-CU

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit CU?

UK ordinary passport holders need a Cuba e-Visa (tourist visa) obtained online before travel. Since 1 July 2025 the e-Visa has replaced the old paper tourist card for all air travellers. It allows a single entry and a tourist stay of up to 90 days, extendable once in-country by a further 90 days. You must also complete the D'Viajeros arrival form and hold valid travel medical insurance. As of 31 May 2026, a United Kingdom ordinary passport holder cannot enter Cuba visa-free for tourism. Cuba operates an electronic visa (e-Visa) system: since 1 July 2025 the long-standing paper "tarjeta del turista" (tourist card) has been replaced by an online e-Visa that every air traveller must obtain before departure, regardless of nationality. UK travellers apply through the official Cuban government portal evisacuba.cu (or via the Cuban Embassy in London or an authorised agent), pay a fee of around GBP 22, and receive a ten-character e-Visa code by email, typically within about 72 hours. That code is then entered into the mandatory D'Viajeros traveller information form, completed online within 72 hours (some guidance says up to 7 days) before arrival, which generates a QR code shown at immigration. The e-Visa is single-entry and permits a tourist stay of up to 90 days, extendable once by a further 90 days at a Cuban immigration office. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date. Proof of onward/return travel is required, and travel medical insurance covering treatment in Cuba is mandatory and subject to random checks. Cuba is not in the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. Verdict: e-Visa required.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Tourist e-Visa (electronic visa, replaces former paper tourist card)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days, extendable once by a further 90 days in-country
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
Approx. GBP 22 (official online application)
consular fee only
Processing time
Around 72 hours (priority/same-day options offered by some agents)
standard track
Validity
e-Visa valid for use within 12 months of issue; single entry
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Confirm your British passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival date in Cuba before applying.
· 6 months validity· Ordinary passport
/02
Apply for the Cuba e-Visa online
Apply through the official Cuban government portal evisacuba.cu, or via the Cuban Embassy in London or an authorised agent. Enter your passport and travel details and pay the fee.
· evisacuba.cu· Apply before travel
/03
Receive your ten-character e-Visa code
After approval you receive a ten-character e-Visa code by email, usually within about 72 hours. Keep it safe; you will need it for the arrival form.
· ~72 hours· Emailed code
/04
Arrange mandatory travel medical insurance
Buy travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation in Cuba. Carry a printed certificate as it may be checked on arrival.
· Medical cover required· Carry proof
/05
Complete the D'Viajeros arrival form
Within 72 hours before entering Cuba, complete the online D'Viajeros traveller information portal, entering your e-Visa code. You receive a QR code by email.
· D'Viajeros portal· QR code
/06
Travel with all documents
Carry your passport, printed e-Visa code, D'Viajeros QR code, insurance proof and confirmed onward/return flight booking to present at immigration.
· Onward ticket· Print documents
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

8 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 8 complete
British (ordinary) passport valid 6+ months beyond arrival date
required
Approved Cuba e-Visa with ten-character code
required
Completed D'Viajeros form QR code (within 72 hours of arrival)
required
Travel medical insurance covering treatment in Cuba
required
Confirmed onward or return flight booking
required
Proof of accommodation / address in Cuba
recommended
Printed copies of e-Visa and QR code (wifi may be limited)
recommended
Sufficient funds for the duration of stay
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Cuba e-Visa (tourist) feeGBP 22Official online application via evisacuba.cu
Priority / same-day processingGBP 8Optional surcharge offered by some authorised agents
Travel medical insuranceGBP 20-50Mandatory; varies by trip length and provider
Total estimateGBP 22GBP 80incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Priority / same-day (agent)
Same day to 24 hours
Some authorised UK agents offer expedited processing for an extra fee.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Mandatory e-Visa since July 2025
On 1 July 2025 Cuba replaced the paper tourist card with an electronic visa required before travel for all air passengers, including UK nationals.
High
/02
No visa-free or visa-on-arrival channel
British passport holders cannot enter visa-free and cannot obtain a visa on arrival in Cuba; the e-Visa must be secured before departure.
High
/03
D'Viajeros arrival form not completed
Travellers who fail to complete the online D'Viajeros form and present the QR code can face delays at immigration.
Medium
/04
Missing travel medical insurance
Insurance covering medical care in Cuba is mandatory and subject to random checks at the border.
Medium
/05
Insufficient passport validity
A passport not valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival can lead to refusal of the e-Visa or boarding.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
United Kingdom to Cuba route verified
Confirmed against GOV.UK Cuba entry requirements and corroborating sources that UK ordinary passport holders need a Cuba e-Visa (single entry, up to 90 days, ~GBP 22), which replaced the paper tourist card on 1 July 2025; D'Viajeros form and travel medical insurance are mandatory.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do UK citizens still need the paper tourist card for Cuba?
No. Since 1 July 2025 the paper tourist card has been replaced by an electronic e-Visa that must be obtained online before you travel.
How long can I stay in Cuba on the e-Visa?+
How much does the Cuba e-Visa cost and how long does it take?+
Is travel insurance mandatory for Cuba?+
What is the D'Viajeros form?+
Can I get the visa on arrival in Cuba?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Kingdom passport

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