Find out if you need a passport to travel to Cuba and what other official documents are required.
Before organising a trip to Cuba, you will of course need to have a passport in your name in order to travel to this country. Indeed, Cuba is not located in the European Union and you must therefore have a passport to go there and not a simple identity card. As we will see, you will also need to have a visa or a tourist card to be allowed to enter the country.
A valid passport is of course required for travel to Cuba. It is also important to note that this passport must be valid at the time of your stay and for the duration of your stay, but also for 7 months after the date of departure to Cuba.
Please also note that your passport must have at least 2 blank pages opposite each other and ideally 3 blank pages.
Of course, the information on your passport must be the same as that on your visa or residence permit.
The passport requirement for travel to Cuba also applies to children and minors under the age of 18, regardless of their age. They must therefore have their own passport.
As regards the authorization to leave the territory, it will not be necessary if the child travels with one or both legal parents. On the contrary, if the child is travelling alone or with a third person, it will be necessary, in addition to the passport, to carry an authorisation to leave the country signed by one or both parents, together with a copy of the latter's identity document.
Documents to prove parentage are also recommended if you are travelling with a child who does not bear your surname, even though it is your own.
The passport is not the only official document you will need to have with you when travelling to Cuba. In addition to the passport, you will also need a residence permit, which can take the form of a business visa if you are going to the country for business or a tourist card if you are going to visit the country or spend your holidays there.
Cuba is also a country that requires travellers entering the country to have insurance and health cover. This insurance must be taken out in the country of origin and proof can be requested at the airport. A traveller arriving in Cuba without insurance and in the event of a check, would be obliged to take out insurance in the country.
If you are a traveller to Cuba and need a passport, you will need to apply at a town hall with a registration station. You can download the form online and fill it in beforehand, but you will have to go to the town hall in person to submit your application.
If you are applying for a passport for a child, the child must be present with you as the person with parental authority.
You would also need to present several official documents and proofs depending on your personal situation. This could be an identity document, such as the identity card from your old passport, proof of address or other items depending on your situation, details of which can be found on the website of the public prosecutor's office.
Please note that if you need to apply for your passport before travelling to Cuba and before applying for your visa online, you should allow an average of 2-4 weeks to obtain it.
The passport must be collected in person by the applicant from the town hall within three months of it being made available. Here again, a minor child will have to go with a parent or guardian to collect the passport.
Note that the passport will also be required to apply for a tourist card for Cuba online or for a business visa.
As for the second most important document to be provided when travelling to Cuba, i.e. the visa or tourist card, you should know that it is possible to request it directly online.
The online procedure takes only a few minutes and involves simply filling in a form with certain information, such as your identity data or passport number.
Once the document is completed, you will simply pay the fees for your visa application with a credit card online on a secure server. Your application will then be processed within a maximum of 3 working days, and more usually within 2 working days, and your visa for Cuba will be sent directly to your home address by post.
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
To travel to Cuba legally, you will need a valid passport, which is valid for 7 months from the date of entry into the country, a tourist card or a business visa and health insurance.
All travellers wishing to visit Cuba or to travel there on business must obtain a visa or tourist card before their departure date. Only a few countries are exempted from visas and it will be necessary to present a passport issued by one of these countries. Remember that the tourist card for Cuba will allow you to stay in the country for 30 consecutive days.
Of course, it is not possible to travel to Cuba with a simple identity card. Indeed, your national identity card will only allow you to stay in countries within the European Union, due to the agreements between the different countries of this Union. In Cuba, you must have a passport and a visa.
