5. What are the travel changes to the Cuba program?
OFAC has issued general licenses within the 12 categories of authorized travel for many travel-related transactions to, from, or within Cuba that previously required a specific license (i.e., anapplication and a case-by-case determination).
Travel-related transactions are permitted by general license for certain travel related to thefollowing activities, subject to criteria and conditions in each general license: family visits;official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmentalorganizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educationalactivities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and othercompetitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmissionof information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions.
6. Do travelers who fall within the scope of a general license need to submit a written requestto OFAC for permission to travel or conduct transactions?
No. No further permission from OFAC is required to engage in transactions by a person whomeets all criteria in a general license. Individuals wishing to engage in activities that may fallwithin the scope of a general license should review the relevant general licenses contained in theCACR to determine whether their travel-related transactions are covered by such general licenses.Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction who wish to engage in any travel within the 12 categories ofactivities specified in the CACR that does not meet the requirements of a general license willneed to apply for a specific license from OFAC.
7. Is travel to Cuba for tourist activities permitted?
No. Consistent with the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA),travel-related transactions involving Cuba are only permitted for the 12 categories of activitiesidentified in the CACR. Travel-related transactions for other purposes remain prohibited.
8. What constitutes “a close relative” for generally authorized family travel
OFAC regulations generally authorize U.S. persons and those sharing a dwelling with them as afamily to visit a close relative in Cuba, including a close relative who is a Cuban national orordinarily resident there, who is a U.S. Government official on official government business, orwho is a student or faculty member engaging in authorized educational activities in Cuba with aduration of over 60 days. A close relative is defined as any individual related to a person “byblood, marriage, or adoption who is no more than three generations removed from that person orfrom a common ancestor with that person.” For a complete description of what this generallicense authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.339 and § 515.561.
9. Who is generally authorized to engage in travel and travel-related transactions for“journalistic activity”?
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to journalistic activities in Cuba. Among other things, this generallicense authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, full-time journalists, supporting broadcast ortechnical personnel, and freelance journalists to travel to Cuba. The traveler’s schedule ofactivities must not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-timeschedule. An entire group does not qualify for the general license merely because some membersof the group qualify individually. For a complete description of what this general licenseauthorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.563.
10. What constitutes generally authorized travel-related transactions for “professionalresearch” and “professional meetings” in Cuba?
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to professional research in Cuba. Among other things, this generallicense authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, professional research in Cuba relating to a traveler’s profession, professional background, or area of expertise. The traveler’s schedule ofactivities must not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-timeschedule. An entire group does not qualify for the general license merely because some membersof the group qualify individually. For a complete description of what this general licenseauthorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.564.
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to professional meetings in Cuba. Among other things, this generallicense authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, professional meetings or conferences inCuba relating to a traveler’s profession, professional background, or area of expertise, providedthat the purpose of the meeting or conference is not the promotion of tourism in Cuba. Travel inthis category is generally licensed provided that the traveler’s schedule of activities does notinclude free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule. An entiregroup does not qualify for the general license merely because some members of the group qualifyindividually. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and therestrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.564
11. What constitutes “educational activities” for generally authorized travel
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to certain educational activities in Cuba. Among other things, thisgeneral license authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, faculty, staff, and students at U.S.academic institutions and secondary schools to engage in certain educational activities in Cuba,Cuban scholars to engage in certain educational activities in the United States, certain activities tofacilitate licensed educational programs, and certain people-to-people travel. An entire groupdoes not qualify for the general license merely because some members of the group qualifyindividually. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and therestrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.565.
12. Are secondary schools and secondary school students permitted to engage in travel-relatedtransactions under the general license for “educational activities”?
Yes. Educational exchanges sponsored by Cuban or U.S. secondary schools involving secondaryschool students’ participation in a formal course of study or in a structured educational programoffered by a secondary school or other academic institution, and led by a teacher or othersecondary school official, are authorized under this general license. For a complete description ofwhat this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.565(a)(6). This provision allows for participation of a reasonable number of adult chaperones toaccompany the secondary school student(s) to Cuba.
13. What constitutes “people-to-people travel” for generally authorized travel?
OFAC has issued a general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policy andauthorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to people-to-people educational activities in Cuba. Among other things,this general license authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, persons subject to U.S.jurisdiction to engage in certain educational exchanges in Cuba under the auspices of anorganization that is a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sponsors such exchanges to promotepeople-to-people contact. Additionally, an employee, paid consultant, or agent of the sponsoring organization must accompany each group traveling to Cuba to ensure the full-time schedule ofeducational exchange activities, and the predominant portion of the activities must not be withindividuals or entities acting for or on behalf of a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba,as defined in 31 CFR § 515.337, or a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party, asdefined in 31 CFR § 515.338. For a complete description of what this general license authorizesand the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.565(b).
14. What is an “organization” in the people–to-people context?
In the people-to-people context, an organization is an entity subject to U.S. jurisdiction thatsponsors educational exchanges that do not involve academic study pursuant to a degree programand that promote people-to-people contact. For a complete description of what this generallicense authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.565(b).
15. Who is generally authorized to engage in travel-related transactions for “religiousactivities”?
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to religious activities in Cuba. All persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction,including religious organizations located in the United States and members and staff of suchorganizations, are generally authorized to engage in travel-related transactions that are directlyincident to engaging in religious activities in Cuba provided, among other things, that the travelmust be for the purpose of engaging in a program of religious activities. The traveler’s scheduleof activities must not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-timeschedule in Cuba. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and therestrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.566.
16. What constitutes “public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions,and exhibitions” for generally authorized travel?
OFAC has issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policyand authorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to participation in amateur and semi-professional international sportsfederation competitions as well as other athletic and other competitions and public performances,clinics, workshops, and exhibitions in Cuba. For a complete description of what this generallicense authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.567.
17. What constitutes “support for the Cuban people” for generally authorized travel and othertransactions?
OFAC has issued a general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policy andauthorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are intended to provide support for the Cuban people, which include activities of recognizedhuman rights organizations; independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peacefultransition to democracy; and individuals and non-governmental organizations that promoteindependent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba. The traveler’s schedule ofactivities must not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-timeschedule in Cuba. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and therestrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.574.
18. What constitutes “humanitarian projects” for generally authorized travel and othertransactions?
OFAC has issued a general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policy andauthorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are related to humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba. These authorized humanitarianprojects include medical and health-related projects; construction projects intended to benefitlegitimately independent civil society groups; environmental projects; projects involving formalor non-formal educational training, within Cuba or off-island, on the following topics:entrepreneurship and business, civil education, journalism, advocacy and organizing, adultliteracy, or vocational skills; community-based grassroots projects; projects suitable to thedevelopment of small-scale private enterprise; projects that are related to agricultural and ruraldevelopment that promote independent activity; microfinancing projects, except for loans,extensions of credit, or other financing prohibited by 31 C.F.R. § 515.208; and projects to meetbasic human needs. The traveler’s schedule of activities must not include free time or recreationin excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule in Cuba. For a complete description of whatthis general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.575.
19. What constitutes “activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes” forgenerally authorized travel?
OFAC has issued a general license that incorporates previous specific licensing policy andauthorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to activities by private foundations or research or educational instituteswith an established interest in international relations to collect information related to Cuba fornoncommercial purposes, among other things. The traveler’s schedule of activities must notinclude free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule in Cuba. Fora complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply,please see 31 CFR § 515.576.
20. What constitutes “exportation, importation or transmission of information or informationalmaterials” for generally authorized travel?
OFAC has issued a general license that incorporates prior specific licensing policy andauthorizes, subject to appropriate conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactionsthat are directly incident to the exportation, importation, or transmission of information orinformational materials in Cuba. The traveler’s schedule of activities must not include free timeor recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule in Cuba. For a completedescription of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31CFR § 515.545. The definition of “information and informational materials” may be found at 31CFR § 515.332.
21. Can I purchase a ticket to Cuba directly from an airline based or operating out of theUnited States?
Yes, provided that you are authorized to travel to Cuba pursuant to a general or specific license.Airlines subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to provide air carrier services to authorizedtravelers, and travelers may purchase tickets provided that their travel is authorized pursuant tothe CACR. Airlines and travelers are responsible for maintaining records of their Cuba-relatedtransactions for at least five years.
22. May an individual authorized traveler use his or her private boat to travel to Cuba?
A person subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging in authorized travel pursuant to an OFAC generalor specific license may use a personal boat for his or her travel, and the travel of the boat’s crew,to Cuba provided that he or she obtains a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)for the temporary sojourn of the vessel. Goods exported to Cuba also require a license or must beeligible for a license exception from BIS.
23. Are U.S. vessels, including private boats and commercial passenger ferries, permitted tocarry passengers to Cuba?
The new general license allowing the provision of carrier services between the United States andCuba is limited to the provision of such services by aircraft; it does not authorize providingcarrier services by vessel. Providing carrier services by vessel would require a specific licensefrom OFAC. This would include an individual using his or her own personal boat to transportpassengers to Cuba. Vessels on temporary sojourn to Cuba also require a license from the Bureauof Industry and Security (BIS). Goods exported to Cuba also require a license or must be eligiblefor a license exception from BIS.
24. Are there any spending limits for authorized U.S. travelers while in Cuba?
The per diem rate previously imposed no longer applies, and there is no specific dollar limit onauthorized expenses. Authorized travelers may engage in transactions ordinarily incident totravel within Cuba, including payment of living expenses and the acquisition in Cuba of goods forpersonal consumption there; other expenditures, other than those directly incident to the traveler’sauthorized activities in Cuba, are not authorized. In addition, travelers are authorized to acquirein Cuba and import as accompanied baggage into the United States merchandise with a value notto exceed $400 per person, provided that no more than $100 of the merchandise consists ofalcohol or tobacco products and the merchandise is imported for personal use only.
25. Are there any restrictions on what foreign persons entering the United States from travelthat included Cuba may bring in their accompanied baggage?
A non-U.S. person (i.e. not a U.S. citizen or resident) arriving in the United States is authorized toimport Cuban-origin merchandise, other than tobacco and alcohol, as accompanied baggageprovided the merchandise is not in commercial quantities and not imported for resale. See 31CFR § 515.569. If the non-U.S. person is on a trip that included travel to Cuba, the person also isauthorized to import as accompanied baggage alcohol or tobacco products purchased or otherwiseacquired in Cuba with a value not to exceed $100 for personal use only. See 31 CFR §515.560(c)(3).
26. Can I purchase Cuban-origin cigars and/or Cuban-origin rum or other alcohol whiletraveling in Cuba?
Persons authorized to travel to Cuba may purchase alcohol and tobacco products while in Cubafor personal consumption while there. Authorized travelers may return to the United States withup to $100 worth of alcohol and/or tobacco products acquired in Cuba in accompanied baggage,for personal use only.
27. Can I purchase Cuban-origin cigars and/or Cuban-origin rum or other Cuban-originalcohol over the internet or while in a third country (i.e., not Cuba)?
No. These transactions remain prohibited, and OFAC has not issued any general license thatwould authorize them.