Document · Advance Passenger Information · Cuba
D'Viajeros when flying to Cuba via Europe
What English-speaking travelers need for arrival in Cuba: the free D'Viajeros, the tourist card, mandatory health insurance and cash, whether you fly direct or via Europe.
If you are flying to Cuba direct or through a European hub, the D'Viajeros is the first step of your arrival: Cuba's free, mandatory digital form from the Ministry of Transport that pulls the migratory, health and customs declarations into a single document with a QR code. The reassuring part is twofold: the portal is available in English and the form costs nothing. What does cost money — the tourist card, health insurance and cash — is separate.
In brief: whether you fly direct or connect through Madrid, Paris or London, you complete the D'Viajeros free on the official portal, up to 48 hours before you land, in English. The tourist card, the mandatory health insurance and cash are separate steps, each with its own cost, sorted before you leave.
Routes to Cuba and your D'Viajeros
Many travelers reach Cuba on a mix of direct flights and European connections. From the US and Canada there are direct services to Havana (José Martí) and to beach gateways such as Varadero; from the UK and across Europe, travelers often connect through hubs like Madrid, Paris or others, with carriers such as Iberia, Air Europa, Air France or World2Fly on the transatlantic leg. Schedules and frequencies shift by season, so always confirm with your airline.
Whatever your itinerary, the D'Viajeros is the same for everyone: you complete it up to 48 hours
before arrival at dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu and reach the airport with your QR ready. Direct or
connecting makes no difference; what counts is your arrival time in Cuba.
In short: you may fly direct or via a European hub, but the D'Viajeros is filed the same way, up to 48 hours before you land in Cuba.
The portal is available in English
Good news for English-speaking travelers: the official D'Viajeros portal is available in English, alongside Spanish, French and Russian. You do not need to wrestle with another language to declare your details, your flight, your accommodation and the customs and health declarations. Even so, type carefully: the details must match your passport and your ticket.
The form asks for your personal information, the flight number and arrival date, your address in Cuba (hotel, casa particular or wherever you stay) and the health and customs declarations. Once complete, it generates the QR code you show at Immigration, Customs and Public Health.
In short: the portal works in English and asks for your details, flight, accommodation and declarations; at the end you get the arrival QR.
The tourist card for your passport
Here is the step that confuses people most. The D'Viajeros is not a visa. To enter as a tourist you also need the tourist card (often called the "tourist visa" or "tarjeta de turista"), the document that authorizes your tourist stay. It is a paid step, separate from the D'Viajeros.
Where do you get it? Through several channels, and it pays to compare before you decide:
- Your airline: many carriers flying to Cuba sell it with the ticket or at the counter.
- A travel agency or specialist Cuba operator that arranges it for you.
- A Cuban consulate in your country, the direct official route.
The price varies by where you buy it — on the order of several tens of US dollars — and it is not a fixed figure. Replace it with whatever your airline, agency or consulate confirms at the time of purchase. Do not rely on a price you saw months ago, and note that requirements can differ depending on where you fly from.
Worth knowing: the tourist card and the D'Viajeros are different things. The card authorizes your tourist entry; the D'Viajeros declares your arrival. You need both, and only the D'Viajeros is free.
In short: you need a tourist card in addition to the D'Viajeros, paid, bought from your airline, an agency or a consulate; confirm the price when you buy it.
Mandatory health insurance
Cuba requires health insurance with coverage in the country for the length of your stay. It is an entry requirement and you may be asked for it on arrival, so do not travel without it. It is not part of the D'Viajeros or the tourist card: it is a third step you arrange before you leave.
Many travel policies already include coverage valid for Cuba, and some airlines bundle it into certain fares. Before you buy, confirm the policy specifically covers Cuba and keep the proof, on paper or on your phone, in case it is requested at the airport.
In short: health insurance with coverage in Cuba is mandatory and separate; arrange it in advance and carry the proof.
Cash and changing money
Money deserves its own section. In Cuba, cards from many banks do not work well — US bank cards in particular are not accepted — and ATMs fail, so much of your stay will run on cash. Bring a widely exchanged currency such as euros, US dollars or Canadian dollars, and change it on the island at a CADECA exchange, a bank or a hotel. Rates vary, so compare.
Two practical notes that connect to the D'Viajeros. First: above a certain threshold you must declare the cash you bring in, and that declaration sits inside the form. Second: download and print your QR before you leave, because internet in Cuba is limited and expensive, and you will not want to rely on it the moment you land.
- Bring enough cash for your first few days.
- Split the money up and do not flash it all at once.
- Declare the cash if you exceed the set threshold.
In short: travel with cash in a widely exchanged currency, change it on the island, declare anything over the threshold, and carry the QR downloaded.
Tips for travelers heading to Cuba
Beyond the paperwork, a few things you will be glad you did:
- A valid passport with a comfortable margin: check the validity before you book and do not cut it close to the expiry date.
- Accommodation written down: have the exact address of your hotel or casa particular for the form.
- Personal medication in your carry-on, in its packaging, in case you need it.
- Copies of your documents (passport, insurance, tourist card) kept separately.
- Connectivity: buy a local data card if you like, but do not count on always being online.
None of this replaces official information. Requirements change, so always confirm with the D'Viajeros portal, a Cuban consulate and your airline before you travel.
In short: a passport with margin, your accommodation noted, copies on hand and realistic expectations about connectivity make the trip smoother.
Everything together: what you arrange and where
To keep the steps separate, this table lays them out. Prices and conditions change; treat them as guidance and confirm each with the relevant source.
| Step for travelers to Cuba | What it is | Where it is arranged |
|---|---|---|
| D'Viajeros | Free arrival form with QR | Official portal, up to 48 hours before |
| Tourist card | Tourist-stay document, paid | Airline, agency or Cuban consulate |
| Health insurance | Mandatory health coverage in Cuba | Insurer, agency or airline |
| Valid passport | Valid travel document | Renew at home if needed |
| Cash | Money for the stay; declared over the threshold | Exchange in Cuba (CADECA, bank, hotel) |
In short: four separate steps plus cash; only the D'Viajeros is free, and each is arranged at its own counter.
Key points
- The D'Viajeros is free and completed up to 48 hours before, available in English.
- The tourist card is a separate, paid step: airline, agency or consulate.
- Health insurance with coverage in Cuba is mandatory; arrange it before you go.
- Carry cash in a widely exchanged currency and declare anything over the threshold.
- Download and print the QR before you leave; internet in Cuba is limited and costly.
- Prices and timelines change: confirm them with the portal, a consulate and your airline.
FAQ about the D'Viajeros when flying to Cuba
Does the D'Viajeros cost money?
No. The D'Viajeros is free on the official MITRANS portal. What costs money is the tourist card, the insurance and, if needed, a passport renewal. Do not pay for the form itself.
Is the portal available in English?
Yes. The official D'Viajeros portal is available in English, alongside Spanish, French and Russian. You can declare all your details in English.
When do I complete the form?
Up to 48 hours before your arrival in Cuba. It makes no difference whether you fly direct or connect through Europe: what counts is your landing time on the island. Do it calmly before you leave home.
Do I need a tourist card as well as the D'Viajeros?
Yes. For a tourist stay you need the tourist card, separate from the D'Viajeros. You buy it from your airline, an agency or a Cuban consulate. Confirm the price when you buy, as it can differ by route.
How much does the tourist card cost?
It varies by where you buy it, on the order of several tens of US dollars. It is not a fixed figure: ask your airline, agency or consulate to confirm it at the time, because prices change.
Is health insurance mandatory?
Yes. Cuba requires health insurance with coverage in the country. You may be asked for it on arrival. Arrange it in advance, confirm it specifically covers Cuba, and carry the proof.
What money should I bring to Cuba?
Bring cash in a widely exchanged currency such as euros, US or Canadian dollars, and change it on the island. Many foreign cards fail and ATMs are unreliable, so do not depend on plastic alone.
Do I have to declare cash?
Yes, above a certain threshold you must declare the cash you bring in, and that declaration is part of the D'Viajeros. Check the current threshold before you travel and declare it if you exceed it.
Can I fly direct or do I have to connect through Europe?
Both are common. There are direct flights to Havana and Varadero from several countries, and many travelers connect through European hubs like Madrid or Paris. Confirm routes and schedules with your airline.
Where do I confirm the official requirements?
On the D'Viajeros portal for the form, at a Cuban consulate for the tourist card, and with your airline for the flight and luggage. This article orients you but is not legal advice.
To round out your preparation, these guides may help:
- D'Viajeros at Havana airport
- D'Viajeros for Varadero and other airports
- Passport to travel to Cuba
- D'Viajeros for Cubans living abroad
Last updated: July 2026. Entry rules change; always confirm the current requirements on the official D'Viajeros (MITRANS) portal and with your airline before you travel.