How New Yorkers Can Travel to Cuba: Current Legal Pathways (2024)

Travel from New York to Cuba remains restricted but accessible under specific US government authorized categories. Tourism per se is prohibited, but 12 categories of authorized travel cover most legitimate purposes.

The Legal Framework

• US embargo: Trading with the Enemy Act (1917), Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), OFAC enforcement
• 12 authorized categories (31 CFR §515.560): No license application needed for most; self-certification
• Prohibited: Pure tourism, staying at government hotels, transactions with military-linked entities (GAESA)

Practical Pathways from NYC

1. Support for the Cuban People (SCP) — Most Common

• Requirement: Full-time schedule of activities strengthening civil society, independent businesses
• Activities: Stay in casas particulares (private B&Bs), eat at paladares (private restaurants), hire private guides/drivers, visit artists, attend workshops, support NGOs
• Documentation: Keep itinerary, receipts, photos 5 years (OFAC audit rare but possible)
• Booking: Direct via Airbnb, Cuban travel platforms (CubaBuddy, ViaHero), or US tour operators

2. Organized Tours (People-to-People / SCP)

• Operators: InsightCuba, Road Scholar, Global Exchange, Cuba Educational Travel, Friendly Planet
• Cost: $3,000-6,000/week (includes flights, license, guide, activities, casa stays)
• Advantage: Compliance handled; curated access; group dynamics

3. Family Visits

• Eligibility: Close relatives (by blood, marriage, adoption) in Cuba
• Frequency: Unlimited; no duration limit
• Documentation: Family relationship proof; self-certify

4. Professional/Journalistic/Religious

• Journalists: Accredited; specific project
• Researchers: Academic, non-commercial
• Religious: Faith-based activities, humanitarian projects
• Medical: Conferences, training, humanitarian aid

5. Educational (Student/Academic)

• Credit-bearing: University study abroad (OFAC-specific license often)
• Non-credit: Workshops, language, cultural immersion under SCP

Flight Logistics from NYC

Essential Preparations

• Passport: Valid 6+ months beyond return
• Cuban Tourist Card: $50-100 (airline sells at gate or online); pink (US-origin) vs green (other)
• Health Insurance: Required; often included in ticket; Asistur recognized
• Cash: USD or EUR (crisp, new); exchange to CUP at CADECA/banks; US cards DON'T work
• Apps: AlaMesa (restaurants), Picta (maps), Zapya (file share), offline maps

Recent Policy Shifts

• Trump (2017-2021): Eliminated "people-to-people" group travel; restricted SCP; banned cruise ships
• Biden (2022+): Restored group people-to-people; expanded SCP; resumed flights to non-Havana airports; increased remittances
• Current: SCP remains primary pathway; enforcement minimal for compliant travelers

For New Yorkers, the JFK-HAV flight + SCP self-certification + casa particular stay = straightforward, legal, rewarding Cuba travel.