Chart your island course on official Cuba Education and Explorer Tours.
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Obama's New Cuba Travel Freedoms Explained
TO VISIT CUBA you only need a valid passport and tourist card.

If you are resident of the United States, your government requires you have a license to go to the island.

This website describes some of the licenses available for Cuba Education Tours.
Leonardo Hechavarría of Cuba Education and Explorer Tours
WE'VE SENT thousands of Americans to Cuba since 1997.

All have traveled legally and returned without complications.

We are here to explain the rules. Contact us.
Cuban airplane.
WE ASSIST with air flights from your city to Cuba. Learn more.
GREAT NEWS! On Friday 14 January 2011, the White House greatly expanded Cuba travel for Americans to include academic, research, religious and people-to-people visits. All of our programs qualify. We warmly invite you to join us on the island.
THIS WEBSITE and its content is current at . Information herein is provided as a courtesy and does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion.


YES, YOU CAN visit the island now on several types of legal Cuba travel options. Below are categories that may work for you.

First, we suggest you spend a minute to review key terms, definitions and cautions.

"GENERAL LICENSE"  Requires no application, no permission, and no prior approval from Washington to travel to Cuba. The individual, academic or religious institution simply complies with the spirit and intent of the regulations. The general license is a do it yourself license.

Individuals not traveling under the auspices of an academic or religious institution prepare simple research documentation demonstrating compliance.

If a school or religious institution sponsors an individual traveler, the institution provides a letter of authorization for travel. It is quick and easy. There are no costs or fees involved.

"SPECIFIC LICENSE"  An individual or institution submits a detailed application to the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Response from Washington may be as fast as four weeks or may take much longer. There is no guarantee that the license will be approved. There are no fees involved.

PURCHASING CUBA TRAVEL SERVICES  Americans cannot purchase travel services directly from Cuba. They must do so from a licensed US-based Travel Service Provider (TSP), or they can purchase travel services from a Canadian company. In either case, Americans should use caution before committing precious travel dollars. An institution or individual traveler should verify the tour company has a long history of providing travel services, has legal standing in Cuba, and professional references.

General License categories under which Americans can join a Cuba Education Tour. Click category for summary and instructions.

Educational travel for schools, including faculty, staff and students (general license).
Professional research travel (general license). Very good for individual travelers.
Religious travel hosted by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other religious organization (general license). Great for group and individual travelers.
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours that qualify for licensed travel.
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Cuba Travel Guidelines.
NEW 2011 OFAC regulations can be downloaded here. Click image above for the official PDF (170K, 51 pages).
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Cuba Travel Guidelines.
WEBSITE OF the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) provides more information on Cuba travel licensing and regulations.
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