Cuba's visa policy towards Russians can be called an illustrative example of the friendship of peoples: tourist trips to Liberty Island lasting up to thirty days by citizens of the Russian Federation can be carried out without a visa. But if a private visit is planned, then a visa pass is required. Let's analyze what needs to be done and in what order to open it.

When considering the question of whether a visa is needed for Cuba in 2017, we will first consider the situation when a Russian can enter the island on a tourist package.

Upon arrival in Cuba, you must present a foreign passport and round-trip air tickets. In this case, no border fees are charged, but the immigration card is simply filled out in duplicate. The period of stay is up to 30 days.

The first copy is handed over during passport control at the Cuban airport, the second copy must be kept with you until the end of the trip.

An additional positive point is that only Cuba allows a tourist’s passport to be valid only for the duration of the trip. And prices for tours to this country are much more affordable than to Europe.

If the tour is organized without the mediation of a tour operator or travel agency, the traveler will be asked to confirm his solvency at the rate of fifty dollars per person per day.

When departing from Cuba, you will need to pay a special airport tax of 25 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) per person.

Extension of visa-free regime

If necessary, after 30 visa-free days, the period of stay on the island under the same conditions can be extended for another month. To do this, you need to contact the local immigration service, having purchased stamps worth 65 cookies from the bank in advance, taken a certificate of residence from a hotel or cash desk of a legal private house, and taken out medical insurance for 30 days.

After the extension, the immigration card issued at the airport is confiscated from the applicant, and he is issued a visa with a proroga - a document allowing its holder to stay in Cuba for a month from the date of issue.

The visa-free regime can be extended for 3 or 4 months, but in this case the visa will only cost 25 cookies.

Visa for private travel

If in 2017 it will be necessary to stay in Cuba for more than 30 days, then Russians will need a visa. You can issue it by submitting it to the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Moscow

the following package of documents:

  • a foreign passport, the validity of which after entering the island will exceed six months;
  • a photograph with a format of 30x40 millimeters, in which the applicant’s face occupies at least 70% of the photograph;
  • a photocopy of air tickets or their reservation in both directions;
  • letter of invitation from the host party, confirmation of hotel reservation, travel agency voucher.

If the applicant submits documents for a visa at the Cuban embassy independently, then the consular fee will be thirty dollars, but if this task is the prerogative of a third party, then fifty dollars will have to be paid at the consular department.

The fee is paid directly at the time of submitting documents at the consular office, in dollars, and in case of refusal to issue a visa permit is not refundable.

The application is reviewed within five working days.

If the outcome is positive, the applicant is issued a visa consisting of two parts: at the time of entry to the island, one part of the visa pass is confiscated at the airport, and the second must be retained until the end of the trip.

When crossing the border zone, a foreigner's passport in Cuba may be stamped with an entry stamp into the country. However, this happens extremely rarely, and only at the request of the citizen himself.

Customs regulations

Despite the fact that a visa to Cuba for Russians is issued relatively without problems, in this state customs regulations are strictly observed. It is allowed to import personal belongings to the island, goods whose value does not exceed $250, and currency not exceeding the equivalent of $5,000.

The export threshold is $5,000. Medicines can only be imported in original packaging and in volumes of up to ten kilograms. The import of microphones, cordless phones, household devices, and video equipment into the country is strictly prohibited.

The export of legendary Cuban cigars is strictly regulated. If there is no accompanying documentation, then only 23 cigars can be exported.

To export cigars in larger quantities, you need to purchase them from specialized tobacco stores that have the right to sell goods for export and will provide you with the appropriate receipts and invoices.

Works of art may be exported from Cuba only with written permission from the National Register of Cultural Property. It is prohibited to export books published more than fifty years ago from the country.

Visa to Cuba: Video