In what cases do Russians need a visa to Cuba in 2021?

Visas to Cuba

• A visa on arrival
  is not issued.
• Visa-free entry
  for up to 30 days is allowed to citizens of Russia and Belarus for the purpose of recreation and tourism.
• In other cases, a visa is required at the
  Cuban Embassy. Processing time is 2-5 working days. Cost from 30 USD for personal delivery, up to 110 USD for registration through intermediaries. This visa gives the right to stay in the country for up to 30 days and is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. The Cuban visa is not glued into the passport; it is a separate insert consisting of 2 parts. Upon arrival in Cuba, one part is torn off, and the second is given to the tourist, which must be kept for leaving the country.

Entry conditions

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Dear colleagues and friends!

Finally, the mutual opening of borders with Cuba was announced. We have collected for you the most up-to-date information today on entry conditions and other nuances.

Conditions for entry into Cuba:

1. Upon arrival, tourists must fill out a form with written testimony about their state of health.

2. From 01/01/2021, upon arrival in Cuba, every tourist must present a negative PCR test for COVID-19, issued by a certified laboratory in the country of departure, taken a maximum of 72 hours before arrival.

3. All tourists must have an insurance policy covering COVID-19.

4. Upon arrival in Cuba, another PCR test is carried out.

In a hotel:

1. Each hotel will have a medical team consisting of a doctor, a nurse and an epidemiologist who will serve tourists and hotel employees. In addition, sanitary regulations require the mandatory wearing of masks in the hotel.

2. In case of a positive PCR test result, the tourist will be immediately hospitalized. All contacts of tourists who test positive, regardless of symptoms, are isolated in their rooms or transferred to special isolation areas at the hotel.

3. Tourists at the hotel must maintain social distance, and there will be systematic temperature control.

4. Tourists cannot leave their holiday resort. Excursions that involve leaving the resort area have been cancelled. At the moment, strict quarantines have been introduced in Havana and the province of Santiago de Cuba.

For your return flight home:

1. It is mandatory to fill out the questionnaire of the person arriving on board and fill out the form 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).

2. 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 study 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).

Cuba has accumulated important experience in the fight against COVID 19 and strives to become a safe tourist destination from a health point of view and welcomes Russian tourists in all its destinations: Varadero, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco, Camagüey, Holguin.

We will be happy to answer your questions!

Successful sales and good mood to everyone!

Rules for crossing the Cuban border without a visa

To cross the border without a visa, the following documents are required:

• International passport
  valid for 1 month after the end of the trip
• return flights
• invitation or confirmation of hotel reservation
• migration card
  in two copies. The first copy is presented when going through passport control at the airport along with your passport, the second copy of the card should be kept until the end of the trip - it will be returned to the border guard upon departure from Cuba
• confirmation of financial status
  (50 USD per person per day). This condition is not necessary for those traveling through a travel agency.

List of documents for a visa-free visit to Cuba

To cross the border smoothly, you should prepare the following documents:

1. A valid foreign passport of any type: diplomatic, official or ordinary. There are no special requirements for the remaining validity period of the document.
2. Return air tickets indicating the flight date.
3. Two copies of the completed migration card.
4. Any documents confirming the traveler's funds in the amount of 50 US dollars per day per person. A bank certificate confirming the purchase of currency will do. This rule does not apply to travelers traveling to the country on a ready-made tour.
5. Medical insurance policy.

Filling out the migration card

- This is a special form introduced for tourists entering on a “visa-free” basis.
All categories of foreigners who are planning a trip to Cuba and are exempt from obtaining an entry permit should fill out a migration card in advance and present it to customs officers. This form usually does not cause any difficulties or additional questions to fill out. All information is duplicated in English, so even superficial knowledge will be enough to fill out.

After receiving the form, the applicant should enter his personal data, information from his international passport and the address of the place of planned residence in the country. The card is filled out in two copies: the first is given to the officer when crossing the border, the second remains with the traveler until he leaves the country.

Supplements for those born in Cuba

Russian citizens born in Cuba from the 1960s to the present are considered by the Cuban authorities as citizens of Cuba (if “Cuba” is indicated in the “Place of Birth” column in foreign passports), then, according to the Cuban Constitution, as children of foreign citizens born in the country, they automatically acquire Cuban citizenship). Cuban authorities have the right to require a Cuban passport. If you do not have a Cuban passport, before traveling to Cuba you must contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in the Russian Federation to obtain a special certificate of absence of Cuban citizenship. This document must be carried with you on every trip to Cuba, regardless of its purpose, to be presented to the Cuban migration service.

Holidays in Cuba in February 2021: quarantine, entry conditions

Visa applications are accepted only at the Cuban Embassy. There are several ways to deliver documents:

1. During an independent visit;
2. By proxy through a friend or travel agency representative;
3. Send by courier or by registered mail.

The visa application form consists of only one sheet. The following lines must be filled in:

1. Last name, first name and patronymic. Indicated in two formats - in English and Russian (Ukrainian) languages;
2. Date and place of birth (as in the passport);
3. Citizenship;
4. Family status. If you have a spouse, you must indicate your full name and place of birth;
5. Details of children, even if they do not go on a trip with the applicant;
6. Information about the international passport: number, date and issuing authority;
7. Address of residence in your home country, as well as telephone number and email;
8. Occupation (housewife, student, pensioner) or profession, if the applicant is employed. Below is information about the place of work;
9. Dates of previous trips to Cuba, if any;
10. Purpose of the upcoming trip, place of residence in Cuba. The address of the hotel or inviting person is indicated;
11. Travel period. Here you need to indicate the date of arrival and departure according to the purchased tickets.

The main package is supplemented with a list of papers to justify the purpose of the visit. It will be different for each visa category.

Tourism:

• Tourist voucher with a description of the travel route;
• Hotel reservation for the entire period of stay.

By invitation:

• An official letter from the host indicating the duration of the trip and place of residence;
• A document confirming relationship if a foreigner is traveling to visit relatives.

Business visa:

• An invitation from Cuban colleagues or a document describing the nature of the meeting and its location;
• A letter from the employer confirming that the applicant is traveling to Cuba to resolve business issues.

Student:

• Documents on completed secondary education;
• Certificate of admission to a Cuban educational institution;
• Certificate of no criminal record;
• A certificate from a doctor stating that the applicant does not have any diseases dangerous to society. It is issued at a medical institution that is accredited by the Cuban Embassy.

For minors:

• Certificate of birth along with a copy;
• Copies of both parents' passports;
• Certificate from a general education institution (for schoolchildren);
• Consent to take a child abroad if he is going to Cuba with only one of the parents or with a third party. The document is drawn up by a notary by the parent who remains in his home country.

For pensioners: a copy of the pension certificate. The original must be presented to the applicant during the application process.

No paper translation required. Translation into Spanish and legalization of official documents are only necessary if a marriage is planned in Cuba with a local resident.

As a rule, decisions on each applicant are made quickly. The average processing time for a visa application is 5 working days. Sometimes it can take up to a week. Urgent processing of a Cuban visa is not provided.

The foreigner is notified of the readiness of the visa by telephone or email. To clarify at what stage the documents are being processed, you need to call the Embassy. There are no online services for checking such information.

Migration card

Upon arrival in Cuba, before crossing the border, a migration card (2 copies) is filled out. To speed up the process of passing through the border control point, such cards are usually issued on the plane, where our flight attendants can help fill them out. It should be filled out with a blue or black pen, in block Latin letters. The card must be filled out for each person entering, including each child with their own passport. Sample of filling out a migration card when entering Cuba. There is no need to download a blank card from the Internet, print it out and fill it out at home; just take a sample of the form with you.

How to fill out an immigration card to enter Cuba

I decided to write for those who are packing their bags to make their journey easier and instill confidence.
You will be given an immigration card on the plane, so don’t forget to take a pen with you! There is nothing complicated. Let's break it down point by point. 1. Last name . We copy from the passport, naturally in Latin 2. We skip this point 3. Name. 4. and 5. Do not fill in 6. International passport number 7. Date of birth. We write in this format: 01/19/1968 or 01/19/68 8. Purpose of travel . Write the word "Turismo" 9. Sexo. Floor. Check the appropriate box. 10. Arrival point. Usually they write “Habana” 11. Profession. Write your profession (manager, doctor...) 12. Nationality. "Ruso" 13. Citizenship. "Russia" 14 . the name of your hotel horizontally . 15. and 16. Do not fill in.

Don’t worry, they won’t be too picky if your goal is “Turismo”!

This is what the map itself looks like. The other half will be a different color

Cuba: important information for Russian citizens planning to stay in the country

Dear friends! 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: