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to Cuba - Last minute tours
to Cuba
Cuba has been attracting travelers from Russia for many years. This is a country with a wonderful climate, friendly people, exotic nature and something nostalgic and pleasant. An important advantage is visa-free entry for Russians. And if until 2021 it was possible to stay on Liberty Island for 30 days without special documents, now the period has been extended to three months. In some cases, a permit will still have to be issued: this applies to those traveling for business, guest or educational purposes.
Before the trip
The rules for entry into Cuba for Russians in 2021 require a negative result of a PCR test for coronavirus infection taken 72 hours before departure. After receiving a negative test result, you must provide it at the airport of departure in Russian and English, and then at the airport of arrival. The certificate must have the original blue seal of the laboratory (clinic) and the signature of the doctor.
The PCR test for coronavirus must indicate your full last name, first name and patronymic. Be sure to check whether the date and time of collection of biological material are indicated correctly in the certificate.
If you are flying from another region of Russia with a transfer, then you have the opportunity to take an urgent PCR test for COVID-19 directly at Moscow airports, which is very convenient when calculating the validity period of the test results.
Visitor visa
It makes sense to get a visitor visa for citizens of countries with which Cuba does not have an agreement on a visa-free regime, for example, Ukraine. The purpose of the visit may be to visit family or friends. But in any case, the visitor will need an official entry document. To purchase it, you can contact the Cuban Embassy.
However, it is not necessary to come to the diplomatic mission in person. All papers can be transferred through a trusted person (travel agency, courier).
In 2021, you will need a package of the following documents:
- International passport. The passport must not expire for at least 6 months from the date of arrival on the Caribbean island.
- Copies of identification document.
- Two photographs measuring 30 by 40 millimeters.
- Photocopy of tickets to and from your destination.
- An invitation with the seal of the island regulatory authorities and the signature of the person who made the request to come. Confirmation of your hotel reservation is also suitable.
- Receipt of payment of the consular fee.
- Insurance and its photocopy.
It is important to submit all papers at once. They must be filled out accurately and correctly. If any document is missing or is completed incorrectly, you will have to go through the submission procedure again. Typically, a visitor visa is processed quickly. You can receive the treasured document in your hands within the working week. It is extremely rare that more than 5 days pass from the moment all the necessary forms are submitted.
Detailed map of Cuba with all islands
Entry paper is inexpensive. If it is issued by the applicant himself, he will pay 30 US dollars as a consular fee. If you provide documents through a principal, you will have to pay $50. The fee is non-refundable.
As a rule, visitor visas are issued for 30 days. This is the total time spent on the Caribbean island. The document itself is valid for 6 months. Thus, the main advantages of a Cuban visa are:
- affordable price;
- high speed of registration;
- ease of receipt.
The entry document consists of two parts. The first is torn off by border guards, the second is stored until the end of the trip.
Do you need a hotel reservation in Cuba?
Yes, a mandatory condition for staying in Cuba for the entire period must be a “hotel reservation”.
You can book on Booking with a discount or look at prices in other hotel aggregators.
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Photo requirements
You must provide two photographs measuring 3x4 cm, color or black and white. The applicant must be photographed from the front, looking straight, with a calm expression or a slight smile, mouth closed. It is desirable that the ears are visible, and the face occupies about 70% of the frame.
High and complex hairstyles, large hair accessories, hats (only those worn for religious reasons) and extravagant glasses are not allowed. You don’t have to remove a simple frame if it doesn’t interfere with seeing your eyes.
The length of the head from the chin to the crown is approximately 30 mm (70-80% of the area). The photo is taken from the front, the gaze is directed at the camera, there is no smile.
Upon arrival
At the Cuban airport you will need:
- Fill out the health questionnaire and immigration card in duplicate. You give one at passport control, and the second you keep until the end of the trip and hand it over to the border guard before departure;
- Present a valid passport;
- Provide the original certificate with the result of the COVID-19 test. You will also receive another free PCR test, the result of which will be ready in 24 hours. Only children under 2 years of age are exempt from the repeated testing procedure.
Tourists with a positive PCR test will be placed in designated hotels for isolation until they receive a negative test result. People who flew with them are considered contacts and will be required to stay in isolation in their hotel rooms without the right to leave them for 5 days.
Attention! If you have not taken out insurance, then hotel accommodation and treatment will be at your expense.
Cuba: important information for Russian citizens planning to stay in the country
Dear Colleagues! We are happy to announce great news - we are opening Cuba again! Start of the program with direct flights from Moscow (Sheremetyevo Airport):
- Cayo Coco from 03.11.2020
View tours - Varadero from 04/24/2021
View tours
Tours to Cuba are now available for booking!
Memo for Russian citizens planning a trip to Cuba
Travel preparation and safety precautions
From January 10, 2021, the following measures are additionally introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Make it mandatory for international travelers arriving from 10 January to present an original negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours before travel by a certified laboratory in the country of departure or residence. To pass passport control in Cuba, a test in English is required.
- Upon arrival in Cuba, the currently established health protocol is followed, which includes a PCR test at the border. Children under 2 years of age are exempt from providing a certificate of a negative RT-PCR test and repeated testing at the airport.
- Airports will continue to work to expedite post-flight formalities for passengers, including rearranging slots to ensure adequate social distancing between passengers.
Cuba reiterates its determination to ensure the health of its citizens, as well as foreigners who visit the country, and reaffirms it as a safe place.
Link to source: Link to the website of the Ministry of Health of Cuba Link to the website of the Association of Tour Operators Link to the document Link to the document
Visa
In accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Cuba, citizens of Russia, from December 21, 2018, can enter and stay in Cuba without visas for up to 90 days during each period of 180 days, counting from the date of first entry.
Air travel:
In accordance with the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor and airline regulations, passengers without masks will not be accepted for transportation. Passengers must wear a mask at all times while on board the aircraft and have a sufficient number of masks for the entire duration of the flight at the rate of 1 mask per 3 hours of flight.
Documents for crossing the border:
- International passport (passport must be valid for at least 1 month from the date of departure from Cuba). Children must have their own passport. The passport must be valid for no more than 10 years from the date of issue.
- Round trip flights
- Voucher
- Insurance
- Visa sticker (for foreign citizens)
- Immigration card (2 copies)
When crossing the border, the tourist fills out the immigration card in two copies, the first is presented when passing through passport control along with the passport. The second copy must be kept until the end of the trip; it is returned to the border guard upon departure from Cuba. Details
Arrival and rest in the country:
Health authorities, in coordination with the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, are implementing the following measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among travelers arriving in the country:
- On the plane and at the airport it is necessary to use personal protective equipment: masks, gloves.
- Upon arrival at the airport, passengers must fill out a health declaration form: link
- All passengers undergo thermometry and a free PCR test at the airport. When transferring to the hotel, you must wear protective face masks.
- The test results are prepared within 24 hours, during which time tourists can move freely around the hotel (maintaining social distance), and after receiving confirmation of the absence of COVID-19, leave the hotel.
- Each hotel will have a medical team with a doctor, nurse and epidemiologist who will serve tourists and hotel staff. Tourists will be able to move around the hotel without masks, the use of which will be mandatory only for hotel staff.
- Cayo Coco: If a tourist has a positive PCR test result, he will be hospitalized and his companions will be isolated in their room for 5 days, where they will be provided with individual meals. After this period, tourists must take a second PCR test; if the result is negative, the restrictions will be lifted.
- Varadero: in case of a positive result (asymptomatic form of infection), the tourist will be placed for observation in a 4-star hotel in Varadero (hotel-hospital) where medical staff will monitor the patient’s condition until a repeat test for SARS is carried out. CoV-2 and received a negative result. After this, tourists can return to the booked hotel to continue their vacation at the resort. In case of a positive result (with symptoms of the disease), the tourist is admitted to the hospital to receive medical treatment in accordance with established medical protocols. Companions of a tourist who receives a positive result will remain under sanitary surveillance in the booked hotels. Details
- Tourists must maintain social distancing inside the hotel and undergo systematic body temperature monitoring.
- In restaurants and public areas in hotels, special measures have been taken to maintain social distancing (markings, distance between sun loungers, tables, etc.).
Important! Update from 11/19/20:
- Payment for excursions and fuel at gas stations is available in cash; any other goods and services must be paid for with Visa and Mastercard cards with a magnetized stripe or with a chip. MIR cards and any contactless payments are not accepted.
- Wearing masks is mandatory outside hotels
When leaving the country:
- Wearing a face mask is mandatory for 100% of travelers inside the terminal and during the flight.
- At the airport entrance, the body temperature of all passengers is measured using digital thermometers.
- If a traveler is detected to have an elevated body temperature, a repeat measurement is taken, and if the result remains high, the traveler will not be allowed to board the flight.
- Passengers with symptoms of the disease must undergo a test for COVID-19; if the test is refused, they will not be allowed to fly and will be placed in an observatory.
Sanitation measures in hotels:
hotel chain Blue Diamond Resorts (Royalton, Memories, etc.)
Payment for medical services
If during a vacation the Insured suddenly discovers similar symptoms of illness (high temperature, cough, runny nose, etc.), then he needs to call the Service Center at the phone number specified in the insurance policy and follow the operator’s instructions. All treatment costs will be covered by the ERV policy.
Based on the results of treatment, if the period of stay in Cuba exceeds the number of days of rest on the paid voucher, the flight to Russia is paid for by the insurance company ERV or the tour operator PEGAS Touristik. Upon returning home, all expenses incurred will be reimbursed under the ERV health insurance policy, including medications, necessary tests as prescribed by the doctor, hotel accommodation (USD 300) and return tickets. Therefore, you must be prepared for additional expenses and keep all receipts and receipts for payment for services provided. If a tourist finds himself in a difficult situation, including related to coronavirus infection, the tour operator PEGAS Touristik will provide assistance in resolving issues and the necessary support.
For a return flight to Russia:
In accordance with the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor and airline regulations, air passengers without masks will not be accepted for transportation. Passengers must wear a mask at all times while on board and have a sufficient supply for the entire duration of the flight at the rate of 1 mask per 3 hours of flight.
Upon arrival in the Russian Federation
Citizens of the Russian Federation arriving on the territory of the Russian Federation by air will be required to ensure that the arrival form is completed on board and the form is filled out on the Unified Portal of State and Municipal Services in electronic form before departure to the Russian Federation (when purchasing a ticket, but no later than check-in for the flight) . Within three calendar days from the date of arrival on the territory of the Russian Federation, Russian citizens must undergo a laboratory test for COVID-19 using the PCR method and post information about the result of the test in a special form on the Unified Portal of State Services. Until the results of a laboratory test for COVID-19 using the PCR method are obtained, it is necessary to comply with the isolation regime at the place of residence (registration). If any deterioration in health occurs within fourteen calendar days from the date of arrival on the territory of the Russian Federation, citizens must immediately seek medical help without visiting medical organizations. More details: https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/about/info/news/news_details.php?ELEMENT_ID=15064 Below you can watch video instructions about the necessary precautions throughout the trip: from arrival at the airport, transfer, hotel , excursions, car rental, etc. before your return flight from Cuba: link to video
Sources:
Sanitary control protocol for the restart of aviation activities in the context of COVID-19 Link to document Sanitary control procedure in Cuba during COVID-19 Link to document Statement of the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Cuba on the resumption of air traffic in Varadero Link to document
Conditions will be updated as official information becomes available.
Best regards, PEGAS Touristik
Published:
15.10.2020
Updated:
Holiday rules due to COVID-19 and restrictions in Cuba
To ensure safety and prevent new diseases in Cuba, tourists are prohibited from traveling outside the municipality of Moron (Cayo Coco Island and Cayo Guillermo Island) to other regions of the country. All excursions to other areas are temporarily suspended.
The country has a curfew from 21:00 to 05:00. Violation is subject to a fine of 2,000 pesos (approximately $83).
There are doctors on duty at the hotels and tourists are subject to daily body temperature measurement.
In order to reduce possible infections through banknotes, payment for services in hotels, excursions and other things is carried out only by bank transfer. Any bank cards (VISA, MasterCard) are accepted for payment, except US banks.
Visa processing times and validity
The official visa processing time is 7 working days, but in some cases it can be extended for another week.
A visa to Cuba can be single, double or multiple entry. In this case, the total period of stay for any document should not exceed 90 days. A single-entry visa gives the right to enter the country once. Double - two, it is important that the break between trips is no more than six months. A multiple-entry visa is issued for a period of three months to a year. You can come an unlimited number of times, but the total of all days of stay must add up to 90.
Rules for traveling from Cuba to Russia
Before leaving Cuba
to Russia, you must fill out a form for those arriving in the Russian Federation on the State Services website, which indicates personal data and symptoms (cough, temperature, etc.). It must be filled out before boarding the plane and presented upon arrival at the control point.
Upon returning to Russia
after Cuba, you must do a PCR test for the presence of coronavirus infection COVID-19 within 3 days and upload the result to the State Services. An express test can be done at Moscow airports upon arrival or in any laboratory recommended by Rospotrebnadzor.
