Americans can visit Cuba under 12 authorized categories, not as tourists. The 2026 rules on the tourist card, D'Viajeros form, insurance and cash, explained.
Cover image: El Capitolio and classic American convertibles in Havana, Cuba — photo by Fraganda, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Yes, Americans can travel to Cuba, but not as ordinary tourists. US law bans pure beach-holiday tourism to the island, yet it authorises travel under 12 official categories, and hundreds of thousands of US visitors use the broadest one, "support for the Cuban people," every year. You need a Cuban tourist card (30-day stay), the D'Viajeros health form with its QR code, proof of medical insurance, and cash, because US cards do not work on the island. Here is how the system works in 2026.
Why tourism is banned but travel is allowed
Washington prohibits travel to Cuba "for tourist activities" while licensing 12 categories of purposeful travel. You self-certify your category with a signed affidavit when you book, build your itinerary around it, and keep your records for five years in case the US Treasury asks. The categories, as travel publisher Under30Experiences lists them, are family visits, official US or foreign government business, journalistic activity, professional research and meetings, educational activities, religious activities, public performances and competitions, support for the Cuban people, humanitarian projects, private foundation work, transmission of informational materials, and certain authorised export transactions.
"Support for the Cuban people" is by far the most used because it fits a normal sightseeing trip. Tour operators rebuilt their Cuba programmes around it after the narrower "people-to-people" category was scrapped. If you are comparing Caribbean options more broadly, our Caribbean hurricane-season guide covers timing and storm risk across the region.
What "support for the Cuban people" means in practice
Your days must visibly benefit private Cubans rather than state enterprises. In practice that means sleeping in casas particulares (privately owned guesthouses), eating at paladares and other private restaurants, hiring local guides, visiting independent galleries and museums, and taking cultural classes. Afar's reporter, travelling in 2026, stayed in three casas, two boutique-style in Havana and one family-run house in Trinidad, and carried a duffel of over-the-counter medicines and household goods as donations for host families.
Keep every receipt and a printed day-by-day itinerary. Officials can request proof of compliance up to five years after you return, so a folder of bookings, casa receipts and tour confirmations is part of the packing list.
The paperwork: tourist card, D'Viajeros and passport
| Document | What it is | Cost and validity |
|---|---|---|
| Cuban tourist card (pink) | Entry visa for arrivals direct from the US | About $100; 30-day stay; use within 180 days of purchase |
| Cuban tourist card (green) | Same card for arrivals via a third country | About $37, even on a US passport |
| D'Viajeros form | Mandatory online health and customs declaration | Free; generates a QR code checked at US departure and Cuban arrival |
| Passport | Must be valid for the trip | Carry it; hotels and casas record it |
Two buying routes are reported. Under30Experiences (updated August 2025) says US airlines serving Havana, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United, sell the card online or at the gate. Afar's 2026 account describes the harder path for some travellers: mailing a US Postal Service money order (bank-issued ones were rejected) to the Cuban Embassy in Washington, then filing the D'Viajeros form only after the visa is approved. File D'Viajeros close to departure, save the QR on your phone and print it. You will show it at check-in in Miami and again at the gate.
Money: bring cash, and budget around $1,000 a week
US credit and debit cards are not accepted in Cuba, and ATMs will not serve them. Bring all the cash you will need, in clean bills. Afar's reporter budgeted $1,000 for one week to cover meals, transport, souvenirs and an emergency cushion. Before you go, read how much cash you can fly with, since large cash sums have their own declaration rules at US airports.
Medical insurance covering emergencies, and ideally air evacuation, is mandatory. Some US airline tickets bundle Cuban health cover: American Airlines includes up to $25,000, according to Afar. The reporter added a $200,000 supplemental policy for $15 and looked at an 8-day Medjet evacuation plan on top. Our travel insurance guide explains what these policies actually pay for.
Flights and what has changed
Scheduled US commercial flights to Havana resumed in 2016 and continue from gateways including Miami. Cruises are barred from calling at Cuban ports, and US flights are restricted to limited Cuban airports, legacies of the 200-plus Cuba measures imposed during the Trump years. The Biden administration said in May 2022 it would reopen more airports and eventually restore people-to-people travel, but no timeline was ever published. Rules shift with administrations, so re-check the State Department's Cuba page and the US Embassy in Havana's travel pages in the week you book.
Frequently asked questions
Can Americans travel to Cuba for a beach holiday?
Not as pure tourism, which remains prohibited. In practice most US visitors travel under "support for the Cuban people," staying in private casas and patronising private businesses, which allows a full sightseeing itinerary.
How long can I stay in Cuba on a tourist card?
The card grants a maximum stay of 30 days and must be used within 180 days of purchase, according to Under30Experiences' 2025 update.
Do US credit cards work in Cuba?
No. American-issued cards are not accepted, so bring enough cash for the whole trip plus a cushion. Afar's reporter carried $1,000 for a week.
What is the D'Viajeros form?
Cuba's mandatory online health and customs declaration. Complete it after your visa is sorted, and keep the QR code on your phone and on paper for airline check-in and Cuban immigration.
