The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an agency of the United States Treasury Department, is responsible for enforcing and administering economic sanctions against countries, organizations and individuals, which includes the U.S.' Cuban embargo. The OFAC imposes stiff fines for violation of the sanctions. However, the OFAC is unable to impose fines for sanction violations committed more than five years ago.
Without having previously applied for and received a special license to travel to Cuba, the travel of American citizens and permanent residents to Cuba is considered unauthorized travel and subject to OFAC sanctions.
American citizens and permanent residents who wish to travel to Cuba may apply for a license to lawfully travel to Cuba in the following cases: visiting an immediate family member once every three years, established professional journalists who are assigned to cover Cuba for a news organization, and academic researchers whose presence in Cuba is essential to the research. However, applications are subject to strict OFAC reviews and may be denied.
