As a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a general license to visit Cuba from OFAC for the following purposes:
If you have close relatives who reside in Cuba, you may visit them once a year for an unlimited length of stay.
If you are a journalist or supporting broadcasting or technical personnel.
If you are a government official traveling on official business or a member of an international organization of which the United States is also a member (such as the U.N.) traveling on official business.
If you are a full-time professional who must travel to conduct research directly related to their profession or attend a conference.
You also may apply to OFAC for a specific license to visit Cuba if you are going to perform humanitarian work, to participate in an amateur or semiprofessional international athletic competition, or participate in a public performance for charity.
A list of all specific license categories is available on the U.S. State Department's Cuba page (see References). You will have to provide documentation supporting the purpose of your trip and licenses are granted on a case by case basis.
OFAC will not grant either a general or specific license be granted for the purpose of tourism.
U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter Cuba. You do, however, need a tourist card to enter Cuba.
U.S. citizens cannot obtain tourist cards in the United States or at any American consulate abroad. In order to visit Cuba as a tourist, U.S. citizens must leave the United States and obtain their tourist card in another country before traveling to Cuba. The tourist card will be issued by the airline you take to fly to Cuba.
There are direct flights to Cuba from the United States. However, in order to take one of these flights, you must have a license to travel to Cuba.
If you're a U.S. citizen traveling to Cuba as a tourist, you must fly to Cuba via another country. Some popular routes to Cuba are via Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and the Bahamas, on either commercial or charter airlines. You should be able to pick up your tourist card for entry into Cuba from the airline counter outside the United States. Tourist cards are generally valid for a 30-day period.
Though many U.S. citizens travel as tourists to Cuba go and return without any problems, you should be aware that if caught, you could be subject to a steep fine.
If you are a U.S. citizen visiting Cuba as a tourist, don't bring any Cuban goods back with you, and check out forums on travel websites such as Lonely Planet for the latest updates from travelers.
