AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

The Right to Travel

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveling to Cuba

• Do I have to go to Cuba with an organized tour?
• Can I travel to Cuba from Canada or Mexico?

PLEASE NOTE: Information contained on this website is current as of July 2002. Travel regulations may have changed. Readers are encouraged to contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control directly for the most current regulations.

Organized Tours
Tourism is not legally permitted in Cuba. You can travel to Cuba as a participant in a conference or an event. That is clearly covered under the General License. With a General License, you do not need to contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) before traveling to Cuba; you will only need a visa from the Cuban Interest Section and your passport.

There are a wide variety of events and tours in Cuba. For example, some non-governmental organizations organize tours that explore Cuban culture or tours that explore the effects of the US embargo on Cuba. These organizations often also arrange your visas with the Cuban Interests Section.

For information on tours and events in Cuba, please see:

• The Clearinghouse website section on Upcoming Events
• The Cuban Convention Bureau
• Or consult a travel agent, such as Marazul Tours
  

However, if you are not interested in traveling to Cuba to attend a conference, there is a provision to allow professionals to travel to the island to conduct professional research.

General License
To travel under a General License to conduct independent research requires three things: 1. You are full time professional; 2. Your research in Cuba will represent a full work schedule; and 3. Your research has a substantial likelihood for public dissemination. The reason for the full time and full work provisions is that the intent of the law is to allow professionals and academics to conduct research, and not allow for research requests to be a pretense for tourism, which the regulations are specifically trying to prevent. The public dissemination provision is that your research would be available to the public at some point in the future.

Specific License
A third option is that you may also consider applying for a Specific License. To do so, you will need to write a letter to OFAC outlining who you are with details about your professional background. Your letter should also briefly address the research that you hope to do. You will need to include: the names of the people traveling, the proposed dates of travel and a contact address and phone number in case OFAC has questions regarding the application. In general, OFAC prefers noncommercial research. OFAC does not grant licenses for tourism, and your application should stress the academic/professional nature of your travel.

If you are planning to either travel as a researcher under the General License or apply for a Specific License, I would also mention that it is a good idea to conduct some research and contact organizations you wish to visit well before your planned trip. Cuba is unlike other countries, in that it is better to have contacts lined up before you go. It is also easier to apply for a visa to travel if you have established links to organizations.

Our web site attempts to explain the regulations and policies of Cuba travel. We try as hard as we can to make all relevant information available in a central location and explained in the easiest way. However, for a definitive answer to your question, you must consult officials to verify that your proposed research plan would be legal for travel under a General License.

For License information:
Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20220, Phone: 202-622-2480; Fax: 202-622-1657.

For Visa information:
Cuban Interest Section, 2630 16th St, NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-797-8518, 8519, 20; Fax: 202 797-8521; Email: cubaseccion@igc.apc.org

General Travel Information:
The Center for Constitutional Rights, ADVICE FOR TRAVELERS TO CUBA.
If you have additional questions, contact The Center for Constitutional Rights, 666 Broadway New York, NY 10012, 212.614.6464 Fax: 212.614.6499 or ccr@igc.apc.org

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Can I travel to Cuba from Canada or Mexico?

If you are legally able to travel to Cuba, that is, you are covered under an OFAC license, you can either fly on one of the direct flights to Cuba from Miami or New York or you may also travel through a third country. Many people opt to travel through a third country because there are more flight options, the flights may be cheaper, and there may be less restrictions on baggage weight. More information on direct flights can be found in the Clearinghouse Policy section

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Please contact us if you have additional questions

PLEASE NOTE: Information contained on this website is current as of July 2002. Travel regulations may have changed. Readers are encouraged to contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control directly for the most current regulations.

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