Visa for Cuba help
Dec 16, 2011 | 10:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 517
Visa for Cuba help
Can any UK nationals that have visited Cuba recently give me some advice about the process?
I believe I need a visa and cannot buy one on arrival?
I'd rather go to the embassy in London and get the visa while I wait - anyone who has done this i'd appreciate your assistance. I cant seem to find a copy of the form or what you need to bring with you, or how you make an appointment. I'd rather not pay fees to a company to do it if I can do it myself.
I believe I need a visa and cannot buy one on arrival?
I'd rather go to the embassy in London and get the visa while I wait - anyone who has done this i'd appreciate your assistance. I cant seem to find a copy of the form or what you need to bring with you, or how you make an appointment. I'd rather not pay fees to a company to do it if I can do it myself.
Jan 1, 2012 | 8:50 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bahamas
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 959
Jan 7, 2012 | 4:14 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,928
It'd appear as a U.K. citizen going strictly for tourism purposes, you ge the card from the travel arranger/provider (airline, hotel, tour operator, etc.)
/ 07JAN12 / 2311 UTC
National United Kingdom (GB) /Destination Cuba (CU)
Cuba (CU)
Passport required.
- Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid
on arrival.
Admission and Transit Restrictions:
- Nationals, former nationals, alien residents of Cuba and
emigrants of Cuban origin residing abroad must
For details, click here
Visa required, except for Holders of a Tourist Card ("Tarjeta
del Turista") to be obtained prior to arrival, also see under
Visa - Additional Information.
Additional Information:
- The length of stay must be covered by USD
50.-For details, click here
- Tourist Cards ("Tarjeta del Turista") is only valid for
tourist purposes For details, click here
Warning:
- Visitors not holding return/onward tickets and other
documents required for their destination could be refused
entry.
- All passengers entering Cuba will be required to hold a
Travel Insurance to cover medical expenses in Cuba during
their period of stay, which must be purchased at point of
origin from a government approved vendor.
- Neither visa exemptions nor Tourist Card facilities are
applicable to those holding foreign passports who are born
in Cuba. They will be considered Cuban nationals, unless
holding a document signed by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, proving withdrawal of their Cuban citizenship.
CHECK TINEWS/N1 - SRI LANKA: ELECTRONIC TRAVEL
AUTHORIZATION
Timaticweb Version 1.3
07 January 2012
/ 07JAN12 / 2311 UTC
Cuba (CU)
Additional Information:
- Tourist Cards ("Tarjeta del Turista") is only valid for
tourist purposes and can be issued to foreigners on pleasure
trips to Cuba who have contracted a tourist programme or
have made their hotel reservations (min. stay of 2 days)
through any travel agency having commercial operations with
the Cuban Tourism Enterprise officially recognized. The card
can be bought from a tour operator, any travel agency or
airline authorized to sell tourist trips to Cuba or from
Cuban embassies and consulates. The card should be typed or
filled out in block letters and the seal of the agency
should be fixed on the back. The card may be used only for
one entry, within 180 days following the date of issue and
authorizes the users to stay in Cuba for 30 days, for the
time covered by the hotel reservation or tourist programme.
The stay in Cuba may be extended at Immigration authorities
for a maximum of 30 days.
Fee: USD 25.- (or equivalent in freely convertible
currency). Card must be bought in the country where the trip
to Cuba has been arranged. NOTE: if passport contains a
visa, Tourist Card is not required.
CHECK TINEWS/N1 - SRI LANKA: ELECTRONIC TRAVEL
AUTHORIZATION
Timaticweb Version 1.3
07 January 2012
National United Kingdom (GB) /Destination Cuba (CU)
Cuba (CU)
Passport required.
- Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid
on arrival.
Admission and Transit Restrictions:
- Nationals, former nationals, alien residents of Cuba and
emigrants of Cuban origin residing abroad must
For details, click here
Visa required, except for Holders of a Tourist Card ("Tarjeta
del Turista") to be obtained prior to arrival, also see under
Visa - Additional Information.
Additional Information:
- The length of stay must be covered by USD
50.-For details, click here
- Tourist Cards ("Tarjeta del Turista") is only valid for
tourist purposes For details, click here
Warning:
- Visitors not holding return/onward tickets and other
documents required for their destination could be refused
entry.
- All passengers entering Cuba will be required to hold a
Travel Insurance to cover medical expenses in Cuba during
their period of stay, which must be purchased at point of
origin from a government approved vendor.
- Neither visa exemptions nor Tourist Card facilities are
applicable to those holding foreign passports who are born
in Cuba. They will be considered Cuban nationals, unless
holding a document signed by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, proving withdrawal of their Cuban citizenship.
CHECK TINEWS/N1 - SRI LANKA: ELECTRONIC TRAVEL
AUTHORIZATION
Timaticweb Version 1.3
07 January 2012
/ 07JAN12 / 2311 UTC
Cuba (CU)
Additional Information:
- Tourist Cards ("Tarjeta del Turista") is only valid for
tourist purposes and can be issued to foreigners on pleasure
trips to Cuba who have contracted a tourist programme or
have made their hotel reservations (min. stay of 2 days)
through any travel agency having commercial operations with
the Cuban Tourism Enterprise officially recognized. The card
can be bought from a tour operator, any travel agency or
airline authorized to sell tourist trips to Cuba or from
Cuban embassies and consulates. The card should be typed or
filled out in block letters and the seal of the agency
should be fixed on the back. The card may be used only for
one entry, within 180 days following the date of issue and
authorizes the users to stay in Cuba for 30 days, for the
time covered by the hotel reservation or tourist programme.
The stay in Cuba may be extended at Immigration authorities
for a maximum of 30 days.
Fee: USD 25.- (or equivalent in freely convertible
currency). Card must be bought in the country where the trip
to Cuba has been arranged. NOTE: if passport contains a
visa, Tourist Card is not required.
CHECK TINEWS/N1 - SRI LANKA: ELECTRONIC TRAVEL
AUTHORIZATION
Timaticweb Version 1.3
07 January 2012
Jan 8, 2012 | 9:47 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 517
Thanks, YVR Cockroach. This is where I am getting really confused. We have not used a travel agent (never, ever do) and on booking our flights (with Virgin Atlantic) we were advised that we needed a visa. That was it. I might call them back and ask for advice. Some people are telling me we need a visa, others say that the travel company provide it (we are not using one, however) and others (like above) say you get it on arrival. Needless to say, I am quite confused as to what is correct 
Jan 8, 2012 | 11:17 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,928
It appears you'll have to buy the card from the embassy in London (167 High Holborn?)
http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/reinou...px#TouristCard
http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/generalinfo.html#Entryreq
http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/reinou...px#TouristCard
http://www.travel2cuba.co.uk/generalinfo.html#Entryreq