Traveling to Cuba? You need a Tourist Card (sometimes referred to as a "Cuba visa"). Don’t worry—getting one is as simple as filling in a little information and paying the fee. Keep reading to find out how to get a Cuba visa online.
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While Americans can now travel to Cuba, they are required to purchase a Tourist Card when traveling to Cuba. Why? Because that’s the document that the Cuban government requires for travelers from nearly every country in the world! But it's important to know the difference between the US and Cuban requirements.
The US government requires all American travelers to choose a travel category to prove that they are "not traveling for tourism" but are instead traveling to learn about Cuba and interact with the Cuban people. The travel category is self-reporting and almost every trip fits under the Support for the Cuban People category.
The Cuba Tourist Card/visa is completely different. It's a Cuban government requirement, and it’s just a piece of paper that you must purchase in advance and fill out in order to be allowed to enter Cuba. You must keep it to show upon departure from Cuba as well. The paper is pink if you are traveling from the US to Cuba, but it’s green if you are traveling from anywhere else.
The Cuba visa/Tourist Card shows information like your name, travel dates, passport number, etc., so that officials can keep track of your time in Cuba.
You can buy your Tourist Card online, in advance of your trip. This is the easiest and safest option if you don't want to wait until the very last moment to secure your necessary travel documents.
Pro tip: If you're confused about the difference between pink and green Cuban Tourist Cards, read up on them here.
Some airlines also have an online offer. Learn more about those possibilities in ViaHero’s articles about Cuba visas by airline:
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