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A UAE resident who wants to visit Cuba as a tourist needs a Tourist Card or a Tourist Visa A1, depending on the passport. The Cuban embassy in Abu Dhabi lists AED 260 for the card and AED 220 for the A1 visa. Processing is 3 to 5 working days after the file and the bank deposit are confirmed. Read the travel advice before you book, because the UK foreign office advises against all but essential travel to Cuba.
Read the risks first
The UK foreign office updated its Cuba page on . It advises against all but essential travel. The page describes severe shortages of fuel, electricity and water, national grid collapses and warns that more are likely. Most international airports lack aviation fuel, and several airlines, including Air France, Iberia and the Canadian carriers, have suspended Cuba routes. International Visa and Mastercard cards no longer work, so visitors must carry cash, and US dollars and euros are accepted. We cannot tell you whether a trip is wise. We can tell you the paperwork. A tourist document does not cover a cancelled flight.
Which document you need
The embassy page splits travellers in two groups.
| Passport group | Document | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Most passports | Tourist Card | AED 260 |
| Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan | Tourist Visa A1, issued only by a consular office | AED 220 |
Source: Cuban foreign ministry mission page for the UAE, checked . The embassy also treats holders of permanent residence in the EU, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States as needing only the card requirements. UAE residence alone does not change which document you need.
Documents for the Tourist Card
- Printed application form that matches your passport exactly
- One photo, 4.5 by 4.5
- Original and copy of the passport, valid at least 180 days from the day you enter Cuba
- Emirates ID copy and a valid UAE residence permit
- A UAE re-entry visa
- Confirmed round-trip ticket with every transit shown
- Hotel booking for the whole stay
- Travel health insurance copy
- The bank deposit receipt
The A1 visa adds a notarised English affidavit that the trip is for tourism only and three months of bank statements. Applications are made in person at the embassy on a confirmed appointment. Do not submit until the checklist is complete.
How the fee is paid
Cash is not accepted at the embassy and bank transfers are not allowed. After the Cuban consular office approves your visa, it gives you the account details, and you deposit the fee at a First Abu Dhabi Bank branch. The service starts once the bank notification arrives. Do not pay earlier.
The e-visa and the D'Viajeros form
The embassy also points applicants to the Cuban e-visa site, evisacuba.cu. After you finish there and pay the deposit, you receive a code. A second site, D'Viajeros, takes your arrival details and returns a QR code that serves as your visa. If the e-visa site tells you to attend the consulate, you email the embassy and wait to be called.
The timing of D'Viajeros differs by source. The Cuban embassy page says to fill it in during the 7 days before you enter Cuba. UK advice says within 72 hours before entry and suggests saving the PDF, because internet access can be limited on arrival. A Cuban embassy notice from Prague says to open it no later than 3 days before departure. Finish it as late as the embassy allows, and keep a printed copy.
How long you can stay
Both the card and the A1 visa are single entry. They are valid for 90 days after issue and allow 30 days on arrival, extendable once for 30 more days inside Cuba. If you overstay, the UK advice warns that Cuban authorities take it seriously and you could be detained.
Where to apply in the UAE
The Embassy of Cuba is in Abu Dhabi, in Al Mushrif. Consular services for foreigners include tourist visas and cards, family and business visas, residence in Cuba and legalisation. The embassy works by confirmed appointment, and you must register with its consular section before any procedure. It is not in Dubai, so a Dubai resident plans a trip to Abu Dhabi.
How it works with us
Send us your passport page, Emirates ID and trip dates on WhatsApp, or use the form here. An adviser tells you whether the card or the A1 applies and whether your flight is still running, then gives you one total price before you pay. The team prepares the file, requests the appointment, checks every paper and guides you through the deposit. We are a private visa service. The Cuban authorities decide the visa.
The embassy fee is not returned if a visa is refused, and its page says visas are not refundable. Before you pay us, the adviser writes down what part of our own charge, if any, comes back.
Official sources
- Cuban foreign ministry, UAE consular services: card and visa fees, documents, processing, e-visa and D'Viajeros
- UK foreign office, Cuba travel advice: safety, shortages, payments
- UK foreign office, Cuba entry requirements: passport validity and D'Viajeros
- Cuban e-visa site: online application
More destinations from the UAE: visas from Dubai. For Latin America nearby, read Dominican Republic and Colombia. For visa-free options see visa-free countries for UAE residents.
