Cuba Entry Requirements 2026: Passport, eVisa & D’Viajeros

Before-departure checklist

Cuba entry requirements: passport, eVisa, D’Viajeros and insurance

Prepare every entry document before leaving home. Your exact requirements depend on your passport, airline and itinerary, especially when your route includes a connection through another country.

Verified August 28, 2026: for a regular Canadian passport, the passport must be valid for the expected duration of the stay. A tourist visa is required. If travelling via a third country, obtain the Cuban eVisa before departure and enter its 10-character code in D’Viajeros. D’Viajeros may be completed as early as 72 hours before entry, and proof of medical insurance is required.

Quick answer

Most travellers should carry: a valid passport, the correct Cuban visa or eVisa, a completed D’Viajeros form with QR code, proof of travel medical insurance, flight confirmation, accommodation details and offline copies of every document.

Do not assume a package, airline or connection includes every formality. D’Viajeros remains separate from the visa, and a third-country connection can change the process.

Start with the two key guides

Cuba eVisa guide →

D’Viajeros form in English and QR code guide →

Cuban customs change from October 12, 2026: baggage, gifts and donations

Who should check? Travellers carrying multiple identical items, gifts, donations or goods that could exceed Cuba’s non-commercial limits.

What changes? Under Official Gazette No. 83, published October 5, 2026, customs may allow a separate clearance for certain excess or commercially classified goods, subject to conditions. Progressive duties of 15% to 30% and customs-service fees are payable in USD. This is not permission to import unlimited goods, and prohibited items remain prohibited.

Before departure: check the permitted quantity and type of each item, keep purchase receipts, prepare an accurate declaration and confirm accepted payment methods. Do not assume an excess will automatically be admitted.

Source: Cuba’s Official Gazette No. 83 (October 5, 2026), Decree-Law 132/2026 and Resolutions 197/2026 and 340/2026.

Which document should you prepare first?

Document	When to prepare it	Main check
Passport	Before booking	Name, number, condition and validity for the entire itinerary.
Visa or eVisa	Before D’Viajeros when required	Confirm whether it is included or must be obtained separately.
D’Viajeros	Within the official pre-arrival window	Save the final QR code offline and on paper.
Travel medical insurance	Before final payment	Carry proof, emergency contacts and evacuation details.
Offline copies	Before leaving home	Do not rely only on email, mobile data or airport WiFi.

Passport checks

For a regular Canadian passport, the Government of Canada states that the passport must be valid for the expected duration of the stay in Cuba. Use the same passport details on your airline booking, eVisa and D’Viajeros form. Check spelling, passport number and expiry date carefully. Airlines may apply passport-validity rules that are stricter than Cuba’s minimum entry rule.

Cuba visa or eVisa

The visa or eVisa is the tourist entry authorization and does not replace D’Viajeros. Canadian tourists need a visa. The Government of Canada states that if you travel to Cuba via a third country, including a stopover there, you must obtain the Cuban eVisa ahead of time. The eVisa provides a 10-character code that must be entered in D’Viajeros.

Important: if your route uses a third country, verify the Cuban visa process and the transit requirements for that country before paying for the ticket.

D’Viajeros and the QR code

D’Viajeros is the separate immigration, customs and health declaration. It may be completed as early as 72 hours before entry. Use only the official portal, review every field and save the final QR code as a screenshot, PDF and printed copy when possible.

Travel medical insurance

Proof of medical insurance is required upon entry to Cuba. Carry a copy that can be opened without internet access. Save the policy certificate, insurer emergency number, assistance procedure and details for hospitalization and medical evacuation. If the proof is not accepted, Cuban authorities may require you to buy local coverage on arrival.

Choose the right entry-document path for your itinerary

Start with the route on your confirmed ticket, not with a generic Cuba checklist. The visa process can differ between a direct flight from Canada and a journey connecting through another country. The requirements of the transit country are separate from Cuba’s own entry rules.

Direct Canada–Cuba package or flight: a Cuban tourist visa is required for Canadian tourists. The Government of Canada says it is generally included in packages or flights offered directly from Canada. Ask the operator or airline to confirm in writing what is included, how the visa is delivered and whether any separate application is necessary. Do not assume that a flight booking alone proves you hold a visa.
Flight via a third country, including a stopover: for Canadian tourists, obtain the Cuban eVisa through the official Cuban portal before travelling. Keep the emailed 10-character visa code: you will need it when completing D’Viajeros. The Cuban portal indicates a response within 72 business hours; that is not a reason to leave the application until the last minute.
Transit through the United States or another country: check the transit country’s entry or transit authorization rules for your own nationality and passport, even if you expect to stay airside. Also confirm whether you must collect and re-check baggage and whether your tickets are on a single reservation. Cuban documents do not replace any documents required by the transit country.
Children, dual nationals and non-Canadian passports: do not automatically apply the regular Canadian-passport rules to every traveller in the group. Verify each person’s passport, visa, travel-consent documents when relevant and any nationality-specific requirements. Canadian–Cuban dual nationals have additional passport rules explained in the Canadian advisory.

Final document check: before check-in and again before arrival

Before check-in: compare the name and passport number on the ticket, passport and visa or eVisa; confirm the entire flight itinerary, return/onward booking, accommodation address and travel medical insurance certificate. Cuban authorities may request evidence of accommodation and a return or onward ticket. Keep the insurer’s assistance number and a paper copy of the essential documents.

Within the official pre-arrival window: complete D’Viajeros, which can be submitted as early as 72 hours before entry. Where an eVisa applies, enter the code correctly. Download the final QR code and keep both an offline copy and a printed backup. D’Viajeros is a declaration, not a replacement for the visa.

If your route, passport or accommodation changes: re-check the visa and D’Viajeros details against the updated documents, and confirm with the airline or Cuban authorities whether a correction or new submission is needed. Do not guess that an old QR code remains valid for changed information.

Entry-document questions travellers often ask

Is D’Viajeros the same thing as the Cuba eVisa?: No. The eVisa is an entry authorization; D’Viajeros is the separate online traveller declaration that produces the QR code shown at check-in and on arrival.
Does a Canadian holiday package always include the visa?: No universal guarantee. The Canadian government says it is generally included with direct Canada–Cuba packages or flights, but you must confirm the actual arrangement with your operator.
Can I submit D’Viajeros several weeks before travelling?: No. The official Canadian guidance says the form can be completed as early as 72 hours before entry. Prepare your information in advance, then submit it within that window.
Is Canadian provincial health coverage enough proof of travel medical insurance?: Do not rely on provincial coverage alone: it provides very limited protection abroad and does not include medical evacuation. Carry proof of suitable travel medical insurance, including hospital and evacuation coverage, and verify its conditions.

Official sources checked 8 October 2026: Government of Canada — Cuba entry requirements; Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs — eVisa. Rules can change; verify again before departure.

Travelling with children

Each child needs their own passport, visa or eVisa when required, D’Viajeros information and insurance proof. Carry consent or custody documents when relevant to the family situation and itinerary.