United States citizens and permanent residents must be licensed to engage in any travel to or from Cuba.
United States citizens can receive a license to visit close relatives. Close relatives are defined as a person who is legally related to the traveler and not removed by more than three generations.
Journalists who are gainfully employed in the profession and traveling to Cuba for reporting matters are able to be licensed.
Religious organizations can receive licensing for a group of people to go to Cuba to minister to the people of Cuba.
Full-time students, employees and teachers can apply to be licensed for educational travel to Cuba if the credits earned from the program they will take or teach in Cuba can be transferred to a United States institution.
If approved for a license to travel to Cuba, travelers will need a passport and a visa issued from the Cuban government.